Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker La Grande Motte and its utopian modernist dreams as seen through the lens of photographers Laurent Kronental and Charly Broyez who spectacularly captured the 20th-century resort community in the south of France it remains to this day a popular holiday destination reportedly welcoming approximately 100,000 to 120,000 tourists during the summer season Photographers Laurent Kronental and Charly Broyez were captivated by La Grande Motte's charms they revisited the thriving community to capture it through their lens producing a photographic series titled La Cité Oasis geometric buildings peeking out from an expanse of Mediterranean foliage It was a campus designed around the ideal escape Kronental and Broyez explain: 'The goal was not only to establish an ideal city but also to give it life with the sole anchor being the dream of happiness.' We caught up with the two photographers to discuss the resort and their work as we flick through their striking imagery – a virtual tour Wallpaper*: How did you 'discover' the area Tell us about your first visit and your first impressions Laurent Kronental and Charly Broyez: In France many people know La Grande Motte without ever having been there frequently appearing in television reports often associated with its attractive tourism and bold architecture we decided to spend a few days there to take some photos we didn't anticipate becoming invested in a long-term artistic series and returning over the next four years It was also our first collaboration together We weren’t very familiar with the region which hosts a famous photography festival each year escapism and design stories from around the world direct to your inbox We envisioned the landscapes of the Camargue we were immediately charmed by the unique allure of this city Its spectacular architecture seemed to transport us to a sci-fi setting We quickly realised that La Grande Motte offered exceptional photographic potential While we were already aware of some of the famous truncated pyramid-shaped buildings we did not expect to discover a city so deeply marked by symbols contrasting with the drier landscapes nearby La Grande Motte is a true ‘Oasis City’ where immersion in nature and the wellbeing of its inhabitants are at the heart of its urban philosophy where immersion in nature and the wellbeing of its inhabitants are at the heart of its urban philosophy It is one of the greenest resorts in Europe serving as a source of inspiration for the city of tomorrow Vegetation covers 70 per cent of its territory and nearly 50,000 trees have been planted since its construction the buildings have been staggered to slow the winds laden with mist creating a favourable climate for the growth of umbrella pines We were also captivated by the quality of life and the tranquillity that reigns in a city designed for pedestrians and cyclists The aim was to limit car access at the city’s entrance Jean Balladur understood the importance of returning to a pace of life He designed a city at the scale of the walker with over 25 kilometres of non-motorised paths and trails LK & CB: The architecture of La Grande Motte is unique in the world It is steeped in symbolism: pyramids inspired by Maya and Inca civilisations a fertile dialogue between void and fullness between the mineral quality of concrete and the greenery of landscaped areas the city faced criticism for its excessive concrete use accompanied by landscape designer Pierre Pillet anticipated a green city ahead of its time whose vegetation would only flourish fully half a century after the resort's construction The architect envisioned ‘rebuilding a paradise Inspired by his travels in Central America, he drew parallels between the pre-Columbian temples of Mexico and their surrounding landscapes He visited the archaeological site of Teotihuacan which influenced the design of La Grande Motte Their stepped form offers several advantages: it provides residents with large terraces to enjoy the sun and creates a continuous movement from the ground to the building reestablishing an artificial relief on a linear and horizontal Languedoc coast La Grande Motte was designed on a human scale where every element reflects the architect's particular attention to the wellbeing of its inhabitants This omnipresent philosophy seeks to avoid the creation of a city without history Jean Balladur said: ‘I attempted to compensate for this lack and to substitute symbolic backdrops for historical deficits I embedded them in the shape of some buildings and places Their appearance refers to a concrete or geometric image whose meaning derives from an archetypal idea inscribed in our unconscious since ancient times The walker or resident then plays hide-and-seek with the mythical underpinnings hidden within.’ Balladur’s architecture is also the work of a plastic artist the resort received the 20th-century heritage label for its remarkable contemporary architecture This distinction is awarded to the entire city conceived as a total and timeless work of art Few architects have managed to envision a city from its layout to its realisation including the choice of its furniture and vegetation Modénature refers to the ornaments found on the façades of buildings he used prefabricated moulded concrete latticework Its utility is multifaceted: it enhances the city's aesthetics Modénature also has practical benefits it helps block the wind while providing valuable shade for apartment residents against the sun the architect built buildings in the shape of semi-circles contrasting with the straight lines of the Levant (built to the east) with its angular pyramids reaching toward the sky inspired by Botticelli’s famous painting The Birth of Venus one can also find ‘bishop's hats’ a specific architectural feature of the area the Grande Pyramide is one of the most emblematic architectural symbols of the city it establishes a connection between the Couchant and Levant neighbourhoods and its inverted profile nods to Pic Saint-Loup a mythical mountain in the region visible from La Grande Motte the Ponant neighbourhood is a true haven of greenery between land and sea inviting leisurely strolls in the shade of trees and by the water The city is equipped with six pedestrian bridges spanning the roads These works evoke warriors watching the horizon and carrying light to illuminate the night This bridge is one of the city’s entrances Jean Balladur remarked: ‘La Grande Motte is in a way a sacred place; men and women come here to worship the sun which today sees a resurgence of fervour.’ To celebrate this star he built the Passerelle Saint-Jean aligned with ‘the clock of the sky’ the oculus located between the two pillars of the bridge projects a perfect circle onto the ground thus aligning the bridge with the celestial rhythm the architect decided to add art as an integral part of the project He collaborated with three artists: Michèle Goalard he scattered the public space with numerous works allowing residents and visitors to encounter them daily Some of these works also serve practical purposes: playgrounds The names of the buildings contribute to the journey, perpetually stimulating our imagination: the Poséidon, the Babylone, the Eden, the Temple of the Sun, the Fidji, the Inca, the Gardens of Ulysses, the Grande Pyramide, the Bali drawing inspiration from both humanistic and universal values LK & CB: We completed this series over four years and undertook seven trips The choice of periods in spring and early summer (late May as well as the beginnings of autumn (September These times of year provided a unique atmosphere revealing more intimate and poetic aspects of the city It is during these interseasons that La Grande Motte seems to regain another sense of time where the architecture subtly interacts with soft light and the surrounding nature The project grew richer with each exploration allowing us to better grasp the essence of the city This long-term approach also enabled us to cultivate a narrative that transcends visual representation It is an immersion in a city designed to coexist with nature It invites reflection on how humans can inhabit the world more harmoniously Any special challenges in capturing the series LK & CB: We created this project using a large-format 4x5-inch film camera Working with large-format film encourages us to anticipate the construction of our images like paintings We compose each element of the image to find the most beautiful harmony the emotion that aligns with our feelings in the moment It was the first time we collaborated on a long-term project We can even say it helped us mature and grow in our perspective Each of us brought our own universe to the other We observe the light and how it paints the landscapes and architecture creating unique atmospheres at different times of the day We immerse ourselves in the soul of the places we explore and converse with locals to better understand their life journeys We often return to the same place multiple times to appreciate its subtleties discovering new details each time as our perspective shifts and evolves The film camera is a wonderful tool that demands rigour and patience It also allows us to enhance the geometry of an image by shifting our horizon line revealing parts of the scene while keeping the camera perfectly straight Shooting in large-format film is quite expensive as each photo costs about 15-20 euros to produce (including film purchase we must be confident in our choices before pressing the shutter This challenges us to consider whether an image is truly relevant and has a place in the narrative we’re constructing we tend to shoot more than necessary and may be less attentive to the moment we are living Film also adds a temporal distance between taking a shot and discovering it we never know if a photograph will be