Marseille Commemorates 111th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide at Palais du Pharo

On Wednesday, April 22, 2026, the city of Marseille commemorated the 111th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide with a solemn ceremony at the Palais du Pharo, illuminating its facade in the colors of the Armenian flag.

The event was organized by the Ville de Marseille as part of annual remembrance activities honoring the 1.5 million Armenians killed in the 1915 genocide carried out by the Ottoman Empire under the Young Turk regime.

The illumination of the Palais du Pharo, one of Marseille’s most recognizable landmarks, served as a symbolic act of remembrance and solidarity with the Armenian community, which has maintained a enduring presence in the city since providing refuge to thousands of genocide survivors.

French Ambassador to Armenia Olivier Decottignies shared the moment on social media, stating, “The Palais du Pharo in Marseille is adorned in the colors of Armenia in memory of the victims of the Armenian Genocide.”

Mayor Benoît Payan led the initiative in cooperation with the Coordinating Council of Armenian Organizations of Southern France (CCAF Sud), continuing a tradition of municipal recognition of the genocide anniversary.

The commemoration preceded the official anniversary date of April 24, with additional events planned for that day, including a liturgy at Beaumont Church, a march to the Genocide Memorial, and a rally in front of the Turkish Consulate.

This year’s remembrance holds particular significance as Marseille moves toward formalizing a sister-city partnership with Yerevan, the capital of Armenia, with Mayor Payan expected to visit Armenia soon to solidify the relationship.

The Armenian Genocide, which began in 1915, resulted in the systematic extermination of 1.5 million Armenians through massacres, death marches, starvation, deportation, and forced displacement from their ancestral homeland.

Earlier waves of violence, including the Hamidian massacres of the 1890s and the Adana massacres of 1909, had already claimed tens of thousands of Armenian lives, setting the stage for the larger genocide.