Marseille’s architecture is fascinating. Between the Buddhist pagodasand the MuCem, another building is the talk of the town. It is a yellow and white house overlooking the Anse de Maldormé on the Malmousque peninsula.
Perched on its rocky outcrop, Villa La Petite Ourse is a dreamhome with 2,640 square feet of floor space on 1,640 square meters of land. One can imagine the breathtaking view of the Marseille coastline and the island of Endoume just opposite. But beyond its privileged location, its proud and elegant appearance arouses curiosity as much as it fascinates. Behind its simple and refined architecture lies an incredible story involving scandals, rumors, and dark deeds.
The story of La Petite Ourse, a house that has stood the test of time and rumors
© Left photo: @mattusetones (IG) | Right photo: @clementmdotfr (IG)
Built in the 19th century, it first housed the Restaurant Café Buffet before being renamed La Joconde. Nicknamed “The Venice of the coast,” it became a popular spot for customers seeking an idyllic and relaxing setting. It would undoubtedly have featured in our ranking of the best seaside restaurants in Marseille. The villa remained a hotel until the mid-20th century, when it was sold and became the home of a Japanese consul. Jeannie Peretti, the wife of Alexandre Guérini, then became the owner in 1996 and renamed it Villa La Petite Ourse. It was transferred back to the City of Marseille before finally being sold to private individuals in 2007.
Having passed through many hands, the villa gradually became shrouded in rumors. The identity of its current owners remains unknown, giving rise to speculation. Some have linked the residence to famous figures, mentioning names such as Roland Petit and Kad Merad. These were tempting hypotheses, but they were quickly disproved.
Dark events at the villa and its surroundings
Behind the villa’s elegance and apparent calm lies a history marked by several tragedies, according to L’Essentiel. In 1894, the maid Marie Arnoux was found drowned below the rocks, marking the beginning of a long series of tragic events. In 1911, the tranquility of the place was shattered once again when Émile Schmieder killed the actor Louis Deroche out of jealousy. Later, in 1932, a particularly dark event took place just opposite the villa: Alfred Eustace shot his partner Rose Bernard before taking his own life. Finally, in 1947, the nearby cove was the scene of a fatal accident. Mr. Feuillerat died from a serious injury caused by a fisherman’s propeller. All these events give the villa and its surroundings an aura that is as mysterious as it is disturbing.
Scandals in the yellow and white house in Malmousque
In 1996, the villa changed hands in circumstances that were murky, to say the least. Jeannie Peretti, Alexandre Guérini’s wife, bought the house for 9.25 million francs under suspicious conditions. At the same time, the courts took a close interest in Jean-Noël Guérini, Alexandre’s brother. He was implicated for his links with the Corsican-Marseille organized crime syndicate and for money laundering. This case led investigators to examine Alexandre Guérini’s finances. They discovered that the purchase of the property, as well as the scale of the renovation work, far exceeded the couple’s resources. The property included a jacuzzi, swimming pools, and even a movie theater. At the end of the proceedings, the couple was forced to sell the yellow and white house, which became the property of the City of Marseille.
In 2007, Villa La Petite Ourse was finally sold to anonymous owners, adding a final touch of mystery to its already unusual history.