Along with the Maison Empereur hardware store – the oldest in France – Père Blaize’s 200-year-old herbalist shop is the face of the city of Marseille. This establishment specializing in plants fascinates both by its history and its ancestral know-how. Marseille Secrète tells you more about this mythical site in France’s second largest city.
Le Guérisseur Blaize: from the Alps to Noailles
It all began in the early 19th century, in the heart of the Vallée des Écrins in the Hautes-Alpes. Inspired by the richness and abundance of the surrounding nature, Toussaint Blaize developed a passion for medicinal plants. He discovered their use and gradually applied them around him, treating friends and neighbors in his village. His reputation as a healer grew, and he made it his profession. Wishing to be closer to the commercial port that imports plants from all over the world, he decided to leave his native region and settle in Marseille. The story goes that it was also for the love of a young woman from Marseilles that the healer took the plunge.
Settling in Marseille, he founded his herbalist’s shop on rue Méolan – in the Noailles district – in 1815. His recipes and his name quickly became a benchmark. Since then, six generations of Blaize have worked in this pharmacy specializing in medicinal plants. In 2018, Père Blaize’s herbalist shop expanded with the opening of a Maison Blaize herbal tea boutique just across the street. In 2014, it will be La Ciotat’s turn to welcome the famous institution.
Home remedies and gift ideas
As well as selling bulk plants from all over the world, the real uniqueness of Père Blaize lies in its artisanal preparation know-how. It is here, in the backroom, that traditional remedies and exclusive herbal tea blends are carefully crafted , with recipes handed down since 1815. The herbalists themselves compose the solutions designed to relieve everyday ailments, guaranteeing their quality and freshness.
L’Herboristerie is a mine of original gift ideas steeped in history. Boxes of wellness infusions or Christmas spice preparations are sure to be a hit under the tree.
The profession of herbalist today
L’Herboristerie du Père Blaize embodies a profession with a troubled history in France. Although the art of healing with plants is thousands of years old, the status of herbalist was abolished in 1941 by the Vichy regime. Since then, the training and practice of this profession have not been officially recognized. So how can a place like Père Blaize exist? The establishment operates thanks to its status as a pharmacy, which legally allows it to sell medicinal plants. This status guarantees not only the legality of the trade, but also the precise know-how and quality of the preparations handed down from generation to generation. The existence of Père Blaize is thus a living testimony to the trade of yesteryear, giving rise to regular debates on the official rehabilitation of the herbalist diploma.
Maintaining Noailles: an emblem saved?
In 2013, Cyril Coulard became the owner. In April 2023, he alerted the press to the risk of relocation due to the sale of the bicentennial building. The idea of leaving the working-class district of Noailles after two centuries to move to the Cannebière had raised considerable concern.
However, the news seems more reassuring for the institution. Cyril Coulard has since affirmed his optimism and determination. He is committed to doing what’s best for the future of the herbalist’s shop, assuring us that he will not leave his historic site. Père Blaize, which has been awarded the Entreprise du Patrimoine Vivant (Living Heritage Company) label , continues to care for the health of the people of Marseilles at 4 Rue Meolan and Père Blaize.