Have you ever walked a street named after bundles of heather? Welcome to Rue de Bruys in Marseille. This unassuming street holds a fascinating secret from Marseille’s past. It’s a story of fire prevention and forgotten trades.
Rue de Bruys isn’t just any street. Its name comes from the Provençal word “brusc” meaning heather. In the early 1800s this street held warehouses. These warehouses stored “brusques”. These were bundles of dried heather and broom.
Imagine the scent of dry heather filling the air. These bundles weren’t for decoration. They had a crucial role in Marseille’s bustling port. Sailors used them to clean the hulls of their ships. They would burn the heather to remove algae and other marine organisms.
This practice was risky. Dry heather is highly flammable. Fires were a constant threat. The prefect Charles-François Delacroix recognized this danger. He ordered the construction of these warehouses outside the city center. This was a safety precaution.
The trade in “brusques” wasn’t always free. Initially it was a monopoly. This changed with the French Revolution. Later the Hospices de Marseille held a privilege over it. This privilege ended in 1867.
So next time you walk Rue de Bruys remember the fragrant bundles of heather. Remember the fires averted. Remember the forgotten trade that shaped this little street. Rue de Bruys whispers a story of practicality and precaution. It’s a reminder of Marseille’s maritime history and its constant struggle for safety.