The castle of Fontainieu is one of the last witnesses of the many bastides of the Saint Joseph district, the Aygalades. After having embodied the lifestyle of the Marseille bourgeoisie, with its agricultural productions linked to the development of the Marseille canal, the bastide has hosted for several years a rich sporting and associative activity. Landslides and maintenance failures led to the site being put at risk in 2018 and activities suspended.
A citizen mobilization with the Metropolis, owner of the land, is currently taking place to allow the restoration and reopening of this place of sociability.
Another witness of the past: lime kilns. This time it is stone that is the key natural element of the city’s development to the north. Indeed, the history of urban development in Marseille is closely linked to lime and cement, and therefore to limestone, which is the main geological element of the region. Lime kilns, tools for manufacturing building elements based on the firing of limestone, tell both the techniques invented to extract stone and the industrial transformation of neighborhoods on the edge of the star massif. We will share the investigation of the inhabitants on these remains important for a living transmission of local history.
Bring closed shoes for this walk as well as water and a hat!
Go to the car park of the Fontainieu Sports Center, 78 chemin de Fontainieu.
Arrival by train or bus 28 from “Bougainville” or 31 from “Centre Bourse”, stop “Le Castellas”
If you need more information, contact Agnès Maillard on 06 52 98 42 48