With logs, oil pumps, galettes and king’s cakes barely digested, it’s time for our (slightly bloated) stomachs to make room for some delicious crêpes. But in Marseille, the real stars of Chandeleur are the navettes. To celebrate February 2, 2024 in style and in the purest tradition, Marseille Secrète reveals the best addresses in Marseille where you can find shuttles.
Where does Chandeleur come from?
Before giving you our ranking, here’s a bit of history. Chandeleur comes from the “festival of candles”, a pagan festivity celebrating light. During this annual festival in honor of the dead, the Romans kept vigil with candles, honoring Pluto or Pan. So why do we eat pancakes on Candlemas Day? Round and golden, pancakes are reminiscent of the sun, the brightest star in our galaxy.
According to some historians, Chandeleur also has Celtic origins. Unlike the rest of France, in Marseille it’s not the crêpes that take precedence, but the Navettes! These boat-shaped navettes also evoke fertility. But if we eat them on this particular date, it’s thanks to Monsieur Aveyrous. He is said to have created the navettes to satiate the pilgrims who came from all over the region to attend the Chandeleur ceremonies. With this knowledge in mind, it’s time to fill our stomachs with the delicious navettes that can be found at these different addresses.
1. Le Four des Navettes Saint-Victor
Marseille’ s oldest bakery, founded by Monsieur Aveyrous, who invented the navette in 1781. Passed down from generation to generation, the secret of the authentic Four des Navettes recipe has remained the same for over two centuries!
📍136 Rue Sainte – Marseille 7th
2. Les Navettes des Accoules
For those of you on the other side of the Vieux-Port, in the Panier district, José Orsoni’s Les Navettes des Accoules also have something to say. Just as delicious, tourists flock to enjoy them in this historic district of Marseille, just a stone’s throw from the Old Port.
📍68 Rue Caisserie – Marseille 2nd
3. Le Four des Navettes at Docks Village
Docks Village has it all! The colorful Mx Marseille and its many events, the festive Place des Canailles, a delicious kebab… But for Candlemas, we’re stopping off at the Four des Navettes, a branch of our 1st address, which is very popular with the locals.
📍10 Place de la Joliette – Marseille 2e
4. La boulangerie aixoise
The boulangerie Aixoise, open since 1920, offers all kinds of delicacies: pastries, bisctuits, viennoiseries and, above all, the best-known Marseille specialty: navettes! The story goes that the latter were invented to symbolize the arrival of the sisters on boats shaped like shuttles (it all makes sense)! This specialty is, of course, homemade from fresh, high-quality ingredients. Don’t hesitate to drop in!
📍45 Rue Francis Davso, 13001 Marseille, France