Dating from 1535, this is the oldest surviving house in Marseille, built in a blend of Gothic and Renaissance styles for Louis de Cabre. The carved facade features medallion portraits and ornate window frames that have survived nearly five centuries of Mediterranean weather.
What makes the building truly remarkable is that in 1954, during the postwar reconstruction of the Vieux-Port quarter, the entire structure was rotated 90 degrees and shifted to align with the new street plan. Engineers cut it from its foundations and turned it on a rail system -- one of the more audacious feats of urban preservation in France.
You will find it on Grand-Rue, a short walk inland from the Vieux-Port. It is easy to miss if you are not looking for it, so keep an eye out for the carved stone facade wedged between modern buildings.