Parc Borély, Marseille (must see)

Borély Park, a public municipal park, holds the prestigious title of being one of the Notable Gardens of France, designated by the French Ministry of Culture. This exquisite park spans an impressive 17 hectares and comprises three distinct and enchanting gardens.

Its origins trace back to the 17th century when Joseph Borely, a French ship owner and merchant, purchased land in the picturesque area of Bonneveine, Marseille, with the intention of establishing a country house. Eventually, the domain was inherited by Louis-Joseph Borély in 1770, who then enlisted the renowned landscape architect Embry to create a magnificent Garden à la française.

In the 19th century, the property changed hands, passing first to Paulin Talabot, the director of the pioneering PLM railroad that connected Paris to Marseille, before being acquired by the city of Marseille.

Under the city's guidance, the eminent landscape architect Adolphe Alphande was entrusted to design a park with three distinct sections: a charming French garden, an idyllic English landscape park, and a horse racing track along the seaside. Several wooden pavilions were skillfully erected, with one remaining today - the former pavilion by the lake, which once served as the botanical laboratory of the Institut Colonial.

During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Borély Park also served as a botanical garden, a role later moved to an adjacent site. In 2002, a splendid two-hectare promenade was added, beautifully linking the park with the nearby sea.