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Why did Marseille’s suburbs expand toward Marignane and Vitrolles?

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View of the old port of Marseille, France, with numerous boats docked in the harbor and the city's terracotta-roofed buildings rising up a hill, topped by the Notre-Dame de la Garde basilica. — Marseille Seaside view of the Old Port of Marseille, France.

Marseille’s suburban expansion toward Marignane and Vitrolles was primarily driven by the city's unique geography. Marseille is situated within a sheltered depression surrounded by a chain of mountains known as the Étoile Chain, which acts as a natural barrier that inhibits northward growth.1

To overcome this limitation, urban development has "leapfrogged" the mountain range, extending toward the eastern shores of the Berre Lagoon. This area has become a hub for lighter industrial development, warehousing, and transport-related activities, with Marignane serving as the site of Marseille’s international airport.2