Route des Trois Lucs

Did the name Route des Trois Lucs ever strike you as peculiar? Here at this historic crossroads, on the eastern edge of Marseille, the very air hums with centuries of stories. Route des Trois Lucs translates to “Road of the Three Lights”. The name itself has transformed over time, from Tras Lucs to Tres Lus and even Treillux. Its meaning remains equally elusive. Some believe the name, Route des Trois Lucs, refers to three light sources used in ancient surveillance posts. This theory is depicted in the stained-glass windows of Sainte-Rita church. Others suggest “trelus” signifies “orient” or even sunrise, a theme explored in the pastoral Maurel. Still, the linguist Albert Dauzat links “Luc” to the Latin “lucus,” meaning a wooded area. And indeed, Route des Trois Lucs is nestled amidst a wealth of forests. This crossroads marks a historic passage between two valleys: the Vallée du Jarret to the north and the Vallée de l’Huveaune to the south. Imagine the bustling activity here, especially after 1914 when the tramway arrived. Route des Trois Lucs became a weekend magnet, drawing city dwellers to its lively guinguettes, dance halls, and pétanque courts. Even today, the pétanque court next to the crossroads remains a quintessential landmark. Just south of here lies La Commanderie, the training ground for Olympique de Marseille, the city’s beloved football club. And hidden beneath the surface lies another story. The Monnard caves, discovered in 1848, supplied water to the Brasserie Phénix, later Heineken, until 1970. Heineken still owns this hidden gem, despite the city’s attempt to claim it in 1993. So, as you stand here at Route des Trois Lucs, remember, you’re not just at a crossroads, but at a convergence of history, language, and legend, all woven into the fabric of Marseille.