Some streets pay homage to great historical figures, while others evoke a bygone trade or a vanished place. And then there are those that, without warning, make you smile. Between unintentional puns, surprising references, and downright improbable names, the streets of Marseille hold some wonderful surprises for those who look up at the street signs.
After discovering which is the longest street in Marseille, today we’re focusing on the city’s most unusual street names. Get ready—some are as amusing as they are unexpected.
When anatomy makes an appearance in the cityscape
- Rue de la Calebasse
- Rue Despieds
- Impasse des Beaux Yeux
- Traverse Casse-Cou (at your own risk)
The Unusual Street Names in Marseille That Left Us Puzzled
- Avenue du Point d’interrogation
- Impasse Bonnasse
- Rue Entre 2 murs (it’s important to be precise)
- Avenue de la Grognarde
- Rue des Brusques
- Rue des Crottes
- Chemin de la Batterie-des-Lions
- Boulevard Chaussegros
- Chemin de Saint-Mitre-à-Four-de-Buze (What on earth…? Why?)
- Traverse de la Fumade (one really wonders what you can do there…)
The Bestiary of Marseille’s Streets
- Place du Cabot
- Impasse de la Galinette
- Allée des Fourmis
- Impasse du Garou (the wolf or the singer—we’re not sure)
- Traverse de la Pintade
- Montée Milou (we checked—there’s no Rue Tintin)
Magic and Witchcraft in Marseille
- Impasse du Chaudron
- Traverse du Diable
- Rue Dragon
Marseille street names that make you think of something else
- Avenue Croze-Magnan (Avenue Croc-Magnon)
- Impasse Dussuc (Want some “suc” in your coffee?)
Streets That Are 100% Marseille
- Allée du Cagnard
- Allée des Gabians
- Boulevard Ricard
- Rue Va-à-la-Calanque
- Traverse Flotte (be careful not to drown your pastis)
- Boulevard du Parasol
The Most Cosmic Street Names
- Allée des Galaxies
- Rue Uranus
So, do you know of any others? Marseille is full of streets with surprising names—sometimes funny, sometimes mysterious, and often steeped in history. The next time you’re strolling through the city, take a few seconds to read the street signs: they sometimes reveal real gems.
