European Heritage Days in La Ciotat

During these events, discovery trails, guided tours and exhibitions will be on offer to raise awareness of the fragility of our heritage and the importance of preserving it for future generations. This programme will allow you to discover the uniqueness and diversity of La Ciotat’s heritage. And to kick things off on Friday 18 September: Friday 18 September, 9.00 am to 12.00 pm: Heritage tour of the shipyards, preceded by a historical slideshow at the Maison de la Construction Navale. Maison de la Construction Navale – 46 Quai François Mitterrand prolongé Booking required on 04 42 08 65 23 / 06 43 20 63 16, limited to 40 people Friday 18 September at 6.30 pm Concert and show: the duo Odalva present ‘Pochette surprise’, where the poetry of everyday life comes to life through song. Simone Veil Media Centre – Rue de L’Ancien Hôpital. Booking required via the media library 04 42 32 70 60 La Ciotagraphie Discover your town’s heritage with a photo scavenger hunt! Fancy learning whilst having fun? Meet at the Maison de la Construction Navale – 46 quai François Mitterrand prolongé to collect your game pack and set off on a hunt for the town’s historical details! Programme for Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 September: Sainte-Anne Chapel – Microfolie – 4 Place Esquiros Listed as a historic monument in 2023, the chapel, built between 1630 and 1659, was originally the chapel of the Black Penitents. Today, it houses the Micro-Folie, a digital museum. Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 September, 2.00 pm to 6.00 pm: Screening of selected works highlighting the richness and fragility of our heritage. ‘Renaissance’ photography exhibition: the restoration of the Eden Théâtre as seen by photographer André Grasso. Saturday 19 September at 5.00 pm: ‘Quiz’art’ on the theme of heritage at risk Sunday 20 September from 2.00 pm to 6.00 pm: Immersion in underwater archaeology via virtual reality No booking required, subject to availability Maison de la Construction Navale – 46 Quai François Mitterrand (extended) An iconic venue tracing the history of shipbuilding in La Ciotat Saturday 19 September from 10.30 am to 6 pm / Sunday 20 September from 10 am to 5.30 pm: free admission: permanent and temporary exhibitions, artefacts, models, screenings and books. Ciotaden Museum – 1 Quai Ganteaume The former town hall, built in 1864 (listed as a Historic Monument), houses the Ciotaden Museum, whose collections – awarded the ‘Musée de France’ label – offer an insight into the town’s history. Saturday 19 September and Sunday 20 September, 10.00–18.00: Temporary exhibition ‘La Ciotat: Between Sea, Memory and Stone’, created by the town of La Ciotat to showcase the ‘Ville d’Art et d’Histoire’ scheme Eden Théâtre 25 boulevard Georges Clémenceau Built in 1889, the Eden Théâtre is the oldest cinema in the world still in operation; the building is a listed Historic Monument. Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 September: tours at 9.30 am and 11 am. Tours are limited to 100 people, admitted on a first-come, first-served basis at the cinema. Pavillon Emile Ripert – Impasse du Sécadou Emile Ripert (1882–1948), a poet from La Ciotat, university lecturer, passionate champion of Provence and founder of the Chair of Provençal Language at the University of Aix-Marseille, had a small pavilion built in his childhood home in Sécadou, where he found the peace and quiet he needed to write. Everything there seems frozen in time, as if the poet had left the premises only yesterday. Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 September: Tours from 3.00 pm. Bookings required at veroniqueripert@hotmail.com Bastide Marin – 1943 Avenue Guillaume Dulac The Bastide Marin, a 16th-century country house listed as a Historic Monument, combines the simplicity of its façades with a lavish Baroque interior, a legacy of the Marin family, who were ocean-going captains. Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 September from 10.00 am to 6.00 pm: free admission, hosted by the association ‘La Ciotat, il était une fois’. Chapelle des Pénitents Bleus - 17 Boulevard Jean Jaurès A listed historic monument built in 1626 by the Brotherhood of the Pénitents Bleus, it now serves as an exhibition space. Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 September, from 10.00 am to 12.30 pm and from 2.00 pm to 6.30 pm, free admission: Exhibition by photographer Marianne Paquin on La Ciotat’s little-known heritage. Notre Dame de La Garde Chapel – Chemin Notre Dame de La Garde The Notre Dame de La Garde Chapel, the second chapel of the Pénitents Bleus dating from 1613 and listed as a historic monument, houses a collection of maritime ex-votos. Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 September from 10.00 am to 6.00 pm with concerts at 4.00 pm On Saturday, a concert by the Amandin association; on Sunday, a concert by Jo le Saxo and his musicians. No booking required, subject to availability. Chapelle des Minimes – Place Guibert Built in 1633, the chapel resumed its role as a place of worship in 2012 and is now home to the United Protestant Church of France. It also serves as a venue for cultural events. Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 September from 3 pm to 6 pm: Historical tour of the chapel – Volunteers from the United Protestant Church will recount the history of this place. No booking required, subject to availability. Esplanade Langlois Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 September: Vintage car exhibition from 9.00 am to 6.00 pm and parades on both days at 5.00 pm. Event organised by the Ecurie Soleil Classic association Old Harbour – Quai Ganteaume and Quai François Mitterrand. Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 September from 9.00 am to 4.30 pm: Discover the traditional boats moored in the harbour, and set sail for a 20- to 30-minute tour. Registration on a first-come, first-served basis at the Calfats de l’Escalet stand on Quai Ganteaume, opposite the Church of Notre Dame de l’Assomption Historic centre Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 September from 9.00 am to 12.00 pm: Historical tour of the old town organised by the Atelier Bleu in partnership with the media library and the Ateliers du Vieux La Ciotat Meet at the Tourist Office; duration: 3½ hours. Book by calling 06 12 24 74 91 or emailing hmcaprosia@gmail.com Saturday 19 September only: Prud’homie de pêche – 8 Rue Adolphe Abeille Saturday 19 September at 10.00 am: Guided tour of the fishermen’s court and a chance to admire the rich ornamental tapestries depicting the life of Saint Peter, patron saint of fishermen, which are listed as a Historic Monument. Booking required on 04 42 08 88 56; tour limited to 20 people Archives – Town Hall, Rond-point des Messageries Maritimes Saturday 19 September at 9.00 am, 10.00 am and 11.00 am: Tour of the archives. Come and explore the municipal archives, custodians of our written heritage, and discover the town’s oldest documents. Booking required on 04 48 08 88 56; limited to 15 people per tour. Saint Joseph’s Chapel – Place Esquiros Built in 1691 by the Brotherhood of the Black Penitents. In 1819, they handed over the chapel to the Congregation of Saint Joseph, and it was dedicated to the saint in June 1821. The building is currently undergoing restoration. Saturday 19 September at 3.00 pm: Guided tour led by Father Patrick, a keen enthusiast of history and heritage. No booking required, subject to availability. Simone Veil Media Centre – Rue de l’Ancien Hôpital Saint-Jacques Hospital (1610), which was extended during the plague of 1720, became the Simone Veil Media Centre in 2013. Carefully restored, its architecture retains the 17th-century lantern dome. Saturday 19 September, 10.00–18.00, free admission: ‘Stories of the Îlot Saint-Jacques’ photography exhibition, documenting the regeneration of a historic neighbourhood in La Ciotat, from the initial works to its cultural renaissance. Théâtre de la Chaudronnerie – 19 Promenade Jeff Musso A former boilermaking workshop at the La Ciotat