successful It's always a surprise (good or bad) when we go to the lab There are moments when magic happens on a negative W*: Do you often photograph modernist architecture What makes this architectural movement special to capture through photography for you LK & CB: La Grande Motte is an architectural UFO, defying classification. It is neither truly modern nor postmodern, although it directly draws inspiration from these movements. Jean Balladur was trained in the legacy of the modern movement, specifically by the architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe he distinguished himself by breaking away from this tradition His work at La Grande Motte is both standardised and whimsical We both share a common interest in certain architectural movements, but also have more specific research areas that are unique to us and resonate with our respective journeys. W*: What do you hope people will take away from seeing your series? LK & CB: The architecture, where water and concrete merge into a single flow, suggests the fullness of both being and the world. To give a past to a city that had none, Jean Balladur planted the roots of a new city in this untouched land. He now offers us a reverie on the permanence of dreams and the utopia of human grandeur. This series, beyond its aesthetic pursuit, invites us to see La Grande Motte as a living space and a crystallisation of sensations. As a symbol of a dreamer's soul, it transforms the vacationer, resident, or spectator into a fortunate person who, like Ulysses, has made a beautiful journey. We seek to retrace the history of La Grande Motte, from its inception. At that time, the Languedoc coast was still scarcely developed, partly marshy and infested with mosquitoes. We emphasise the natural beauty of this region, located at the gateway to the Camargue, by immortalising the landscapes of the Pays de l’Or, with their marshes, huts, and traditions. Two ways of living meet here: La Grande Motte is a realised utopia, a true Garden of Eden where inhabitants seek happiness in a city designed as an ideal. This dialogue could be a reflection on how the evolution of our lifestyles influences the way we inhabit the earth, by confronting more modest, ancient practices with modern approaches. The challenge is to find synergies between these two worlds, to explore how tradition and innovation can coexist to shape a new way of inhabiting territories. Ellie Stathaki is the Architecture & Environment Director at Wallpaper* She trained as an architect at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki in Greece and studied architectural history at the Bartlett in London she has been a member of the Wallpaper* team since 2006 visiting buildings across the globe and interviewing leading architects such as Tadao Ando and Rem Koolhaas Ellie has also taken part in judging panels such as The Contemporary House (Thames & Hudson Glenn Sestig Architecture Diary (2020) and House London (2022) If you have done all of this and still can't find the email a seaside resort in southern France that attracts some two million tourists a year Built in the 1960s and 70s by architect Jean Balladur on virgin beachfront dunes its prominent pyramidal buildings with large open space around them have not always been popular For decades it was nicknamed La Grande Moche (‘The Great Ugly’) or Sarcelles-sur-Mer (Sarcelles-On-Sea) in a derogatory nod to Paris’s northern suburb of Sarcelles (Val-d'Oise) which epitomises France’s controversial Grand Ensemble architectural movement – the large-scale high-rise housing projects synonymous with postwar urban planning The focus has shifted from La Grande-Motte’s grey urbanity to the now praised but long-forgotten presence of its green spaces So much so that the resort now looks quite the model town for the 21st century Read more: French architecture: Marseille's 24-year wait for mosque Mr Balladur never lived to see this vindication of his efforts eight years before La Grande-Motte was awarded Patrimoine du XXe siècle by the Occitanie region a tour de force considering the label is usually only given to a single building “It is outstanding revenge for Mr Balladur,” said Gilles Ragot an art historian at Bordeaux-Montaigne University who has written a book about the architect and his work France’s architectural world was in thrall to minimalism Mr Balladur’s vision was a 180-degree turn but “this type of architecture did not appeal,” said Mr Ragot pigeon-holing it as just another Grand Ensemble project La Grande-Motte has nothing in common with that movement,” he said “Mr Balladur could be regarded as the first postmodern architect,” he added Wild horses – and mosquitoes – were among its only residents It takes its name from a large mound (grande motte) used by sailors as a point of reference for navigation was the perfect site for his ‘mission Racine’ to take root – a 1963 policy that aimed to create resort towns along 