Once a year, the “Carnaval de la Plaine” takes place on the Plaine, a square in the center of Marseille.
It is a carnival with a long tradition in Marseille that celebrates art and culture and opposes the ever-advancing gentrification.
For two days, a huge bonfire is lit, and the celebrating crowd is left in peace until Sunday evening. After a day full of parades, the CRS (the French riot police) clear the square within minutes using tear gas.
What remains are burning trash cans, smoke-filled streets, and a large, charred pile of ashes on La Plaine.
Für Culturel Marseille, März 2026.