Organising a corporate event at the Palais du Pharo
Built during the Second Empire for Napoleon III and Empress Eugénie, the Palais du Pharo (the Pharo Palace) overlooks the entrance to the Old Port. Now a conference and reception venue, it hosts conventions, general meetings and prestige evenings, with Fort Saint-Jean and the Mucem as a backdrop.
In brief
The Palais du Pharo, in Marseille’s 7th arrondissement, is a Second Empire palace converted into a conference and reception venue, with an auditorium, lounges and gardens facing the Old Port. Marseille agencies offer it in particular for evenings of 150 to 200 people. ADJM Événementiel organises the technical set-up, music, bar, photography and coordination of your event there.
-
A view over the harbour entrance
From the gardens, you take in the entrance to the Old Port, Fort Saint-Jean, the Mucem and the Bonne Mère basilica.
-
A venue designed for conferences
The auditorium and lounges let you move from plenary to workshops to reception without changing site.
-
An institutional setting
The palace suits general meetings, awards ceremonies and public sector events that call for a certain formality.
-
Technical set-up built around the venue
We work with the palace’s teams on sound, lighting and set-up times.
The venue at a glance
- Location
- Boulevard Charles Livon, 7th arrondissement, southern tip of the Old Port entrance
- History
- Palace built for Napoleon III and Empress Eugénie (Second Empire)
- Purpose
- Conferences, conventions, general meetings, receptions and evening events
- Spaces
- Auditorium, reception lounges, gardens overlooking the sea
- Access
- On foot from the Old Port, buses on Boulevard Charles Livon
What type of event is the Palais du Pharo right for?
The Pharo is first and foremost suited to events with content: annual convention, professional conference, annual general meeting, awards ceremony. Its auditorium hosts the plenary, its lounges hold workshops and lunches, and its gardens give the closing cocktail reception a view your guests will photograph. In the agency proposals received by Marseille companies, it comes up for evenings of 150 to 200 people.
It is less a late-night party venue than a showcase venue. For a dance party that runs very late, a rooftop or a private-hire venue in La Joliette will often be simpler. For a gala dinner or a convention, the Pharo is right at home.
| Moment | Typical space | What to plan |
|---|---|---|
| Welcome and registration | Hall, entrance | Hosts, badges, signage |
| Plenary | Auditorium | Wireless microphones, control desk, screen, recording |
| Workshops | Lounges | Projectors, flipcharts |
| Closing cocktail reception | Gardens, terrace | Bar, background music, lighting |
How to run a successful convention at the Pharo?
- Set out the programme minute by minute: a palace imposes circulation routes, and every move of 200 people takes time.
- Check with the venue the set-up and dismantling times, the available electrical power and the sound rules in the gardens.
- Plan a fallback for the outdoor cocktail reception: the mistral or a spring shower can move everything indoors.
- Take care of the speeches: at least two wireless microphones and a technician at the control desk prevent feedback in front of your management.
What budget should you plan for an event at the Pharo?
Hire of the palace is priced directly with the venue, according to the spaces and the duration. As a benchmark, a turnkey corporate party in Marseille (venue, caterer, drinks, entertainment) costs between €65 and €130 per person, or €12,000 to €25,000 excl. VAT for 150 to 200 guests. A convention with video recording and a full control desk sits towards the top of this range.
What we take care of at the Palais du Pharo
- Sound and lighting for the plenary, with a technician at the control desk.
- Screens and video for your presentations and speakers.
- A saxophonist or a DJ for cocktails in the gardens.
- On-the-day coordination, working with the palace’s teams and the caterer.
Prices: palais du pharo
-
Wireless microphone
€45
For speeches, panel discussions and award presentations.
-
Live technician
€45 per hour
Operating a concert, a plenary session or an award ceremony.
-
Live saxophonist, 2 hours
from €300
Sets at the key moments (cocktails, entrance, opening of the party), alongside the DJ.
By AlloDJMarseille
Related services
-
Service
Sound and lighting
Wireless mics, speakers, dance floor and architectural lighting, installed and set up by our technicians.
Discover → -
Service
Stage, screens and video
Modular stages, screens, projection and filming for your plenaries, launches and award ceremonies.
Discover → -
Service
On-the-day coordination
An on-site coordinator to run the schedule and manage suppliers while you enjoy the event.
Discover →
For which events
-
Event
Conventions and conferences
Plenary, workshops and closing party: technical set-up and coordination for large formats.
Discover → -
Event
Gala dinner
Seated dinner, awards and staging: an evening where every highlight is rehearsed.
Discover → -
Event
Public sector events
Sound, stage, DJ and artists for neighbourhood festivals, New Year receptions and the Fête de la Musique.
Discover →
Where to hold it
-
Location
Marseille
Our city: business districts, reception venues, seafront and bay, with no travel costs.
Discover → -
Location
Mucem
A museum facing the sea, from a 25-person meeting to a 400-guest terrace party.
Discover → -
Location
Rowing Club
Rooftop, waterside and seminar rooms on a single site, facing the Mucem.
Discover → -
Location
Cercle des Nageurs
An equipped 150 m² room facing the sea, for up to 140 people at a cocktail reception.
Discover →
Our advice to go further
Your questions
How many people can the Palais du Pharo accommodate?
The palace has an auditorium, lounges and gardens, and suits conferences as well as receptions. Agencies commonly offer it for evenings of 150 to 200 people; the exact capacity of each space is confirmed with the venue.
Can you hold a dance party at the Pharo?
An evening with a DJ is possible within the venue’s rules (sound levels, hours). For a party that goes on late, a second venue on the Old Port or in La Joliette is sometimes more suitable.
How do you get to the Palais du Pharo?
The palace is on Boulevard Charles Livon, around fifteen minutes’ walk from the Old Port. For a large group, plan a shuttle or a clear meeting point, as parking is limited in the area.
Who handles the technical side of a convention at the Pharo?
The venue has its own equipment and rules. We add wireless microphones, screens, a control desk and a technician, in coordination with its teams.
Let’s talk about your next event
Seminar, party, gala, launch: tell us about your project. A single point of contact replies within 48 hours with a priced proposal, with no obligation.