The statue of Marseille
The oldest city in France and its Mediterranean gateway — founded by Greek sailors twenty-six centuries ago.
Among the eight monumental statues that crown the corners of Place de la Concorde, each representing a great French city as a seated woman wearing a mural crown, Marseille was carved between 1836 and 1840 for the redesign of the square under King Louis-Philippe, led by the architect Jacques-Ignace Hittorff.
History & sculptor
Marseille turns toward the south, toward the Mediterranean she has faced since Greek sailors from Phocaea founded Massalia around 600 BC — the oldest city in France. She was sculpted by Pierre Petitot, who also carved her neighbour Lyon.
A woman for a city
Like her seven sisters, Marseille is a woman: the allegory of the city as a protective, sovereign figure. The mural crown she wears — a diadem shaped like city walls and towers — has symbolised a fortified city since Antiquity. She was placed on the south side of the square, turned toward her own region of France.
- 🏛️City representedMarseille
- ⛏SculptorPierre Petitot (1794–1862)
- 📅Period1836–1840 · reign of Louis-Philippe
- 📍LocationSouth side of Place de la Concorde, 75008 Paris
- 👑AttributeMural crown — emblem of a fortified city
- 🌐Part of
The eight statues on Place de la Concorde
The map is centred on the Luxor Obelisk so you can take in all eight city statues at once — the one you are viewing, Marseille, is marked in red.