The commercial expansion of Marseille in the 19th century led to a radical change in the city's layout. The Old Port could no longer accommodate all the traffic, and the construction of a second port became inevitable.

It was to facilitate the connection between the two ports that the works of the Imperial Street, now the Rue de la République, began in 1862.

935 houses will be destroyed, 61 streets will disappear entirely or partially, and even the hill will be cut away to build this street!

With its easily recognizable Haussmannian style, the Rue Impériale appealed to Marseille's high society, but the latter would abandon it to settle in the southern districts of the city.

Even today, and despite all the efforts of investors, this historic street is still struggling to take off.

Nevertheless, it remains a lovely walk, and I invite you to retrace its steps to discover its stories and secrets. From one port to the other, we'll explore together the businesses and initiatives that bring it to life.