280 boulevard Michelet, 13008 Marseille

Hotel le Corbusier

Name: Hotel le Corbusier
Address: 280 boulevard Michelet, Marseille, 13008, fr
Price range: 123 EUR - 206 EUR

Hotel-restaurant 3-star in Marseille

With parking
Design
3 stars
Family
Accessible for disabled

Presentation

Hotel Le Corbusier occupies a truly unique place in Marseille's hospitality landscape. Located within the Cité Radieuse, this iconic building designed by Le Corbusier is one of the rare UNESCO World Heritage sites that welcomes travelers. Staying here is much more than just a night at a hotel: you experience an architectural and sensory journey in a place that marked the history of 20th-century design and urban planning.

The establishment is situated in the 8th arrondissement of Marseille, a pleasant and quiet residential area just two minutes from the Prado beaches and the Orange Vélodrome stadium. This location allows you to enjoy both the sea and the city while staying in a preserved setting. The Prado-Carénage tunnel connects you to the historic center in less than ten minutes, making it easy to reach the Panier district, Les Terrasses du Port, or the Mucem. If you're attending an event at the Palais des Congrès or the Palais des Expositions at Parc Chanot, several bus lines depart directly from the building. Free parking is available on-site, a significant advantage in a city where parking can be challenging.

The hotel occupies two floors of the Cité Radieuse and offers twenty-one rooms, all designed based on the principles of functionality and aesthetics dear to the architect. You can choose from several categories: cabin rooms of sixteen square meters designed according to the Modulor concept, large thirty-two square meter rooms with two balconies and views of the sea or the park, sea-view studios, mini-suites, and even a Lilette suite that can accommodate up to four people. Some rooms are adapted for guests with reduced mobility, ensuring accessibility for all visitors.

Each room reflects Le Corbusier's universe in its most authentic form. The establishment has chosen to preserve a vintage spirit rather than conforming to standardized design codes. This approach is reflected in the maintenance of certain intentional imperfections, preserving the emotion of the original creation. The spaces are neither particularly vast nor excessively luxurious, but they possess an undeniable modernist character that gives them a unique atmosphere. You'll find high-quality bedding, adjustable air conditioning, a flat-screen TV, a desk, and effective soundproofing. The private bathrooms are equipped with showers, hairdryers, and complimentary toiletries.

Modern comfort has been elevated to meet today's travelers' expectations while strictly respecting the original architecture and spatial organization. Free and unlimited Wi-Fi is available in all rooms, allowing you to stay connected without hassle. For large rooms, the listed rate corresponds to double occupancy for one or two people. If you are traveling with more than two people, an extra bed is available for twenty-six euros.

By staying here, you become a temporary resident of the Cité Radieuse and gain access to privileges usually reserved for permanent inhabitants. You can enjoy the rooftop terrace until midnight in summer and ten p.m. in winter, a space featuring a paddling pool and a picnic area. This rooftop offers a spectacular view of Marseille and the sea, especially beautiful at sunset. The entire site is surrounded by a four-hectare park with play areas for children, a tennis club, and a solarium, forming a true vertical village as envisioned by its creator.

Continental breakfast is served buffet-style from seven to ten a.m. on weekdays and from eight to eleven a.m. on Sundays. It costs fourteen euros per person but is free for children under five. You can also take advantage of a boutique offering branded souvenirs, luggage storage, a library, and a bar. For families, babysitting services are available upon request for an additional fee, as well as bike rentals if you wish to explore the surroundings in a different way.

The hotel also houses Le Ventre de l'Architecte, a gourmet restaurant worth a visit on its own. With only thirty seats, this intimate venue offers creative and inspired cuisine by Ukrainian chef Andriy Bondarenko. After working as Jérôme Caprin's sous-chef for three years, he now leads the kitchen and showcases his talent through dishes infused with flavors from the Black Sea. The menu changes daily with a five-course dinner, offering a true culinary journey. The restaurant is open for dinner from Tuesday to Saturday, as well as for lunch.

The restaurant's ambiance extends the hotel's vintage spirit, far from contemporary industrial trends. You'll find Charlotte Perriand tables, Scandinavian chairs, Le Corbusier Laroche lamps, and Gaetana Aulenti Pipistrelle lamps. The furniture and objects signed by Perriand, Le Corbusier, and Aulenti create an atmosphere where art is omnipresent and the sensory experience constant. The terrace, resembling a ship's promenade deck, welcomes you in summer with a breathtaking view of the Marseille harbor and Mediterranean sunsets.

Beyond accommodation and dining, the establishment offers cultural services that enrich your stay. Apartment tours allow you to discover how permanent residents of the Cité Radieuse live, while wine workshops are regularly organized. A seminar room accommodating up to fifty people is available for professional events, offering the opportunity to combine work, culture, and gastronomy in an exceptional setting. The MAMO, an art center created by Oraito on the building's rooftop, provides a fascinating complementary visit for contemporary art enthusiasts.

The Cité Radieuse itself is worth exploring. This historic monument has undergone no major changes since its conception: the organization of spaces, the clarity of the areas, the park, the facades, and the furniture remain intact. The spirit and material envisioned by Le Corbusier are present everywhere, creating a rare architectural coherence. The building features a cinema club, a library, and various services that perpetuate the idea of an autonomous vertical village. This concept, playing with light, perspectives, and colors, surprises and fascinates even visitors who think they know the architect's work.