Shipyards, converted into a theatre. The renovation of the venue was recognised with a Les Rubans du Patrimoine award. Saturday 19 September at 10.00 am, 11.30 am and 2.00 pm: Guided and interactive tour of the theatre At 6.00 pm: Flash mob in front of the theatre Groups of 50 people / By registration only: www.lachaudronnerie-laciotat.com Historic centre Les Ateliers du Vieux La Ciotat – 7 Passage Gamet Saturday 19 September at 9.00 am: Old La Ciotat in transformation: 10 years of urban regeneration. Tour limited to 15 people – bookings required on 04 95 09 52 08 Môle Bérouard – Société Nationale des Sauveteurs en Mer – 19 Promenade Jeff Musso Founded in 1967, the SNSM carries on the tradition of sea rescue in France, thanks to the dedication of its volunteers. Saturday 19 September from 9.30 am to 1 pm and from 2 pm to 6 pm, free entry: Guided tour of the SNSM boat with explanations of its history. Cœur d’Honoré The Cœur d’Honoré is a 7-hectare site situated in a small valley overlooking La Ciotat, at the start of the Route des Crêtes. The site is rounded, shaped like an amphitheatre, and features the remains of terraced fields, farm buildings, dwellings and water extraction facilities (cisterns, springs, etc.). Saturday 19 September from 9.30 am to 4.30 pm: training session and community work day to restore the dry-stone walls Meet at the car park at the start of the Route des Crêtes, near the Roger Le Guerec School Booking required by email: fabienne.aladern@jardinesperance.org – limited to 15 people Louis Marin School The Louis Marin School is one of the oldest schools in La Ciotat; founded in 1933, it was renovated in 2025. Saturday 19 September from 9.00 am to 12.00 pm – free entry (ground floor only) Maritime Heritage – Carènes Saturday 19 September from 8.00 am to 6.00 pm: Open Day at the association’s premises. Discover La Ciotat’s maritime heritage: presentation of traditional methods and demonstrations. Sunday 20 September only: Once upon a time… the penitents Sunday 20 September from 10.00 am to 11.30 am: A storytelling walk to discover the three brotherhoods of La Ciotat. Booking required on 04 42 08 88 56; tour limited to 25 people. Meet at 9.45 am – Place Gautier Town Hall – The Mayor’s Office Built between 1976 and 1978, it originally housed the offices and management of the shipyards before being converted into the Town Hall. Sunday 20 September at 9.45 am and 10.45 am: Tour of the Mayor’s Office Booking required via the town’s website www.laciotat.com Notre Dame de l’Assomption Church – Quai Ganteaume – Old Port Built between 1603 and 1626 in the Romanesque style by the architect Nicolas d’Aix and his son Balthasar, the building is now listed as a Historic Monument. Sunday 20 September at 3.00 pm: Guided tour led by Father Patrick, a keen enthusiast of history and heritage. Shipyard – 46 Quai François Mitterrand Sunday 20 September from 10.00 am to 5.00 pm: Free access to the shipyards of La Ciotat. A signposted walking trail to discover the history of the shipyards, the facilities and the activities involved in the maintenance and repair of large yachts. Entrance via the Esplanade de la Capitainerie (pedestrian access only) Booking recommended but not compulsory at: https://www.laciotat-shipyards.com/fr/jep/ The Palais Lumière – 257 Allée Lumière – Rond-Point Lumière Between 1890 and 1903, Antoine Lumière acquired, through a series of purchases, an estate covering more than 80 hectares. In 1892–93, he had a superb Tuscan-style château built there (34 rooms covering an area of approximately 1,100 m²), inspired by the fin-de-siècle mansions of the Côte d’Azur. Sunday 20 September from 10.00 am to 12.00 pm and from 3.00 pm to 6.00 pm: In the foyer of the Palais Lumière: Exhibition of film equipment, film screenings and information on the history of cinema, organised by the Ciné-Club Amateur de Provence. Free admission. Sunday 20 September at 10.00 am and 3.00 pm (duration: 2 hours 30 minutes): Guided tours of the gardens and the Grand Salon By booking only on 04 42 08 88 56; tours limited to 30 people