Natural heritage
2 hectares of green spaces in the heart of Marseille
An integral part of the monument's history alongside its architecture and memory, the natural heritage of the fort Saint-Nicolas refers to its gardens, the rocky outcrop on which it was built, and the fauna that inhabits it. With the aim of restoring the site in a virtuous manner and in accordance with regenerative principles, the Citadelle de Marseille has chosen to give the natural ecosystems of the fort the same attention as that given to the buildings and people.
PIERRE GONDARDDROITS RESERVES
Its green spaces, located on the north and west facades, alongside the rocky outcrop, have never been landscaped as they were intended to serve their purpose as military glacis, i.e., a slope slowing down enemy attacks. Their low vegetation has thus been left wild, promoting the maintenance of a biodiversity typical of the massifs of the Calanques, to which inputs from neighboring ornamental plants have been associated. Transformed and degraded by human activity, particularly the soils of the site, are affected by heavy metal pollution resulting from military practices (bombing, weapon storage, and vehicle parking).
Thus, since 2022, the Citadelle de Marseille has been working alongside the Population Environment Development Laboratory of Aix-Marseille University and ecologist Isabelle Lafont-Schwobb on the implementation of nature-based solutions for pollution management and soil regeneration: bioremediation.
Natural heritage is also a focus of creation and research, inviting artists in residence to share the challenges and tools of ecological engineering research.
Parcourez le fort sous un angle nouveau lors d'une visite qui vous fera découvrir la richesse cachée des jardins de la Citadelle !
Bioremediation
Is a set of solutions involving the use of microorganisms, fungi, or plants to restore an environment altered by contaminants to its natural, biologically healthy state.