bouchesdurhône

This is the Old Port ("Vieux-Port") of Marseille in France. The big building in the distance is the Palais du Pharo. This is the best current match I could find to the view above.

Great,
but do you know why they made all those changes to the palace? Especially the roof, chimneys, top floor etc?

reference photo

Doesn't look, from comparing the "best current match' link, that they've made too many significant changes to the center portion of the building; the windows and statues on the upper level of the facade remain, and the roof was no doubt replaced because of wear. Presumably the upper stories of the wings of the building were altered and the chimneys were capped when a more modern heating system was installed. It is hard to tell if the roof was raised, or if that's an illusion created by the angle of the photos, but if that did happen, perhaps it was to create room for the upgraded mechanical systems. It would make sense, if that level of renovation was being completed, to redesign an overhanging roof for better drainage, too.

That's all merely informed speculation, btw. I don't know anything about this *particular* building.

thanks Miscelena,
sounds all reasonable to me. The changes must have happened just a few years after the photo was taken, because these old postcards shows the Palace with the same roof/wings as it still has today:
postcard 1

postcard 2

This is another view of the Old Port ("Vieux-Port") of Marseille in France, similar to the shot here. The Église Notre-Dame-des-Accoules is visible to the left.

The entrance to the Vieux-Port with Notre-Dame des Accoules on the left:

Google Street View on Quai de Rive Neuve in Marseille

Following RV.AB2C and his note, the Hôtel-Dieu hospital is also clearly visible in the photograph. A modern aerial shot can be found here.

Yes the Vieux Port, been there, very nice!

A view of the Old Port ("Vieux-Port") of Marseille in France. It is similar to this one, though apparently taken from the Quai du Port. The Église Notre-Dame-des-Accoules, visible in this alternate view of the port, peeks out above the buildings on the right. A roughly equivalent modern-day view can be seen using Google Maps' street view.

Great job epicharmus on figuring these all out!

Marseille, this part of Vieux Port was destroyed by nazis in january 1943

Some of it was destroyed, among which is the "Transbordeur" across he entrance of the port (southern side); most of the Vieux Panier still contains the older buildings.

Epicharmus: Thanks for identifying and connecting the views of Marseilles -- to each other and to the map! We first worked on this collection back in 2002, and it feels great to have the untitled pictures solved. (New title now in place.)