180km of coastal land in southern France to stem the tide of French holidaymakers driving further down the coast to the Costa Brava in Spain Construction started at La Grande-Motte in 1965 on 1,500 hectares the cousin of Prime Minister Édouard Balladur (1993-1995) was inspired by his vacations in South America – in particular the pre-Columbian pyramids of Teotihuacan and the modernist concrete architecture of Brazil’s capital Brasília His tall pyramid-shaped buildings made of lily-white concrete reflected the light and favoured undulating organic shapes “The shape of a pyramid fits into a flat landscape much more seamlessly than a vertical building would because it does not have the same aggressive aspect that breaks up the horizontal of the ground,” he said in an interview An added benefit of the buildings was to tame the effect of the wind – the powerful Tramontane and Mistral especially Read more: Royan: Visit this French sea town rebuilt with Brazil-inspired style were the first two pyramids to be built before the district of Point Zero - where the big mound is - and La Capitainerie joined the panorama in 1968.  the resort’s emblematic 15-storey-high building La Grande-Motte officially became a commune in 1974 and grew each year more than 100 architects worked on the project The resort’s first settlers might have needed some convincing of its merits – and a thick skin when their decision was called into question around the dinner table – but most quickly grew to love it 
“What I really like about living here is the architecture – the notion of opposites the union of opposites that creates harmony There's a kind of harmony to be found at La Grande-Motte,” said Caroline Geolle a professional photographer who moved there in 1995 “Something was happening between wild nature and concrete It was as if the earth sort of integrated the town,” she said.  “It is the perfect place for artists,” she added Her own photography work is largely inspired by La Grande-Motte “There are a variety of forms and shapes in La Grande Motte that simply do not exist in the monotonous Grand Ensemble buildings,” he said “The main quality of this type of architecture is precisely to arouse senses and the imagination.”  Many of the buildings are open to interpretation is widely held to resemble the shape of a whale The Levant district is presented as the “masculine” part of La Grande-Motte because of the rigidly linear buildings are called the ‘Conques de Vénus’ because their curved lines and lightness are both perceived to be ‘feminine’ traits is said to look like Charles de Gaulle’s nose in profile commercial spaces and residences represent only 30% of the total area of La Grande-Motte.  with 36,000 trees – two-thirds pine and one-third deciduous trees – and 45,000 flowers designed by landscaper Pierre Pillet Much like Mr Balladur did with the buildings Mr Pillet organised the planting to limit the effects of powerful winds placing tamarix and olive trees along the shoreline and lining up pine Greater awareness of the effects of global warming a focus on greener urban planning policies and positive feedback from residents may be some of the reasons why La Grande-Motte has been trending recently the tourism office organised a roundtable discussion to look at the possibility of La Grande-Motte expanding from a resort to a mid-sized town “It was always intended as a mid-sized town,” said Mr Ragot “Without any ambition to be a visionary architect It was about providing affordable housing to the middle class and the retirees,” he added La Grande-Motte celebrated its 50th anniversary on May 11 “No one will ever forget this man and his humanist conception of architecture aimed at recreating a ‘lost paradise’ on earth," said mayor Stephan Rossignol They are the subversive instrument of the secret project of the human species: to recreate a lost paradise,” wrote Mr Balladur in a notepad once This small department on the German border is home to the historic city of Strasbourg We also look at other key French transport acronyms: SNCF Japanese pastry chef Mori Yoshida creates refined cakes and desserts You don't have permission to access the page you requested What is this page?The website you are visiting is protected.For security reasons this page cannot be displayed Golf de La Grande Motte on the French Mediterranean coast has updated its irrigation The new Toro system gives the club precise control for reduced water consumption a 42-hole golf complex on the French Mediterranean coast has reduced water consumption following the installation of a new Toro irrigation system Robert Trent Jones designed two 18-hole courses (Pink Flamingos and The Gulls) and the six-hole Seagulls layout at the club in the 1980s the club has operated the Toro Site Pro system and LTC satellites which use hydraulic converters alongside hydraulic rotors La Grande Motte decided to update its infrastructure Toro worked alongside