La Blancarde

La Blancarde metro station

La Blancarde is a metro station located in Marseille, France. It is on line 1 of the Marseille metro, also known as the Red line. La Blancarde is one of the stations in the city’s public transport network and is located in Marseille’s 4th arrondissement, close to the eponymous district.

La Blancarde station is a major interchange and transfer point for travelers. In addition to the metro, it is also served by several buses and tramway lines. The station plays a key role in Marseille’s urban mobility, enabling residents and visitors to move easily around the city and its surroundings.

Discreet on the surface, the station is vast and luminous underground, thanks to the white stone walls and the natural light that penetrates. The station is quite deep, with a steep descent to the platforms, linked by a footbridge overhanging the tracks. The station is fully accessible to people with reduced mobility (PRM).

The station is built on two levels. The surface level houses the entrance, elevator accesses, a RTM reception point, ticket machines and the ticket validation area (equipped with anti-fraud gates), followed by platform accesses. On the underground level, two opposite platforms linked by a footbridge frame the central double track.

Inauguration of the station

La Blancarde metro station was inaugurated on May 28, 2010. This makes it one of the most recent stations in the Marseille metro network. It was open to the public as part of the extension of line 1, which included the creation of six new stations, including La Blancarde, to improve the connectivity and coverage of the city’s public transport network.

Where does the name come from ?

The name of the La Blancarde metro station comes from the eponymous district in which it is located. The district of La Blancarde takes its name from the former agricultural estate that occupied the area in the Middle Ages. The term “blancarde” may be a deformation of the Provencal word “blancardo”, meaning “little white” or “little whitening”. It’s possible that the name refers to a clearing or open space in the area.

Over time, the area developed and urbanized, and the metro station was named after the neighborhood in which it is located. This is common in the metro station naming system, where station names are often based on nearby places, streets or neighborhoods. For example, La Blancarde is the name given to this station because of its location in the neighborhood of the same name in Marseille.

Where to go from La Blancarde ?

From the La Blancarde metro station, you can reach several popular destinations in Marseille. Here are a few suggestions:

1. Vieux-Port de Marseille: You can take metro line 1 from La Blancarde to the Vieux-Port – Hôtel de Ville station. This is one of Marseille’s iconic spots, where you can admire the boats, enjoy the cafés and restaurants, and explore the lively Vieux-Port district.
2. Basilique Notre-Dame de la Garde: Take the metro from La Blancarde to Castellane station, then transfer to metro line 2 towards Dromel. Get off at Joliette station and take bus 60 or 61 to the Notre-Dame de la Garde stop. The basilica is an emblematic symbol of Marseille, offering a breathtaking panoramic view of the city.
3. Le Panier: Get off at the Vieux-Port – Hôtel de Ville station and explore on foot the Panier district, one of Marseille’s oldest neighborhoods. Here you’ll find picturesque alleyways, craft stores, cafés and art galleries.
4. Parc Longchamp: Take metro line 1 from La Blancarde to Réformés – Canebière station, then walk a few minutes to reach Parc Longchamp. It’s a beautifully landscaped park with gardens, fountains and the Palais Longchamp, home to the Musée des Beaux-Arts and the Muséum d’Histoire Naturelle.
5. Stade Vélodrome: If you’re a soccer fan, take metro line 1 from La Blancarde to Rond-Point du Prado station. From there, you can walk to the Stade Vélodrome, home of the Olympique de Marseille soccer team.

These are just a few of the many destinations within easy reach of the La Blancarde metro station. Marseille is full of attractions and interesting sites to discover, and the public transport network makes it easy to explore the city.

Many public transport lines pass through La Blancarde metro station: tramways 1 and 2, as well as bus 47.

What’s nearby ?

The La Blancarde metro station is surrounded by a variety of nearby facilities, attractions and amenities. Here are a few points of interest to discover near this station:

1. Hôpital de la Timone: Located about a 10-minute walk from La Blancarde station, Hôpital de la Timone is one of Marseille’s leading healthcare facilities. It houses specialized medical services and is also associated with Aix-Marseille University’s Faculty of Medicine.
2. Université Aix-Marseille – Site de la Timone: Right next to the Timone hospital, you’ll find the Aix-Marseille University’s site de la Timone. It’s one of the city’s main university campuses, offering a variety of training courses and academic disciplines.
3. Parc de la Maison Blanche: This verdant park is just a few minutes’ walk from La Blancarde station. It’s a pleasant place to relax, take a walk or enjoy a picnic.
4. Théâtre Le Gyptis: Around 10 minutes’ walk from the station, you’ll find the Théâtre Le Gyptis. This cultural space offers a varied program of shows, film screenings, concerts and artistic events.
5. Shops and services: In the vicinity of La Blancarde station, you’ll find a number of stores, supermarkets, restaurants, cafés and useful services to meet your daily needs.
6. La Blancarde SNCF train station.

These are just a few examples of what you can find near the La Blancarde metro station. Marseille being a large city, there are many other attractions and amenities to discover in the area as you explore further.