2 Boulevard Paul-Peytral, Marseille

In the heart of downtown Marseille, just a short walk from Place Castellane, stands the imposing Hôtel de Préfecture of the Bouches-du-Rhône. Built between 1862 and 1866 on the orders of Prefect Charlemagne Émile de Maupas, this prestigious monument is a masterpiece of Second Empire architecture. Its Napoléon III style, directly inspired by Florence’s Palazzo Vecchio, reflects the determination to assert the presence and authority of the French State in the Phocaean city.

An administrative and residential palace

Behind its monumental façade, the Hôtel de Préfecture houses the administrative offices of the prefect, the State’s representative responsible for maintaining public order in the department. It also contains meeting rooms, richly decorated reception halls, and even private residential quarters for the prefect and his family. Measuring nearly 90 by 80 meters, the building is organized around two interior courtyards and extends into a landscaped garden that softens its solemn appearance.

An architecture of prestige

The façade of the Hôtel de Préfecture is one of its most striking features. Adorned with columns, pilasters, and decorative pediments, it exemplifies the grandeur of the Second Empire. Tall symmetrical windows, elegant cornices, and ornamental balconies enhance the impression of power and refinement. This balance between monumentality and finesse recalls the influence of Italian architecture while asserting the political and administrative role of the site.

A witness to Marseille’s history

Inaugurated in January 1867, the Hôtel de Préfecture has since been the setting for many important events. It was here that the Commune of Marseille was proclaimed in 1871, and where the city’s liberation took place in August 1944. Listed as a Historic Monument since 1979, it remains today one of Marseille’s key institutional landmarks, where history, power, and representation converge.

A place still in operation

Although the building is not freely open to visitors except on special occasions such as European Heritage Days, it draws attention with its elegance and symbolic importance. As the departmental administrative center, it is also where the prefect — a senior official appointed by the President of the Republic — carries out his mission: ensuring public safety, enforcing the law, coordinating State services, and acting as an intermediary with local authorities.

An architectural stop

Whether admired from Place de la Préfecture or up close for its architectural details, the Hôtel de Préfecture of the Bouches-du-Rhône remains a major landmark in Marseille’s cityscape. At once the seat of administrative power and a witness to historic events, it highlights Marseille’s central role in France’s political and institutional life.