irrigation designer Frédéric Quillien of K Consult and water technicians Arrosage Concept on a project to modernise irrigation with a new system that enhances water distribution and reduces consumption “Despite hurdles like trenching difficulties caused by the courses’ proximity to sea level – resulting in pipes floating in the trenches – and the need for continuous access for players the installation of 1,500 units of Flex 800 series sprinklers equipped with high-performance nozzles became the cornerstone of this comprehensive renovation,” said Roland Demonty The project included the integration of Toro LAC decoders empowering the greenkeeping team with precise control over water delivery to specific areas This allows for tailored irrigation adjustments based on real-time weather data enabling compliance with water restrictions while optimising water usage Three ‘Smart Hubs’ manage the 1,500 LAC decoders through the Lynx Central Control system “The greenkeeping team was able to optimise irrigation schedules and achieve remarkable water savings,” said Demonty not only has La Grande Motte upgraded its water quality and significantly reduced water consumption but it has also set a new benchmark for sustainable golf course irrigation practices.” 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Aquila Power Catamarans is excited to announce its participation in the La Grande Motte International Multihull Show from April 23 to 27 They will present an impressive selection of luxury and performance power catamarans offering a diverse range designed to meet European boating needs Aquila will showcase its Sport Power Catamaran line including the 36 Sport and 32 Sport models Combining powerful outboard engines with spacious decks and premium comfort features these models are known for their versatility they also feature sturdy swim decks for effortless water access the award-winning Aquila 54 and 42 Yacht Power Catamarans will also be on display The 54 Yacht features versatile layout options including 3 and either open or enclosed flybridge options designed by VPLP Design and built to CE Certification Category A offers advanced electronics with Volvo Penta or Yanmar engines and an optional fixed foil that enhances comfort while reducing fuel consumption Both models have generous living space both inside and out providing exceptional comfort for extended cruising and entertaining "European boaters have embraced Aquila's innovative designs with both our sport and yacht models becoming favorites among private owners and charter operators throughout the Mediterranean," says Alain Raas Global Brand Director for Aquila Power Catamarans "From day boating adventures to luxurious cruising our power catamarans meet the growing demand from Mediterranean boaters and charter owners for multihulls that deliver spaciousness and superior performance in varying conditions All this is supported by our robust European dealer network ensuring owners enjoy a seamless ownership experience." Visitors to the Aquila booth will have the opportunity to experience what makes Aquila Power Catamarans a leader in the industry Their expert team will be on hand to provide in-depth insights into each model and answer any questions To learn more or schedule a private tour of the featured models at the show, visit https://www.aquilaboats.com/events/boat-shows/la-grande-motte-multihull-show Aquila Power Catamarans Heading to the 2025 La Grande Motte International Multihull Show Do not sell or share my personal information: Ministers call for more security around Jewish schools and places of worship after incident in La Grande-Motte French police have arrested a man suspected of attempted arson against a synagogue in the southern France city of La Grande-Motte acting interior minister Gérald Darmanin said on X The incident in the Mediterranean resort east of Montpellier is being investigated by France’s specialist antiterrorism prosecutor one of which is believed to have contained a bottle of gas parked in front of the Beth Yaacov synagogue were set alight outside at about 8.30am on Saturday Two doors at the building were also set alight A police officer was injured in the explosion said the synagogue attack was a “terrorist act” and assured that “everything is being done to find [its] perpetrator” “The fight against antisemitism is a constant battle,” Macron said on X and the acting interior minister were travelling to the scene on Saturday afternoon Darmanin said the fire was “an obviously criminal act” He wrote on X: “I want to assure our Jewish fellow citizens and the local community of my full support and say that at the request of the president of the republic all means are being mobilised to find the perpetrator.” the minister called for “immediate reinforced protection” around Jewish places of worship and for “absolute vigilance” and protection for those entering and leaving synagogues and Jewish schools the