Promenade Robert-Laffont – Between Sea, Culture, and Memory

The Promenade Robert-Laffont is a wide pedestrian esplanade located at the southern edge of the Joliette port area, on the J4 waterfront in Marseille. Inaugurated in 2013 as part of Marseille-Provence European Capital of Culture, it has become one of the city’s most iconic seaside promenades.

It connects major cultural landmarks such as the MuCEM (Museum of European and Mediterranean Civilisations) and the Villa Méditerranée, now home to Cosquer Méditerranée, an immersive site recreating the famous underwater prehistoric cave discovered near Marseille.

A Promenade of Art and Symbolism

Stretching along the seafront, the promenade offers breathtaking panoramic views of the Mediterranean Sea, the 12th-century Fort Saint-Jean, and the entrance to the Old Port. A pedestrian footbridge connects the MuCEM to the Fort, offering a spectacular walk between ancient heritage and modern architecture.

Among its artworks, the most striking is the monumental “Teddy Bear” statue by Jayet (2020), standing over five meters tall. This polished steel bear was created as a tribute to healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic, becoming both an artistic landmark and a symbol of gratitude and compassion.

A Tribute to Robert Laffont

The promenade is named after Robert Laffont (1916–2010), a Marseille-born publisher and intellectual who founded Éditions Robert Laffont in 1941. His name honors his lifelong contribution to French literature and Mediterranean culture.

A Cultural Space Open to the Sea

Together, the MuCEM, Fort Saint-Jean, and Cosquer Méditerranée form a dynamic cultural hub open to the sea — a space for reflection, leisure, and art, where history and modernity meet under the Marseille sun.