Whether they're made in the traditional way or in an original way, where can you buy the best galettes des rois in France?

After the festive season comes Epiphany. We were all in great need of a delicious meal: the galette des rois. It's THE dessert par excellence that helps us get through the new school year. At once greedy, convivial and festive, the galette can often be a source of tension between the pretenders to the bean. We all hope to be enthroned for a moment and be able to choose our king or queen. The galette can be enjoyed in many different forms: frangipane, perfumed, fruity, truffled, caramelized, revisited or upside-down. Whatever the flavor, we usually just take a bite. But where does this tradition come from?

Epiphany is originally a Greek word meaning "appearance". This feast corresponds to the day when the wise men came to Jesus to offer him gifts to celebrate his arrival. This event then marked the day on which we eat the galette des rois. It was the Church that instituted this tradition, dating back to Roman times. The Vatican established the first Sunday in January as the day on which we draw kings. The bean in the galette dates back to a tradition in which certain people used to designate their leader by hiding a coin in a piece of bread. A silver coin, a gold coin or, for the poorest, a white bean. Whoever found it was then elected. Later, this bread was replaced by brioche, then by the galette we all know.

We've selected our 10 favorite places to buy a galette des rois across France.

The famous frangipane galette from Meert, Lille

Meert is an emblematic family patisserie that has been famous for over 250 years. Its store in old Lille is well worth a visit. It's a place to awaken the senses of sight and smell. In response to its growing success, the patisserie has also opened its doors in the French capital. From now until the end of January, you'll find a wide choice of galettes: apple, pistachio and frangipane. We chose this Dutch galette with crunchy almonds, which is as refined as it is delicious.

• Serves 6

• The price: 29 euros

• Where to find this galette? Lille, Paris

The galette from the Opaline patisserie in Le Touquet-Paris-Plage

If you continue your journey along the Opal Coast, you'll fall under the spell of Le Touquet Paris Plage and its many little boutiques. One of them caught our eye this Epiphany: Opaline. Founded 3 years ago, Opaline is a young family-run business that's already made a name for itself in the region. From apple galettes to frangipane, from individual to large family galettes, there's something for everyone! 

• Where can you find this galette? Le Touquet-Paris-Plage

Emma's galette, in Nantes

Emma Pâtisserie Boulangerie won 3rd place for the best almond galette in Loire-Atlantique. A wide range of flavors are available, including frangipane, caramelized apple, chocolate pear and raspberry. These galettes are available by click and collect on their website or directly in store.

• Serves 6

• Price: €18

• Where can you find this galette? Rouen, Nantes, La Baule-Escoublac

The ancestral galette from Pétrin Moissagais, Bordeaux

Le Pétrin Moissagais ' raw materials and expertise are well known in Bordeaux. Famous for their wood-fired baking, baker Serge Combarieu's pastries and viennoiseries are made with the greatest respect for the ancestral traditions of the trade. Entering the bakery is like stepping back in time. A word of advice this Epiphany: try his orange-peel galette... a real treat!

• Where to find this galette? Bordeaux

Cointreau and Gianduja galette from Pain par Nature, near Toulouse

The front of the Au Pain par Nature bakery may be discreet, but it hides some real marvels. The baker, Blaise Dutilleul, offers products made with quality local flours from organic and sustainable agriculture. One of their creations piqued our curiosity: Cointrau and Gianduja.

• Where can you find this galette? Cugnaux, Frouzins

The galette from Dorner Frères, Lyon

Located in Lyon's 6th arrondissement, patisserie Dorner Frères is offering two recipes for Epiphany cakes that are literally to die for: a more classic frangipane, and another for the more daring, made with hazelnuts, sobacha and Martell Cognac.

• Price: from 16.50 euros

•  Where can you find this galette? Lyon

A galette to die for from Hanss, Strasbourg

Discover the best galette des rois in Strasbourg at the Hanss bakery-pastry shop in the Finkwiller district. There's something for every taste in this pastry shop: apple, pear-chocolate frangipane, Nutella and the famous gourmet, crunchy, buttery, authentic galette, the traditional frangipane. This galette has been awarded a gold medal nine times in competitions organized by the Fédération de la Boulangerie du Bas-Rhin.

• Where can you find this galette? Strasbourg

The galette from La Grande Épicerie, Paris

This year, La Grande Épicerie has decided to embellish its galette with an AOP des Charentes butter puff pastry, topped with a chocolate almond cream. It is adorned with chocolate-covered natural almonds and shavings of melting Madagascar chocolate. It's a real treat, just looking at it.

• Serves 6

• The price: 35 euros 

• Where can you find this galette? Paris

The galette at the Ritz, Paris

For the Ritz, chef François Perret has created a completely stunning galette with an inverted puff pastry. His "Crousti-galette des Rois" literally won our hearts, with its melting frangipane and crunchy almonds sprinkled on top. A nice surprise awaits 3 lucky consumers of these galettes. The chef has hidden 3 golden beans in 3 of his creations. Similar to the lottery in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, the three lucky winners will each win a brunch for two at the Ritz Paris. Let's give it a try!

• For 6 people

• The price: 49 euros 

• Where can you find this galette? Paris

La galette des Roux by Yann Couvreur, Paris

Famous for his Millefeuille à la Vanille de Madagascar, Yann Couvreur continues to create more original pastries every year. We fell in love with this unusual galette. As you may have guessed, the galette des roux is a reference to the squirrel, with its nutty flavor. It's made with a caramelized puff pastry and a roasted hazelnut frangipane.

• For 4/5 people

• Price: 28 euros 

• Where can you find this galette? Paris

Queens and kings, to your crowns!