The Prado District in Marseille

The Origins of the Prado District in Marseille

Located in Marseille's 6th and 8th arrondissements, Le Prado is a residential and business district organised around Avenue du Prado, one of the city's main thoroughfares, linking Place Castellane to Prado beach.

Avenue du Prado, nicknamed the "Champs-Élysées of Marseille", was designed by architect Jean-Baptiste Falque together with Anthelme Bernex, and was inaugurated in 1839. Formerly known as "Boulevard du Sud", it was Marseille's former mayor, Antoine Théodore Bernex, son of Anthelme Bernex, who gave it its current name in 1844, drawing a comparison with the famous Prado in Madrid. Avenue du Prado was built 3,400 metres long and 60 metres wide, on marshy ground. L-shaped, wide and tree-lined, it allows Marseille residents to travel from the city to the sea, opening up new spaces, serving as a development axis, and reflecting all the transformations the city has undergone over more than a century and a half. Trams and cars have succeeded horse-drawn carriages, markets and supermarkets have replaced small street trades, banks and consulates have moved into the grand mansions, and large residential complexes have replaced Marseille's typical apartment buildings.

The Highlights of the Prado District

With its wide avenues lined with large green spaces, where contemporary art and modern architecture play a major role, the Prado district is undeniably one of the most beautiful districts in Marseille. On this avenue, between Place Castellane and Boulevard Périer, Marseille's largest open-air market takes place every morning. You will also find Parc Borély there, the most famous of Marseille's green spaces. Football lovers can head to the Stade Vélodrome, visit the OM museum and stop by the stadium shop. Continuing your stroll along Boulevard Michelet as far as the Cité Radieuse, built by Le Corbusier and also known as "La Maison du Fada", built between 1947 and 1952, this 165-metre concrete block conceals an interior designed for its residents' comfort: a housing unit whose former rooftop gymnasium has been transformed into a museum of modern art, MAMO (Marseille Modulor).

Along Avenue Pierre Mendès France, close to Parc Borély and its château, you will also find the 6 beaches of the Prado. Within the Prado district, near the Escale Borély, is also the famous Marseille Bowl, open to skateboarders, rollerbladers and BMX riders. Beyond sport, numerous cultural and recreational activities are organised, such as concerts or the wind festival held every September.

Living in the Prado District in Marseille

The Prado district is a highly sought-after district thanks to its prime location, between beaches and grand boulevards, offering its residents an exceptional setting and quality of life. It boasts a high-quality housing stock, numerous green spaces and prestigious schools.

The Prado district is a very well-connected district, served by the metro, while its proximity to motorway access points gives it a further advantage.

The district has numerous high-end apartment buildings, as well as majestic villas and grand townhouses just a stone's throw from the famous Parc Borély.

Property Prices in the Prado District, Marseille

Owing to its unique location and quality of life, the Prado district is highly popular with families. Villas and grand townhouses are much sought after, but its housing stock is also expanding rapidly, with numerous new-build property developments springing up. The average price for an apartment is €4,824/m², rising to €6,383/m² for a house, and can reach €9,000/m² depending on the specifications offered by the properties.

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