It is one of the most popular beaches in Marseille, not far from the Old Port, which welcomes up to 2,000 people a day.

Plage des Catalans is one of the must-see spots in Marseille, especially when the sun's rays seriously raise the temperature in France's second city.

But the face of this mythical beach will change.

This Tuesday, during a press conference, the city of Marseille presented its plan to redevelop the Catalans beach, designed by the architectural firm Yvan Pluskwa.

No less than 11.2 million euros will be committed to carry out this work until the start of 2025. 20 Minutes takes stock. 

Push yourself beach volleyball

They have been present on a large part of the beach since 1949. The Catalans volleyball club will have to leave its historic ground to be relocated elsewhere, to the place which currently houses the lockers and other beach sanitary facilities in prefabricated buildings. .

At the request of the president of the volleyball club, however, the sand of the Catalans will be dumped on the concrete slab which will serve as a support for the pitches.

“We can punctually anticipate if they want to organize tournaments on the beach”, specifies the mayor of the sector of the 1st and 7th arrondissements, Sophie Camard.

Result: for sunbathing, a space increased by 1,700 m². 

A more accessible walk 

Along the Seo One, this brand new building built on one side of the beach, the city of Marseille will create a public square, as well as a promenade to the sea, after the demolition of the slab carried out this year at this location.

A gently sloping ramp, to allow access to the beach for everyone.

The iron staircase that now allows access to the beach will also be removed.

Only the arch that makes Instagram fanatics happy will be kept, with a request for classification as historical monuments. 

New functions for the arcana and the Lazaretto tower

So far, these are two unusual and abandoned historical sites.

On one side of the beach still stands the Lazaret tower, erected in the 16th century but which is now falling into disrepair.

“We are going to organize archaeological excavations which will make it possible to determine a more precise age for this tower, and to have it classified as a historic monument”, announces Hervé Menchon, deputy mayor in charge of the coast.

The tower will then be rehabilitated and opened to the public.

Its function, however, remains to be determined... by the people of Marseille.

The town hall is indeed organizing a consultation to collect the ideas of the inhabitants since this Monday, and until July 9, online, but also in a shed installed on the beach.

The Marseillais are also invited to comment on the

use of the 400 m² freed up by the rehabilitation of the arcades planned as part of this work, now buried and walled.

“In the alcoves, we put showers and toilets to remove