president of the Representative Council of Jewish Institutions in France (Crif) said: “Exploding a gas canister in a car outside the synagogue in La Grande-Motte at a time when worshippers were due to arrive is not just an attack on a place of worship Free weekly newsletterThe most pressing stories and debates for Europeans – from identity to economics to the environment The police officer was taken to Montpellier hospital with injuries linked to the blast A police spokesperson said his life was not in danger Five people inside the synagogue at the time of the explosion and fires There has been a surge in antisemitic acts in France since the Hamas attack on Israel on 7 October 2023 Darmanin told journalists earlier this month the number of reported acts had almost tripled since the start of 2024 with 887 incidents compared with 304 during the same period last year In 2023 there were 1,676 reported antisemitic incidents This is the archive of The Observer up until 21/04/2025 The Observer is now owned and operated by Tortoise 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Subscribers only Secrets of decades-long Golden Owl treasure hunt to be revealed Lifestyle Inside Chanel's French leather workshops Culture Subscribers only The marvelous bronzes of Angkor on display at the Musée Guimet in Paris The National Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor's Office is handling a case of anti-Semitism for the first time since October 7 The alleged attacker has been charged with terrorist conspiracy and placed in custody By Christophe Ayad One of the vehicles set on fire during the attack on the Beth Yaacov synagogue, in La Grande-Motte (Hérault), on August 26, 2024. PASCAL GUYOT / AFP Four days after the arson attack on the Beth Yaacov synagogue in southern France, the main suspect, El Hussein K., 33, was charged on Wednesday, August 28 for "terrorist conspiracy," "attempted assassinations committed due to race or religion in connection to a terrorist organization," "possession and transport of incendiary products with the intent to harm people" and "violence against police officers aggravated by the use of a weapon." He has been placed in pre-trial detention The investigating judge's decision is in line with the recommendations of the National Anti-Terrorist Prosecutor's Office (PNAT) which had announced earlier in the day that it was opening a judicial investigation who was allegedly aware of El Hussein K.'s plans and suspected of being his accomplice was also charged with "terrorist conspiracy" and jailed between Le Grau-du-Roi and Nîmes (both in southern France) was indicted for "concealment of a terrorist criminal" and placed under judicial supervision You have 76.31% of this article left to read Lecture du Monde en cours sur un autre appareil Vous pouvez lire Le Monde sur un seul appareil à la fois Ce message s’affichera sur l’autre appareil Parce qu’une autre personne (ou vous) est en train de lire Le Monde avec ce compte sur un autre appareil Vous ne pouvez lire Le Monde que sur un seul appareil à la fois (ordinateur En cliquant sur « Continuer à lire ici » et en vous assurant que vous êtes la seule personne à consulter Le Monde avec ce compte Que se passera-t-il si vous continuez à lire ici Ce dernier restera connecté avec ce compte Vous pouvez vous connecter avec votre compte sur autant d’appareils que vous le souhaitez mais en les utilisant à des moments différents Nous vous conseillons de modifier votre mot de passe Votre abonnement n’autorise pas la lecture de cet article merci de contacter notre service commercial The vast Tignes Ski Resort located in the French Alps is known for its expansive terrain and year-round skiing just announced the summer opening of Glacier de la Grande Motte The ski area is open this summer from June 29 to July 21 The summer ski season began a week later than initially planned as the Savoie region experienced significant floods in late June The closing date will depend on the prevailing snow conditions Skiing in Tignes is possible on the Grand Motte glacier which is situated at over 11,000 feet of altitude and offers 2,400 vertical feet of summer skiing on 20km (12.5 miles) of groomed runs Tignes will operate five lifts during the summer stint including the funicular that opened on July 3 A funicular is essentially a ski lift running on sloping rails and resembles a train car getting pulled up a mountain Tignes offers intermediate groomers as well as park features to dial those tricks in during the summer Tignes has more than downhill skiing in the summer they also have a scenic cross-country skiing route and guided glacier hiking and climbing combined with Val d’Isere is one of the largest interconnected ski areas in the world The ski area jointly boasts 160 runs stretching across 300km (187.5 miles) Although summer skiing is in full swing at Tignes the weather might not want to give up spring The 10-day forecast calls