Le Ferry-Boat

Their story.

Finally entering the post-war era with the film Marius adapted from Marcel Pagnol's trilogy, the Ferry Boat is also famous for being the smallest maritime crossing in the world (283 meters!).

Très tôt appeared the need to connect the two banks of the Lacydon in a minimum of time. Thus in 1880 the Ferry Boat line was created. With the creation of the ferry bridge in 1905, the competition became untenable and two lines are removed in the 20s, leaving only the one we know today.

The ferry line was created in 1931

In 1931, during the filming of Marius a scene was shot on the Ferry Boat, with the famous Escartefigues coming out and pronouncing the Marseillaise « Ferry Boâte ».

In 1952, the shipyards of La Seyne sur mer delivered the famous César which completed the fleet of Mouches. Commanded by François Paoleschi, a former ocean-going sailor, the unwearable César will remain in service for almost 50 years. In 1984, the line becomes municipal, preserved as part of the maritime heritage of Provence, thus preventing the ships from being sunk.

The line is still in operation today

The puncture-proof César remains in service until 2008 replaced by a more ecological model, the water tick « Mille Sabords ». Low energy consumption and able to multiply the rotations with a minimum impact on the environment, it can accommodate some 45 people on board with an autonomy of 18 hours. The Mille Sabords adopts a modern look but no less inspired by the César.

Modernity obliges, the new ship is much faster and makes the crossing in 1 minute 15 against a little more than 3 for the old César;