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FOUNTAINS

The Four Nations Fountain
this recently constructed fountain is the heiress of an older one built in 1690. This monument reproduced a Parisian fountain that was built in 1686 to celebrate the victories of Louis XIV. It was so finely executed that when seen by Parisian travellers they noted in their correspondence "those who have seen the Fountain of Paris, haven't seen anything until they've seen the Fountain of Cassis". This expression, transformed by Frederic Mistral at the beginning of the 20th century, endures and has become emblematic of the village. According to local history, the original fountain was accidentally broken in 1785 by a Catalan fisherman who had climbed to the top of it so that he could have a better view of the Midsummer's Day festivities of Saint-Jean.

The fountain Baragnon
In the middle of the park, this fountain pays homage to Pierre Baragnon, owner of the castle of Fontcreuse in the 19th century and Adviser General of the Canton for 20 years whose untiring efforts gave way to the water channel between Marseilles and Cassis in 1892. .

L’HÔTEL DE VILLE (Town Hall)

This private mansion was built during the 17th century by Désiré of Moustiers, former consul of Marseilles. It then passed through the hands of several owners before being bought in 1938 by the municipality of Cassis to serve as the Town Hall which has resided there since 1945.
It has been a listed building since 1984 thanks to the rich heritage that it holds within: the Salon d'Honneur with its coffered ceiling, the Renaissance chimney, the chapel with it's ornate ceiling, the facade with its Louis XIII windows and the fine entrance hall with balustrade staircase.Restoration work carried out in 1998 allowed the update of its medieval vestiges which are visible from the ground floor thanks to windows in the flagstones.

VILLA L'ARIANE

This country house of italo-provençal style formerly belonged to a wine grower from Cassis. Respectfully restored by the Municipality, it now accommodates, on three floors, the Public library and the School of Music which is housed in an ancient greenhouse that overhangs a decorative garden.

VILLA MAURESQUE

Joined to the castle, this dwelling from the turn of the 20th century owes its name to its style, which recalls the colonial properties that were built in Algeria at about the same time. It was bought, along with the castle of which it was formerly dependant, by an American who had fallen in love with Cassis. On his death, his estate was passed hand to hand, until the Municipality repurchased the Villa in 1979. Currently closed to the public, it is undergoing a restoration project to develop a cultural space.

TRIBUNAL DE PÊCHE (Fishing Court)

Located alongside the port on the Barthelemy quay, it testifies to the long time prevalent activity of the commune, that's to say the fight by the people of Cassis to distance themselves from the "despotic, tyrannical, expensive, suspect and abusive" jurisdiction of the conciliation boards of Marseilles. This right was granted to them in 1791.
The facade of the courthouse houses, in a niche, a wooden statue of Saint Pierre, (Saint Peter) patron saint of fishermen, which was restored in 1984 and is traditionally carried out in procession to the church on the last Sunday in June ; the time of Saint Pierre. The ceremony is followed by a blessing made at sea to all boats and a homage is made to all missing sailors.

BESTOUAN IRON FACTORY

Located at the bottom of the bay of Bestouan, it constitutes a fine example of industrial heritage from the Second French Empire. It was the location of a very short lived iron and steel industry considering its construction began in 1856 and its liquidation was marked in 1861.Fate dealt a bad hand when, just after its construction, there was a serious economic crisis which was to be fatal for the business. The site now boasts two inhabited dwellings, a wall at the foot of the cliff, an arched door framed by two semicircular windows, stone corbels and a 33m high chimney.