T.Be. Marseille: Uniting Artists and Hikers on the Metropolitan Trail

The Bureau des Guides du GR2013 has announced its schedule of outings for the upcoming warm weather season in Marseille. The program focuses on the GR2013, a metropolitan trail that integrates artistic projects, concerts, and bivouacs to connect hikers with the region’s landscape and culture.

The GR2013 Metropolitan Trail

The GR2013 is recognized as the first official and marked Metropolitan Trail in the world. It consists of a 365 km route designed in the shape of an 8, circling the massif de l’Etoile mountain range and the Etang de Berre interior sea.

The trail was originally conceived by publisher Baptiste Lanaspeze for the Marseille Provence 2013 European Capital of Culture event. It was designed by artist-urbanist Nicolas Mémain and supported by the producers and artists of the Cercle des Marcheurs.

Since 2014, the Bureau des Guides du GR2013 has developed cultural projects centered on ecology, planning, and territory. The trail has received international recognition, including the Best New Trail award from National Geographic and the Medal for Urban Planning from the Academy of Architecture.

Integration of Art and Hiking

The initiative treats hiking as a medium for contemporary art, drawing on a niche of walking artists who prioritize the act of walking and the exploration of territory. This practice is influenced by Land Art figures such as Richard Long, Robert Smithson, and Hamish Fulton, as well as the psychogeography of Guy Debord.

The GR2013 serves as a platform for various artistic endeavors, including:

• TRAILPOINTS: A METROPOLITAN LANDSCAPE OBSERVATORY by Bryan Connell.
• A photographic observatory created by Bertrand Stofleth and Geoffroy Mathieu.
• PROMENADES SONORES produced by Radio Grenouille.

These projects aim to explore the interface between the city and the countryside, navigating a peri-urban area that crosses multiple municipal boundaries. The trail is designed to move beyond the traditional museum setting, allowing artists and hikers to engage with public and private spaces.

Historical Context of Excursionism in Marseille

The current movement in Marseille builds upon a long history of excursionism. At the end of the 19th century, the expansion of rail transport facilitated a surge in walking activities across France. In Marseille, this was exemplified by the Société des Excursionnistes Marseillais, founded in 1897 by Paul Ruat, which grew to 11,000 members.

These early excursionists are described as proto-ecologists who utilized photography and maps to develop a new sensibility toward nature and the social practice of hiking.

The GR2013 continues this tradition by organizing heritage walks that allow participants to discover a territory shaped by human activity over thousands of years.