Though the late Miocene "Messinian Salinity Crisis" has been intensely researched along the circum- Mediterranean basins, few studies have focused on the central part of the Mediterranean Basin and, especially, the pre-salt deposits. Within the Western Mediterranean, the Gulf of Lion is exceptional in that its sedimentary strata have not been significantly deformed. In addition, the Gulf of Lion is characterized by a relatively constant subsidence with continuous accommodation space for sediment accumulation. This configuration, together with the availability of a wealth of offshore information (seismic profiles, boreholes), enables us to precisely describe the sedimentary geometries on the margin and in the central basin. This study gives new elements for the understanding of the Messinian Crisis.