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On the set of Plus belle la vie à Marseille
The best life in Marseille
Although most of the scenes are shot in studio, Plus belle la vie also regularly uses places that really exist in Marseille for more realism.
The Mistral district
Inspired by the Marseilles district of Le Panier, Michel Blaise, the set designer built a fake district of almost 1,100m2 to embody the Mistral district. These facilities are kept at the Belle de Mai media centre studios. Historic district of Marseille, this site is reputed to be the oldest in the city. It was founded in 600 BC. The locations have long attracted cameras, including those of Jacques Deray for Borsalino and Richard Berry for The Immortal. This is also where the actor Patrick Bosso and the rapper Le Rat Luciano grew up. The terrace of the Bar des 13 coins, 45 rue Sainte-Françoise, served as a model for Roland’s bar, while the Notre-Dame de la Garde basilica is regularly used in the aerial views of the series.
Vincent Scotto High School
The youngest characters in the series go to high school, like many others. But this school is actually the administrative services building of the Hôpital de la Conception de Marseille, built between 1982 and 1985.
The Baumettes prison
If life is more beautiful, it is sometimes strange and dangerous. Also, to lock up certain evil individuals, the Baumettes prison is the best place. Several characters are incarcerated there regularly, rightly or wrongly, but always in the same place. The facility is known to be old and unhealthy, but the buildings are scheduled to be demolished in the course of 2020. In other words, there is little time left before this infamous building collapses.
Borély Park
The splendid gardens of Parc Borély are regularly put to good use, and are perfectly displayed on the screen. At the heart of many intrigues, the park is not only known to the people of Marseille for the show, but also, and above all, because it is home to the annual world championship La Marseillaise à pétanque, the sport that cannot be ignored in the city of Marseille. Also mentioned many times in Marcel Pagnol’s famous novel, La Gloire de mon père, the park is a place to visit absolutely.
Saint Joseph Chapel
267D Boulevard du Redon, 13009 Marseille
St. Joseph’s Chapel is another place used many times, notably in the series for secret meetings between Charles Frémont (Alexandre Fabre) and Mr. Massago. Overlooking Marseille on a hill of almost 7 hectares now used as a park, the building houses a statue of Saint Joseph contemplating Jesus Christ. This sculpture was made in 1849 by a prisoner in the Toulon prison, noticed by one of the clergymen for his talent.
Restaurant Le Daily
136 Avenue Clot Bey, 13008 Marseille
Anémone Vitreuil (Anne Canovas) and Philippe Duchêne (Xavier Thiam) eat together in the restaurant Le Daily during episode 3557, in season 14. Overlooking the golf course and with a view of the racecourse, the exceptional setting and the excellent cuisine of this establishment will enchant more than one fine gourmet.
Prado Shopping Centre
41 Boulevard Michelet, 13008 Marseille
Producers don’t waste any time. barely open, the mall is already home to a plot in the series. Théo (Jules Fabre) and Mélissa (Claire-Aurore Bartolo) meet in the galleries of this complex inaugurated in 2018.
Grand Littoral Shopping Centre
11 Avenue de Saint-Antoine, 13015 Marseille
Impossible to shoot in Marignane? Production found a solution, transforming the Marseille Grand Littoral shopping centre into an airport thanks to digital retouching. Adding an airplane taking off, the illusion is perfect, but not enough not to recognize the huge complex frequented by more than 13 million visitors a year. The largest shopping centre in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region, it is also the fifth largest in France.
The Barber of Marseille
Abdel Fedala (Marwan Berreni) goes to this very famous barber in the Phocaean city with his father in episode 3842, featured in season 15. The manager, Mehdi, plays his own role.
Marcel Pagnol Gymnasium
Gymnase du Mont-Rose, 13008 Marseille
To feature the Marcel Pagnol Gymnasium on screen, the production uses the Mont-Rose gymnasium, notably for basketball games.
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By Anthony Thibault
From the "Casimir generation", Anthony has kept (in addition to a passion for Goldorak) a taste for inventive images, experimentation and curiosity. Passionate about travel and pop culture, he co-founded Fantrippers with Nicolas Albert to share his passion with as many people as possible.