Maison Diamantée (Diamond House), Marseille

Historic Building in Marseille

Maison Diamantee
Maison Diamantee
CC BY-SA 3.0 / Guiguilacagouille

Just a few steps uphill from the bustling Vieux-Port, La Maison Diamantée stands almost theatrically still, its chiselled stone façade catching the light like cut crystal. Built by wealthy Italian and Spanish merchants between the late 16th and early 18th centuries, it rises on the former gardens of the Palais de Provence, when Marseille was booming as a Mediterranean trading hub. The “diamond point boss” stonework on the front is a clear nod to Florentine Medici palaces, a show of status from families who wanted everyone arriving at the harbour to know they had made it.

Over the centuries, this house sheltered some of Marseille's great patrician families, later housing port workers and Italian immigrants as the neighbourhood changed. Remarkably, La Maison Diamantée survived both neglect and the wartime destruction that wiped out much of the old town in 1943. Today, it hosts municipal services and is closed to interior visits, but its exterior remains a beautiful glimpse of historic Marseille. Because it sits just behind the Hotel de Ville and close to the Old Port, it is often visited on walking tours of Marseille that explore the Panier's lanes and the city's maritime past.

History and Significance of La Maison Diamantée

La Maison Diamantée owes its existence to the merchant elites who shaped Marseille's fortunes in the early modern period. Built between the late 1500s and early 1700s, it rose on the former garden of the Palais de Provence, when the city was expanding and wealthy traders from Italy and Spain were investing in prestigious townhouses. The diamond-pointed stone blocks on the façade were inspired by Medici palaces in Florence, signalling both cultural aspiration and economic power. This was a house designed to impress from the street, projecting stability and wealth in a port where ships and fortunes came and went.

Over time, prominent families such as Saboulin Bollena and Castellane Majastre made the residence their home, weaving it into the fabric of the city's upper-class life. By the 19th century, the building reflected a different Marseille: it became accommodation for port employees and Italian immigrants, mirroring the shift from patrician residence to working harbour city. Even in this more modest phase, the carved façade remained a reminder of the Old Port's golden age.

The 20th century could easily have erased La Maison Diamantée. Dilapidated by 1914, it was rescued from ruin by the association Art et Charité, later bequeathed to the Comité du Vieux-Marseille. It was officially listed as a Monument historique in 1925 and, almost miraculously, survived the large-scale demolitions ordered by the German authorities in 1943 that destroyed much of the surrounding district. From 1967 to 2009 it housed the Musée du Vieux Marseille, before those collections moved to the Marseille History Museum. Today, even if you can't step inside, the building stands as a compact, richly textured symbol of Marseille's layered urban memory.

Things to See and Do in La Maison Diamantée

Although La Maison Diamantée is not open for public tours, there is still plenty to appreciate from the street. Start on Rue de la Prison and take your time studying the façade: the “diamond point” stones give the walls a faceted texture, catching shadows and light in a way that changes throughout the day. Look up to spot window surrounds, carved details and the rhythm of the openings, all of which echo the Italian Renaissance inspirations that shaped its design.

If the gate is open, you may catch a glimpse of the remarkable staircase inside, one of the most admired features of the house. Even a partial view hints at the level of craftsmanship invested in these patrician residences. It’s a reminder that, behind many plain doors in the Panier, there are courtyards, stairwells and salons that once belonged to Marseille’s merchant aristocracy.

The real joy of visiting La Maison Diamantée is fitting it into a wider wander through the Panier quarter and the Old Port. From here you're only a minute or two from the Hotel de Ville, the quays of the Vieux-Port and the narrow streets of the hilltop neighbourhood. La Maison Diamantée is one of the must-see places in Marseille if you're interested in how trade, migration and Mediterranean influences have shaped the city's architecture, and it pairs perfectly with nearby stops like the Marseille History Museum and the Hôtel de Cabre.

How to Get to the La Maison Diamantée

La Maison Diamantée is located at 2 rue de la Prison, in the 2nd arrondissement, just behind Marseille's City Hall and a short stroll from the Vieux-Port. The nearest major gateway is Marseille Provence Airport, which offers frequent flights from across France and Europe, with shuttle buses and trains linking the airport to the city centre. For the best deals and a seamless booking experience, check out these flights to Marseille on Booking.com.

If you are arriving by train, Marseille Saint-Charles is the main station, served by TGV high-speed services from Paris and other major cities, as well as regional trains from along the Mediterranean coast. From the station, you can take the metro to Vieux-Port/Hotel de Ville, then walk a few minutes through the Old Port area and up into the Panier to reach the house. You can use SNCF Connect to check schedules, compare routes, and purchase tickets for National (SNCF ) and regional trains (TER). For a more streamlined experience, we recommend using Omio, which allows you to easily compare prices, schedules, and book tickets for both National and Regional travel across all of Europe, all in one place.

For those driving, follow signs to Vieux-Port and look for public car parks around the harbour or underground garages nearby, then continue on foot into the pedestrian-friendly streets of the Panier to find Rue de la Prison and La Maison Diamantée. If you are looking to rent a car in France I recommend having a look at Discover Cars, first, as they compare prices and review multiple car rental agencies for you. The lanes around the building are narrow, historic and best experienced without a vehicle.