for temperatures in the 30s and low 40s °F with a snow/rain mix expected this weekend at the 11,000 foot elevation band tous les moyens sont mobilisés… "An attempted arson attack, clearly criminal, hit the synagogue of La Grande Motte this morning. I want to assure our Jewish fellow citizens and the municipality of my full support and say that at the request of the President of the Republic @EmmanuelMacron all means are being mobilized to find the perpetrator," he wrote on the social media platform."Everything is being done to find the perpetrator of this terrorist act and to protect places of worship,"  Macron posted on X on Saturday midday.Pensées pour les fidèles de la synagogue de la Grande-Motte et tous les Juifs de notre pays Tout est fait pour retrouver l’auteur de cet acte terroriste et protéger les lieux de culte.La lutte contre l’antisémitisme est un combat de chaque instant A French police officer was injured on Saturday when a blazing car exploded in the car park of a synagogue in the coastal town of La Grande-Motte and police said they were treating the incident as attempted arson."A car exploded in front of the synagogue in @lagrandemotte A local police official was injured," William Maury He told BFM TV the police officer's life was not in danger.Local media said two cars had been on fire one of which contained at least one gas canister.Jewish community reactionsYonathan Arfi the president of France's Representative Council of Jewish Institutions (CRIF) wrote on X in response to the attack it was done because of  "The desire to kill Jews Exploding a gas canister in a car in front of the synagogue in La Grande Motte at the expected time of arrival of worshipers: this is not just attacking a place of worship it is an act to try to kill Jews."This is antisemitism in France But the French Jews will not back down."La volonté de tuer des Juifs.Faire exploser une bonbonne de gaz dans une voiture devant la synagogue de la Grande Motte à l'heure d'arrivée prévisible de fidèles : ce n'est pas que s'en prendre à un lieu de culte c'est un passage à l'acte pour tenter de tuer des Juifs Archive Art a man carried out an arson attack on the synagogue at Grande-Motte he used bottles filled with a flammable liquid to set fire to the entrance of the synagogue and several vehicles in the parking lot One of these vehicles contained a bottle of gas which exploded wounding a municipal policeman on duty at the synagogue the man wore a keffiyeh and draped himself in a Palestinian flag during the attack and did not try to hide his face from security cameras at the synagogue French military police identified him and hunted him down by tracking his cell phone They apprehended him Saturday night in Pissevin a working class suburb of the city of Nîmes who shot him in the arm and the face before arresting him Interior Ministry sources identified the attacker through far-right magazine Current Values as 33-year-old Algerian immigrant El Hussein Khenfri Available information indicates that he carried out the attack driven by antisemitic sentiments inflamed by the Israeli regime’s genocide of the Palestinian people in Gaza so are the utterly hypocritical and false denunciations of the attack by French capitalist politicians who back the Israeli genocide in Gaza It is politically obscene for them to posture as fighting antisemitism in a country where the capitalist state fully participated in the Holocaust of European Jewry during World War II and when French imperialism and its NATO allies are backing today a new genocide in Gaza “Our thoughts go to the worshippers of the Grande-Motte synagogue and all the Jews of our country,” wrote President Emmanuel Macron on X/Twitter adding: “The struggle against antisemitism is a struggle of every moment who traveled to the scene of the crime with Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin blamed the attack on left-wing forces sympathetic to the people of Gaza since the October 7 2023 uprising in Gaza and the Israeli government’s launching of the Gaza genocide certain forces have incited a certain climate many confusions have been generated by those who incite hatred of Jews in our country,” Attal said He added that he did not “want to go further,” since “every person has his or her own idea on this issue.” However capitalist media promptly identified the target of Attal’s remarks as Jean-Luc Mélenchon and the millions of workers who voted for Mélenchon’s France Unbowed (LFI) party in the 2022 presidential elections and the recent July 7 elections The Macron government’s attempts to blame antisemitic attacks on left-wing sentiment in the working class are political lies Racial hatreds and race murder are abhorrent to left-wing workers in France and internationally Those who incite racial hatreds are not those sympathetic to the innocent men women and children being massacred in Gaza starting at the top of the Macron government who back