Fort Saint-Jean (Marseille)

Fort Saint-Jean guards the northern side of the Old Port entrance in Marseille, a stout stone fortress that has watched over the harbour mouth for centuries. Its oldest elements date back to the medieval Knights Hospitaller, while the fort as it stands was largely built in the seventeenth century under King Louis XIV, partly to control the often rebellious city as much as to defend it.

Two towers rise above the walls. The square medieval Tour du Roi René and the round Tour du Fanal, once a beacon for ships, are the fort's most prominent features, standing at the very tip of land where the harbour meets the open sea. The ramparts and courtyards below have seen use as a garrison, a prison and a military depot over the years.

Its modern life is cultural. The fort has been restored and linked, by a dramatic high footbridge, to the neighbouring museum of European and Mediterranean civilisations, so that the historic ramparts now double as gardens, exhibition spaces and terraces. A second bridge connects it directly to the old town district behind, weaving the fortress back into the fabric of the city.

It is one of the finest free vantage points in Marseille. Walking the walls and gardens gives sweeping views over the Old Port, the cathedral, the harbour forts opposite and the sea, at no charge, though the adjacent museum and its exhibitions are ticketed. Mediterranean planting softens the old stone, and shaded corners offer respite from the sun. Steps, ramps and uneven surfaces mean access varies across the site. Combined with the waterfront museum and a stroll around the port, the fort anchors one of the most rewarding walks in the city.