Fort Saint-Jean

Summer days draw sunbathing locals to the manicured lawns surrounding Fort Saint-Jean, a defining landmark in the Old Port of Marseille. Admission to the fort is free, ensuring visitors access to year-round, rotating exhibitions staged by the adjacent Mucem. Outdoor performances, festivals, and shows enliven the fort grounds when the weather is fine, and the on-site restaurant, bookstore, and Mediterranean garden offer welcome respite on sultry days.

• It's a great place for first-time visitors to get oriented—views from the fort’s tower extend across the Old Port.

• Outdoor spaces at the fort are ideal for picnicking (but leave alcohol, glassware, and sharp knives behind).

• This is one of the best places in the city to photograph Marseille Cathedral (Cathédrale La Major).

Fort Saint-Jean is located on Promenade Louis Brauquier in the Old Port of Marseille. Two footbridges gain access to Fort Saint-Jean: Passerelle Fort Saint-Jean leads to the Mucem, while the Passerelle Parvis Saint-Jean links the fortress with Esplanade de la Tourette. The metro line No. 1 and buses 49, 60, 82, 83, and 582 stop at nearby Vieux-Port (Old Port) station, a roughly 10-minute walk from the fort.

Opening hours at Fort Saint-Jean are Wednesday through Monday, midmorning through midevening. The grounds stay open later for free and ticketed special events, such as cinema and open-air performances. Events are listed on the Mucem website, alongside information on guided tours and museum exhibitions.

Open-air restaurants serve bouillabaisse to strolling crowds in the Old Port of Marseille, a neighborhood that’s also home to some of the city’s top sights. After visiting the fort and museum, plan to check out Marseille Cathedral (Cathédrale La Major), Saint-Ferréol les Augustins church, and Abbey of St. Victor (Abbaye Saint-Victor). The Old Port is also the place to catch the ferry to island fortress Chateau d’If, from The Count of Monte Cristo.