Palais Longchamp, designed by architect Henri-Jacques Espérandieu, was built in conjunction with the construction of the canal in 1839. The arrival of water from the Durance in 1849 allowed the town to supply the new districts to the east. Today, the waterfalls, ornamental lakes, fountains and numerous sculptures give this enchanting place an Italian Renaissance feel. Housing Marseilles' Fine Arts Museum in its left-wing and the Natural History Museum in the right, this watery palace, a masterpiece of the Second Empire, commemorates and unites the glory of water, the arts and the sciences under one magnificent roof.
Located on the island of If, one mile off the shore of Marseille in the Mediterranean Sea, the Chateau d'If is one of the most scenic fortresses in France. The château was built between the years 1524 and 1531 at the behest of Francis I to ward off enemies that intended to attack the city from the sea. The building comprises a 3-story square structure guarded by three towers with gun embrasures. Later on, in the 19th Century, the Château d'If was used as a prison and was once notoriously renowned as a dumping place for political and religious prisoners. The Château d'If was made famous by the Alexandre Dumas novel The Count of Monte Cristo, in which the protagonist makes a daring escape from the prison to the shore of Marseille. Today, Château d'If is open to the public and is accessible via boats launched from Marseille.
Set in a former castle that dates back to the 15th century, Le Château de La Buzine is a one-of-a-kind, modernized event venue and movie theater. Screening a healthy mix of classic and modern French films, along with the latest releases from Hollywood, this is where you can enjoy a great movie experience in a vintage setting. Having been renovated and rebuilt with modern features, this venue now features superior quality audio and projection, that rubs shoulders with the modern-day multiplexes. Apart from films, this is also the venue for musicals, dances and a number of other stages performances.