Today, Château Galliéni in Fréjus is a place of remembrance, but also a project looking to the future. 
Set in the heart of this historic city, it tells the story of a transformation, but also that of a love and a great military figure. 
Originally, this Gabelle estate (named after the salt tax) housed two salt huts, which were transformed into properties. 
It was after his marriage to Marthe Savelli in 1882 that General Joseph Gallieni became the owner and undertook to transform these modest buildings into an elegant residence. The architect Jully, whom Gallieni had met during his proconsulate in Madagascar, was commissioned to design this residence which took on the appearance of a small castle, in the heart of the Provençal pine forest.

The villa thus became a true haven of peace, whose elegance attracted the great literary and artistic figures of the time, such as Frédéric Mistral and Sarah Bernhardt, who stayed there. 

The general, born in 1849 in Saint-Béat, distinguished himself through his military exploits, particularly in Africa and Madagascar. But it was in Fréjus that he chose to recharge his batteries, in this adopted city where he frequently returned between two campaigns. 

The union with Marthe Savelli, daughter of an influential family in the region, gave new life to this residence, which became a place of retreat and conviviality.

The building was finally acquired in 1999 by the Fréjus Saint-Raphaël urban community. 

Now renovated, the castle now hosts business creation organizations. This transition from a living space to an innovation center shows how history and the present can coexist and enrich each other.

Thus, the Château Gallieni is much more than just a historic residence: it embodies an era, a man and a city in constant evolution. 

From Gallieni's passion for this place to the contemporary transformation of the site, history continues to be written, combining respect for the past and a vision for the future.

Joseph Gallieni

Marshal of France and major player in military and colonial history, marked by his influence in Fréjus

Joseph Gallieni, born on April 24, 1849 in Saint-Béat (Haute-Garonne), was a key figure in French military and colonial history. Marshal of France, he distinguished himself not only for his crucial role in the expansion of the colonial empire, but also for his heroic acts during the First World War. First known for his brutal repression of the Menalamba insurrection in Madagascar, Gallieni adopted a method that combined military action and economic development, seeking to pacify the territories while promoting their growth after the conquests. He was decorated with the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honor in 1905 and the Military Medal in 1911. In 1921, he was posthumously awarded the title of Marshal of France.

His legend was enriched during the First World War, when, as military governor of Paris, he made a historic decision: the requisition of Parisian taxis to reinforce the troops on the Ourcq front. But beyond his military exploits, it is his lasting influence in Fréjus that deserves special attention. Since his marriage in 1882 to Marthe Savelli, the city became his personal and military anchor.

From the summer of 1915, when he was Minister of War, Gallieni, who knew the Fréjus region well, imagined the establishment of military camps to accommodate contingents from Africa, including black, Indochinese and Somali troops. 

Fréjus then became a strategic hub, welcoming up to 50 soldiers spread between the Esterel, the Argens valley, and the Sables district in Fréjus-Plage. 

The soldiers were trained, instructed and treated in hospitals built on site, and some of them are buried today in military cemeteries, such as the necropolis dedicated to the fighters who died in the camps in the South-East. 

This military stay is distinguished by its complete infrastructure: training grounds, firing ranges, literacy schools, and places of worship, such as the Indochinese pagoda, which still exists today.

Gallieni's legacy in Fréjus is therefore multifaceted: at once military, colonial and human, he left a deep mark on the city and the region, while embodying an era marked by colonial expansion and the challenges of the First World War.

313, avenue du Château Gallieni
83600 Fréjus
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