Mosquée de l'Arsenal des Galères (ancienne) , ou Mosquée des Galériens Turcs
MonumentHidden Treasure
Mosquée de l'Arsenal des Galères (ancienne) , ou Mosquée des Galériens Turcs, located in Marseille (Bouches-du-Rhône), is a Renaissance château built in the 16th century. The monument is currently closed to visitors.
Key facts
- Type
- autre
- Period
- Renaissance (16th century)
- Location
- Marseille, Bouches-du-Rhône, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
- Visit
- Closed to visitors
- GPS
- 43.2642, 5.3765
- Mérimée Reference
- PA00081366
A unique vestige of the Ottoman presence in Marseille, this former Turkish galley slaves' mosque bears witness to the tragic fate of the Barbary slaves on the royal galleys in the 17th and 18th centuries.
History
In the heart of Marseille's Old Port, hidden away in the maze of alleyways inherited from the time of Louis XIV, the former Mosque of the Arsenal des Galères is one of the most unusual and moving architectural testimonies to the city of Marseille. This small building, the only vestige of its kind in mainland France, is a reminder that for two centuries Marseille was the main port for the galleys of the kingdom of France, and that thousands of men from the shores of the eastern Mediterranean lived and died there in chains. What makes this monument absolutely unique is its dual status as a place of worship and a symbol of a little-known history: that of the Muslim convicts - Turks, Moors, Barbary pirates - who rowed on the galleys of the Sun King and his successors. Allowed to practise their religion within the confines of the arsenal, these men had a place to pray that survived the disappearance of the galleys themselves. This is a rare testimony to the coexistence, even if forced, of two worlds that were at odds with each other. A visit to this modest building, steeped in history, is an invitation to meditate on the human flows that shaped Marseille long before it became the capital of French cosmopolitanism. The walls of the mosque have absorbed centuries of whispered prayers in Arabic and Turkish, the pleas of men who looked out to sea but could not cross freely. The surrounding area, in the Arsenal district which has since been transformed into a cultural and residential area, offers a historic walk along the old port ramparts. For those with a passion for maritime history, Franco-Ottoman relations or simply forgotten heritage, this listed building offers a rare and deeply original experience in Marseille's cultural landscape.
Architecture
The former Turkish Galley Mosque is a modest Muslim religious building, adapted to the constraints of an industrial and military area. The building, of reduced dimensions, follows the tradition of garrison or public prayer halls as they were built in Mediterranean countries under Ottoman influence in the 17th century: a simple rectangular volume, facing Mecca, with a single room covered by a wooden framework or a low masonry vault. The materials used are those of the Marseilles construction style of the period: local limestone from the Cassis or La Couronne region, lime rendering and pinewood joinery. The absence of a minaret - perhaps replaced by a simple sound signal - betrays the constrained and discreet nature of this place of worship, which was tolerated but not officially recognised by the Kingdom of France. The sober exterior façade barely hints at the building's religious vocation, which no doubt enabled it to survive the Revolution without being demolished or desecrated. The interior must have contained the minimal liturgical elements of a mosque: a clearly marked orientation towards the qibla (the direction of Mecca, i.e. south-east from Marseille), a mihrab carved into the south-east wall indicating the direction of prayer, and probably a fountain or basin for ritual ablutions. The whole structure, which has no decorative pretensions, reflects functional necessity rather than architectural ambition, which paradoxically gives it a particularly moving authenticity and sobriety.
Related Figures
Jean-Baptiste Colbert — ministre de Louis XIV, organisateur de l'Arsenal des Galères de MarseilleLouis XIV — dont le règne vit l'apogée de la flotte des galères et la tolérance du culte musulman dans l'arsenalLe chevalier de Forbin — célèbre amiral des galères royales, contemporain de la mosquéeJean Marteilhe — galérien protestant auteur de mémoires évoquant la vie dans les chiourmes marseillaisesDragut (Turgut Reis) — corsaire ottoman dont les compagnons capturés peuplèrent les chiourmes françaises
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Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Mosquée de l'Arsenal des Galères (ancienne) , ou Mosquée des Galériens Turcs located?
Mosquée de l'Arsenal des Galères (ancienne) , ou Mosquée des Galériens Turcs is located in Marseille, Bouches-du-Rhône department, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region, France.
When was Mosquée de l'Arsenal des Galères (ancienne) , ou Mosquée des Galériens Turcs built?
Mosquée de l'Arsenal des Galères (ancienne) , ou Mosquée des Galériens Turcs dates back to a period built during the Renaissance (16th century).
Is Mosquée de l'Arsenal des Galères (ancienne) , ou Mosquée des Galériens Turcs open to visitors?
Mosquée de l'Arsenal des Galères (ancienne) , ou Mosquée des Galériens Turcs is currently closed to visitors.