Practical Tips on Visiting the La Maison Diamantée

  • Suggested tips: Treat La Maison Diamantée as a highlight stop on a broader walk through the Panier, linking it with the Hotel de Ville, the Old Port and the Marseille History Museum.
  • Best time to visit: Late morning or late afternoon, when the angled stone of the façade casts strong shadows that really emphasise the diamond-point pattern.
  • Entrance fee: Free to admire from the outside; the interior is not open to public visits.
  • Opening hours: As the building houses municipal services, access is generally limited to office hours on weekdays; the exterior can be seen at any time.
  • How long to spend: Allow 10-20 minutes to appreciate the façade and staircase (if visible), plus extra time to wander the surrounding streets.
  • Accessibility: The immediate area is cobbled and slightly sloped; wheelchair users and visitors with reduced mobility may find some approaches uneven but can still enjoy views from nearby streets.
  • Facilities: There are no visitor facilities inside; cafés, restaurants and shops are plentiful around the Vieux-Port and throughout the Panier.
  • Photography tip: Stand slightly off to one side of Rue de la Prison to capture the full height of the façade and its diamond-point pattern without distortion.
  • Guided tours: Look for city or neighbourhood tours that include La Maison Diamantée as a stop, as guides often share stories about the families who lived here and the wartime destruction it escaped.
  • Nearby food options: Head downhill to the Old Port for waterfront brasseries, or explore the Panier's small squares and side streets for cosy bistros and wine bars.

Where to Stay close to the La Maison Diamantée

Staying near La Maison Diamantée puts you in the heart of old Marseille, within easy walking distance of the Vieux-Port, the Panier and many key sights. For a grand, historic option with sweeping views over the harbour, InterContinental Marseille - Hotel Dieu occupies a former hospital just a short stroll uphill, blending luxury with a sense of place. Down by the water, Hôtel La Résidence du Vieux-Port offers stylish rooms facing the Old Port, making it easy to wander across to City Hall and up to La Maison Diamantée in minutes. If you prefer a more intimate base close to the Panier's alleyways, Hôtel Hermès Vieux Port provides simple, comfortable accommodation just behind the port with a rooftop terrace overlooking the harbour.

Is the La Maison Diamantée Worth Visiting?

If you measure a site only by how much you can see inside, La Maison Diamantée might seem like a quick stop. But judged as a piece of living streetscape and memory, it's a quietly powerful place. This diamond-pointed façade is a rare survival from pre-revolutionary Marseille, linking Medici-inspired merchant mansions, immigrant stories and wartime devastation in a single building. For anyone who enjoys reading a city through its architecture and wandering old quarters beyond the obvious postcard views, La Maison Diamantée is absolutely worth including in your time around the Vieux-Port and the Panier.

What Other Travellers Say...

Reviews Summary

4.0 (154)

Maison Diamantée, located on Rue Fort du Sanctuaire in Marseille, is noted for its original exterior covered in diamond-shaped reliefs that give the building its name; visitors describe it as an interesting, well-preserved historic building that survived a dynamite blast and now houses a library open to the public free of charge, though some warn of organised pickpocket gangs in the area.

Tayn Nguyen
a year ago
"Be aware of organised pickpocket gangs."
Helen Rakic
3 years ago
"Very interesting place to visit in marseilles"
Laurynas Kundrotas
9 years ago
"Super"

FAQs for Visiting La Maison Diamantée

La Maison Diamantée stands at 2 rue de la Prison in the 2nd arrondissement, just behind the Hotel de Ville and a short walk from the Vieux-Port.
No, the building currently houses municipal services and is not open for public interior visits, but you can freely admire the façade and sometimes glimpse the staircase.
Most visitors spend 10-20 minutes here, often as part of a wider walk through the Panier and Old Port area.
Yes, it’s a brief, easy stop on a family stroll through the old town, especially if you’re introducing children to how cities change over time.
Yes, it’s a great place to visit on a walking tour of Marseille that links the Vieux-Port, the Hotel de Ville, the Panier and nearby museums.

Nearby Attractions to the La Maison Diamantée

  • Vieux-Port (Old Port): The lively harbour basin of Marseille, lined with cafés, boat trips and historic views in every direction.
  • Hôtel de Ville (City Hall): Baroque waterfront town hall just below La Maison Diamantée, symbolising centuries of civic life.
  • Marseille History Museum: Extensive urban history museum at Centre Bourse, showcasing finds from the ancient port and the city's long past.
  • Le Panier Quarter: The oldest district of Marseille, full of steep lanes, colourful facades, street art and small galleries.
  • La Vieille Charité: Beautiful 17th-century former almshouse in the Panier, now a cultural centre and home to major archaeological and world arts museums.

The Maison Diamantée (Diamond House) appears in our Complete Guide to Visiting Marseille!

Moira & Andy
Moira & Andy

Hey! We're Moira & Andy. From hiking the Camino to trips around Europe in Bert our campervan — we've been traveling together since retirement in 2020!

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Planning Your Visit

Hours:

As the building houses municipal services, access is generally limited to office hours on weekdays; the exterior can be seen at any time.

Price:

Free to admire from the outside; the interior is not open to public visits.

Address: Maison Diamantée (La), Rue de la Prison, Marseille, France
Marseille: 1 km

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