📖 La Ciotat, a port steeped in history…
🏺 Ancient origins
The Gulf of La Ciotat has attracted people for millennia. Excavations at Ellianac and in the Terrevaine Cave reveal the presence of sedentary tribes as early as 3000 BC. In the 5th century BC, the town became a stopover for ancient navigators.
📜 Birth of a commune
In 1429, a charter recognized La Ciotat as a commune in its own right. In the 16th century, the town expanded with the arrival of Genoese noble families, who came from Italy after political unrest.
⚓ A port focused on shipbuilding
In 1622, shipyards were established. Despite a decline in the 18th century, they regained their dynamism in the 19th century thanks to Louis Benet, who gave the site an industrial dimension. In 1836, Le Phocéen, the first French steamship in the Mediterranean, was launched, followed by the Bonaparte in 1839.
🏛️ A rich and vibrant heritage
La Ciotat is full of treasures: churches, chapels, old gates, typical squares, private mansions... Old La Ciotat captivates with its charm and warm Provençal atmosphere, where past and present coexist.
⚫ The invention of pétanque
At the beginning of the 20th century, Jules Le Noir, a merchant suffering from rheumatism, played the game sitting in a circle marked on the ground. His friend Mr. Pitiot suggested playing "with your feet tanqués" (glued to the ground)... Pétanque was born right here in La Ciotat!
🎬 The birthplace of cinema
In 1895, Louis Lumière stayed in La Ciotat. There, he developed the cinematograph and shot some of the first films in history: Arrival of a Train at La Ciotat Station, The Sprinkler Sprinkled… The first private screening took place on September 21, 1895, at the Palais Lumière, even before Paris!
In 1899, the Éden Théâtre hosted the first public ticketed cinema screening, making La Ciotat a mecca of the seventh art. This cinema, still in operation, is now a listed historic monument. 🎞️
Today:
Economically, La Ciotat is experiencing a revival thanks to the rehabilitation of the former shipyards, now focused on luxury yachting and maritime technologies.
La Ciotat seduces with its authentic Mediterranean atmosphere. Its bustling alleyways, colorful markets, festivals, and vibrant port offer a quality of life appreciated by both locals and visitors.