La Vieille Charité, Marseille
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La Vieille Charité - by Henri T on Google
Description
La Vieille Charité was built in the 17th century near La Major Cathedral in the Panier neighbourhood of Marseille. During its first hundred years it was used as a shelter for the poorest people in the city and after the French Revolution it became a hospice for children and older people. At the beginning of the 20th century, it was used by the army whilst pursuing some of its social functions and it was thoroughly restored in the 1960's-80's. Today, it houses several cultural institutions such as the Museum of Mediterranean Archaeology and the Museum of African, Oceanian and Amerindian Arts. The building comprises of 4 wings forming a 112 x 96m rectangle with a Baroque chapel in the inner court.
Access & Transport
The monument is walking distance from most other attractions in the centre of Marseille and can also easily be reached by public transport. The Sadi Carnot and Republique Dames tram stops (T2, T3) are 200m away, the Joliette (M2) metro station is 600m to the north and the Colbert (M1) metro station is 700m to the east. There are also several bus lines serving the area. Additional info here: https://vieille-charite-marseille.com/infos-pratiques
Instructions & Recommendations
We suggest combining this activity with an exploration of the Panier neighbourhood, a visit of the MuCEM (European & Mediterranean Civilizations Museum) and the Cathédrale de la Major.
Environmental & Social
Most of the building's energy consumption is likely to be for air-conditioning (or heating for a few weeks a year). Not a major carbon footprint on a per visitor basis though. Spreads culture and preserves the city's architectural heritage.
Conclusion
La Vieille Charité building isn't a top tier regional monument, but it is a must see for anyone visiting the Vieux Port and Panier area ,and the two museums are also worth seeing for those keen on cultural activities.
Key positive
Small but interesting museums
Free admission
Centrally located in a touristic and historic neighbourhood
Key negative
None
Suitability
Suitable for all ages. The building is accessible, and our understanding is that there is a lift to provide access to the upper floors.
About this Rating
TYPE
Desktop
RESEARCHED IN
June 2024
PROVIDER
Koreval
av. transport time:0h 20m
est. visit time:1h 30m
Monday09:00 - 18:00
Tuesday09:00 - 18:00
Wednesday09:00 - 18:00
Thursday09:00 - 18:00
Friday09:00 - 18:00
Saturday09:00 - 18:00
Sunday09:00 - 18:00