LE PANIER. CRAFTS, CAFÈS & STREET ART IN MARSELHA

After a day of torrential rain, clouds have taken over the sky and Joseph de Ca'th Lon, Claire Fontaine and The Grandma have decided to enjoy one of the most beautiful neighbourhoods in Marselha, Le Panier.

 

Le Panier is a middle-class neighbourhood famous for its bohemian atmosphere and its artists, from artisans to street artists, a neighbourhood where you can walk and enjoy local culture and cuisine, and where you can discover street wonders.

 

Tomorrow, the three friends will visit the Musée du Savon de Marseille and say goodbye to this beautiful city, heading towards Montpelhièr. 

Le Panier is not only Marseille's oldest district, it's also its most authentic, poetic and popular! 

Overlooking the Vieux Port and the rest of the city, you'll fall under the spell of its narrow streets, colorful shutters and typical Mediterranean-style boutiques. It is a symbolic Marseille landmark.

Perched high above the city, this village in the heart of Marseille has its own social and cultural mix, a diversity that has been built up by the arrival of Corsican, Italian and Asian migrants… That's what gives Le Panier its soul! The district is rapidly developing around seafaring and craft trades. Le Panier is a real community, with a warm atmosphere that only the locals themselves can experience.

The name Le Panier comes from the method used by the filles de joie of the Logis du Panier inn to collect money from men who wanted to visit. They would lower a basket using a rope, and then raise the money.

Today, Le Panier is a popular district for tourists, thanks to its authenticity, its new craft stores and the small cafés that are springing up on every street corner.

In fact, policies to renovate and rehabilitate the Panier's cultural venues have led to an unprecedented gentrification movement. While this has led to an increase in the number of tourists, it has also led to a massive influx of outsiders into the real estate market. As a result, housing prices have risen in a district that remains, above all, a working-class neighbourhood.

Here, the street is a gallery. Some artists and artisans even exhibit in the streets, as on the Cours Julien. However, street art in the Panier is subtle, hidden and occasional, and doesn't cover every wall in the district. So it's a good idea to get lost in the meanders of the steep alleyways to observe these veritable masterpieces!

Lucile Begeot, Marseille Secrète

More information: Le Panier de Marseille 

Certain streets have an atmosphere of their own, 
a sort of universal fame 

and the particular affection of their citizens.

Joseph Conrad