Your stay offers close proximity to several must-see Marseille sites. The Orange Vélodrome stadium is a thirteen-minute walk away, ideal if you're attending an Olympique de Marseille game, a rugby event, or a concert. Parc Borély, a beautiful green space with a château and a botanical garden, is a twenty-minute walk away. The Prado beaches are just a ten-minute drive, perfect for a morning swim or a seaside stroll.

From the hotel, Marseille's calanques are an unmissable excursion. Located in the southern part of the city, the Cité Radieuse is an ideal base for exploring Sormiou, Morgiou, and Sugiton. These turquoise-water coves nestled between white limestone cliffs offer spectacular landscapes and hiking trails suitable for various levels. A day dedicated to discovering these natural wonders will help you understand why the people of Marseille are so attached to their coastline.

The Basilica of Notre-Dame de la Garde, located three kilometers away, also deserves your attention. Perched atop its hill, this iconic church offers a 360-degree panorama of the city, the Frioul Islands, and the Mediterranean. Its Roman-Byzantine architecture and golden statue of the Virgin make it one of Marseille's most photographed monuments. The interior houses maritime ex-votos and mosaics that testify to the popular devotion to the one Marseillais affectionately call "la Bonne Mère."

The Panier district, easily accessible via the Prado-Carénage tunnel, immerses you in historic Marseille. Its narrow streets, colorful facades, and artisan workshops create a bohemian and authentic atmosphere. Here you'll find the Vieille Charité, a former hospice turned cultural center housing museums and temporary exhibitions. The district also boasts numerous designer boutiques, art galleries, and cafes perfect for wandering.

Staying at Hotel Le Corbusier is much more than just booking accommodation: it’s choosing to experience an architectural and cultural interlude in a monument that revolutionized the concept of modern living. You’re not simply sleeping in a hotel; you’re temporarily inhabiting a UNESCO World Heritage work of art, sharing the daily life of a community of residents deeply connected to this extraordinary place. The preserved authenticity of the spaces, the quality of the gourmet dining, the strategic location between sea and city, and the unique atmosphere make this stay a rare experience. Whether you're coming for an event at the Vélodrome, a cultural exploration of Marseille, or simply to understand Le Corbusier's visionary genius from the inside, this establishment offers immersion in a utopia turned reality, a journey through time that dialogues with the present.

Some activities and discoveries near this hotel

Head to Parc Borély, a twenty-minute walk away, to stroll through its French gardens, its 19th-century landscaped park, and its botanical garden showcasing about three thousand plant species. Château Borély, in the heart of the park, houses the Museum of Decorative Arts, Earthenware, and Fashion, with collections of ceramics, furniture, and fashion from the 18th century to the present day.
Explore the calanques of Sormiou, Morgiou, or Sugiton from the southern part of Marseille. These turquoise-water coves are accessible on foot via hiking trails of varying difficulty or by sea kayak for a closer approach to the coast and otherwise inaccessible marine caves.
Climb to the MAMO, a contemporary art center created by designer Ora-Ïto on the rooftop terrace of the Cité Radieuse. Installed in the former gymnasium designed by Le Corbusier, this venue hosts exhibitions by international artists with a 360-degree panoramic view of Marseille.
Take the famous Côte Bleue train from Marseille to discover viaducts, steep cliffs, and swimming coves. Practical tip: sit on the left side when departing from Marseille to fully enjoy the stunning sea views.
Enjoy the Prado beaches, just two minutes from the hotel, for a morning swim or a stroll along the Mediterranean coast. The Prophète beach, with its shallow waters and children's play areas, is especially suitable for families.
Book a guided tour of an apartment in the Cité Radieuse to understand how residents live in this listed historic monument, or participate in one of the wine workshops regularly organized by the hotel to discover Provence wines.

Summary of some positive reviews read online

The exceptional architecture of the Cité Radieuse transforms the stay into a real experience. The wide and tall corridors offer remarkable insulation, and each floor is full of magnificent testimonies of design from this era. A complete immersion in Le Corbusier's universe that feels like stepping into another world.
The view from the room of the Mediterranean Sea is absolutely breathtaking. The private balcony allows you to admire sunsets over the Marseille harbor, and the exclusive access to the rooftop terrace until evening adds a unique dimension to the stay.
The restaurant Le Ventre de l'Architecte alone is worth the visit. The inventive and delicious dishes by chef Andriy Bondarenko, served in this authentic setting with period furniture by Charlotte Perriand, create a memorable gastronomic experience facing the sea.
The passionate owner enthusiastically shares the fascinating history of this radiant city. Her guidance greatly enriches the understanding of this place where everything is thoughtfully designed according to Le Corbusier's principles.
The perfect location allows you to reach the Vélodrome stadium on foot in fifteen minutes, the Prado beaches in two minutes, and Parc Borély for a relaxing walk. The free on-site parking is a major asset for exploring Marseille without hassle.
The compact rooms evoke ship cabins, with all the necessary modern comforts: efficient air conditioning, very comfortable bedding, and a perfect shower. The buffet breakfast offers a generous selection of fresh and tasty products.