61 Rue Grignan

A symbol of justice in the heart of the city

Inaugurated on November 4, 1862, the Palais de Justice of Marseille, located on Place Montyon in the 6th arrondissement, is a monumental building embodying the solemnity of republican justice. Its neoclassical architecture, designed by Auguste Martin, evokes ancient temples: six Corinthian columns support a wide sculpted pediment sculpted by Eugene Guillaume, symbolizing authority, wisdom, and judicial rigor.  At its center sits Justice enthroned, flanked by allegorical figures representing Law and Strength, while other sculptures evoke Prudence, Crime, and Innocence.

This modern courthouse was built to replace the Hôtel Daviel, the former tribunal located in the city’s historic center (Place Daviel), which had become too small for the needs of a rapidly expanding metropolis. The move marked an important stage in Marseille’s urban and administrative history, reflecting the transition from an old city to a modern one turned toward the future.

Inside, the building impresses with its generous volumes, grand staircases, elegant yet sober decoration, and a vast courtroom still in use today. It houses the city’s main jurisdictions, including the Court of Appeal and the Judicial Tribunal, playing a central role in Marseille’s civic life.

Place Montyon, specially designed to showcase its façade, frames this emblematic building. The site was further enhanced in the 1930s with the addition of an Art Deco annex, which accommodated other judicial bodies such as the Civil Court and the Commercial Court.

The Palais de Justice on Place Montyon is not only a place of law; it is also an architectural and historical landmark, bearing witness to a Marseille in full transformation during the 19th century— between classical heritage and modern administrative ambitions.

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