Du Prado à Montredon : histoire et évolution du sud de Marseille (XIXe-XXIe)

Talk by Judith Aziza, PhD in History Long remaining agricultural and sparsely urbanized, southern Marseille, particularly its coastline, underwent profound changes from the mid-19th century onward. The opening of Avenue du Prado and what is now Avenue Pierre Mendès-France, together with the arrival of the Marseille Canal, accompanied its urbanization and the growth of new neighborhoods. Villas, shops, factories, and leisure facilities gradually replaced country estates, farms, fishermen’s huts, and agricultural areas. A second major transformation took place between 1967 and 1987, with the creation of the Pointe Rouge marina and the Prado seaside park, developed on land reclaimed from the sea. This lecture will revisit the major stages in the development of southern Marseille, focusing particularly on the history of the neighborhoods between the Prado beaches and La Madrague de Montredon. It will explore how urban, economic, and social transformations shaped the landscape we see today. ---- Judith Aziza holds a PhD in history. An author of scholarly articles and columns in the local press, as well as a contributor to collective works, Judith Aziza has published four books on the history and heritage of Marseille from the 16th to the 21st century, including “Une histoire de Marseille en 90 lieux” (Éditions Gaussen, 2019). She speaks to both the general public and academics and regularly takes part in radio and television programs, as well as documentaries (Arté, France 2, France 3, France 5...). She also runs social media accounts dedicated to the history of Marseille, bringing together a community of more than 90,000 members, including the Facebook and Instagram groups called « Une histoire de Marseille ». She recently assisted the City of Marseille in creating the exhibition on the history of the southern coastline, presented on the esplanade of Escale Borely between May 2025 and May 2026. ----- For those who have never attended the conferences organized by the Une histoire de Marseille association, the concept is as follows: in a friendly, relaxed atmosphere, come and discover how Marseille became the city it is today. The aim is to explore the history of the Phocaean city through a presentation illustrated with numerous archival images, followed by a discussion.