Four des Navettes Bakery of 1781

Why is it significant?

Pause before the weathered facade of the Four des Navettes, nestled at number one hundred thirty-six Rue Sainte just steps from Saint-Victor Abbey.

Key Facts

Open the walk

Pause before the weathered facade of the Four des Navettes, nestled at number one hundred thirty-six Rue Sainte just steps from Saint-Victor Abbey. Founded in 1781 by master baker Monsieur Aveyrous, this historic establishment is the oldest operating bakery in continuous business in Marseille, jealously guarding the secret recipe for the city's iconic pastry. The navette takes its elongated boat-like shape, indented along its spine, from the legendary vessel that carried the three Marys across the Mediterranean to the shores of Provence following the resurrection of Christ. Baked inside an authentic eighteenth-century brick-vaulted oven heated to extreme temperatures, these crunchy biscuits release a delicate perfume of natural Provençal orange blossom water. Every year on February second for Candlemas, the Archbishop of Marseille leads a solemn procession from Saint-Victor to bless the historic oven, the bakers, and the fresh batches of golden biscuits. Local families traditionally keep a blessed navette in their home throughout the year as a talisman of good health and good fortune. The sweet fragrance of citrus blossoms drifting into the street tempts passersby of all ages. This temple of Provençal culinary heritage has preserved its craft for nearly two and a half centuries with remarkable devotion. Generations of loyal patrons have queued patiently along the narrow pavement on Sunday mornings, eager to carry home the delicate aroma of orange blossom biscuits wrapped in traditional wax paper.

Inhale the aroma outside the bakery: the heady fragrance of orange blossom water and crisp pastry has sweetened Rue Sainte continuously since 1781.

Authentic navettes contain neither butter nor eggs, made solely with wheat flour, sugar, water, and orange essence, allowing them to remain crisp for an entire year.

The brick-lined masonry oven heats with the same thermal efficiency today as it did under the reign of King Louis XVI.

Walk down Rue Sainte and turn right to reach the quiet beauty of Place Joseph-Étienne with its Puget fountain.