Ledge of President John Fitzgerald Kennedy
The Ledge of President John Fitzgerald Kennedy is a street in the 7th arrondissement of Marseille, France. It runs along the Mediterranean coast from the beach at Les Catalans in the city centre to Promenade Georges Pompidou and the Plages du Prado in the south, at the limit with the 8th arrondissement. It was named after US President John Fitzgerald Kennedy the year of his assassination, in 1963.
Description
Starting as a simple path created between 1848 and 1863, the Corniche was later developed into an actual road from 1954 to 1968, when the municipal executive led by Mayor Gaston Defferre decided to expand it. Plans for a tram line, which were first presented in the late 19th century, were rapidly realised, although it was later disbanded to create space for the automobile.It overlooks the Mediterranean and its islands, amongst others the Frioul archipelago. Along it are fishermen's barracks, 19th century villas, hotels, restaurants, bars and beaches. The Corniche also passes over the Vallon des Auffes and its adjacent Monument aux Morts de l'Armée d'Orient, as well as the Anse de la Fausse Monnaie. As the origin of this name remains unknown, it is used in local tales to embellish the story of the area.
On the sea side of the Corniche Kennedy is a bench running nearly its entire length, with almost no interruption; this made people from Marseille dub it the "longest bench in the world". Despite it being forbidden to jump into the sea from the Corniche, it is a popular activity for local residents.