Campagne Berger

In 1907, a Swiss gentleman named Charles Berger, renowned for his anise-based spirits, purchased the magnificent Campagne Berger. He was the creator of absinthe, the infamous “Green Fairy” favored by artists like Baudelaire and Verlaine. This potent elixir, boasting a staggering 72 to 90% alcohol content, launched Berger’s career in 1830. He started in the Neufchâtel canton of Switzerland. Competitors quickly challenged him, raising concerns about the drink’s toxicity. Although absinthe wasn’t banned in Switzerland until 1910, Berger sensed a shift. He proactively set his sights on France. In 1878, while still operating in Switzerland, Berger began a new venture in Marseille. He established himself first at 15 rue de l’Obélisque and later at 184 boulevard National. When France banned absinthe in 1915, Berger adapted. By 1923, he developed a new anise-flavored spirit at his factory on 3 bd Louis Villecroze. This legal concoction would eventually be known as pastis, becoming the brand’s fortune. The Pastis Berger Blanc launched in 1933. This was just a year after a 23-year-old Paul Ricard coined the term “pastis”. A yellow version, Pastis Berger Jaune, followed in 1947. The Campagne Berger itself remains privately owned and impeccably preserved. You can admire it from the heights of the surrounding public park. The park grounds hold fascinating remnants of the estate’s history. You can find pieces of the old perimeter wall, former watchtowers, and a charming kiosk with a vibrant mosaic roof. There are even ruins of a German bunker, a testament to the site’s strategic viewpoint overlooking Marseille and the Mediterranean. From this vantage point, you can also spot another château, Château de la Panousse, built around 1870 by Joseph Rocca. The grounds also offer a glimpse of the Pastré Grande Bastide school, established in 1893 by Don Bosco. It’s worth noting that Campagne Berger is sometimes confused with another Château Berger. This other château is located on the Corniche near the marégraphe. Originally named Villa Castellamar, it was built around 1860. Later acquired by the Gassier family, producers of Pastis Berger, it was renamed Château Berger.