the Gaza genocide and incite far-right moods inside France as it has relied ever more on the riot police to repress mass opposition to its policies of austerity and war the Macron government has resorted to inciting far-right sentiment that is rife inside the police Interior Minister Darmanin is infamous for his statement in 2011 that he hates seeing kosher or halal foods in French grocery stores as he sent riot police to assault “yellow vest” protests against social inequality the convicted traitor and Nazi collaborationist dictator as a “great soldier.” It was an unprecedented declaration of respect for far-right politics and collaboration with Nazism by a French head of state The Macron government’s legitimization of far-right sentiment ultimately led it to an alliance with neo-fascism in support of the Gaza genocide its officials joined leaders of the far-right National Rally (RN) whose founder Jean-Marie Le Pen denied the Holocaust in marches backing the Israeli government’s war on Gaza Macron invited Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu who now faces international arrest warrants for genocide The struggle against antisemitism cannot be waged by uniting France especially when the state itself legitimizes political racism and genocide the government’s false argument that opposing antisemitism requires supporting Israel implicitly encourages antisemitism among those who conclude that they utterly oppose the state of Israel The attack at Grande-Motte is an urgent warning of the necessity of uniting and mobilizing workers in struggle against the capitalist police state and the Gaza genocide This underlies the bankruptcy of Mélenchon’s position on the Grande-Motte attack He responded with a tweet declaring: “Arson attack against the Grande-Motte synagogue Our thoughts go to the worshippers and believers who are thus assaulted Secularism and freedom of conscience are the daughters of freedom of worship Capitalist media and political forces close to Macron responded by denouncing Mélenchon’s tweet because it did not explicitly refer to antisemitism like the Macron government’s previous denunciations of Mélenchon’s statements of solidarity with Gaza as antisemitic now estimated to have claimed the lives of over 186,000 men is in fact critical to fighting the incitement of political racism by the ruling class and by the Macron government But Mélenchon and the New Popular Front (NFP) formed this year by LFI the Greens and the Stalinist French Communist Party have worked to stifle working class opposition to Macron—even when Macron refused to let the NFP try to form a government after winning the 2024 legislative elections and his call to send French troops to Ukraine to fight Russia are all massively unpopular This reactionary suppression of mass political opposition in the working class creates a surreal demoralizing atmosphere in which political racism flourishes without any visible opposition won the July 7 election in Nîmes with 54 percent of the vote Particularly in immigrant suburbs like Pissevin there is substantial opposition to Macron and to the Gaza genocide Yet this opposition cannot find any concrete collective expression under conditions where the NFP and the union bureaucracies block the building of a movement in the working class against capitalism It is in these putrid conditions that more disoriented elements become vulnerable to racist moods and ultimately carry out antisemitic attacks The decisive question in combating political racism and genocide is the mobilization of the working class French police apprehended and detained the suspect behind the arson attack on a synagogue in a southwestern Mediterranean town that injured a police officer the country's acting interior minister said early Sunday Two cars parked at the Beth Yaacov synagogue complex in the seaside resort town of La Grande Motte near Montpellier were set ablaze just after 8 a.m the National Anti-terrorism Prosecutor's Office said in a statement.  Firefighters discovered additional fires at two entrances to the synagogue A police officer who walked up to the site was injured after a propane gas tank in one of the vehicles exploded who were present in the synagogue complex at the time of the attack were unharmed "The alleged perpetrator of the arson attack on the synagogue has been arrested," Gerald Darmanin, the acting interior minister, said in a post on social media He visited the site on Saturday afternoon along with acting Prime Minister Gabriel Attal and met with local officials and the synagogue staff Darmanin also hailed the "professional conduct" of police forces and its elite intervention unit "despite the gunfire" during the operation Prosecutors were investigating the attack as an attempted assassination linked to a terrorist group and destruction of property with dangerous means and a crime planned by a terrorist group with an intent to cause harm After the attack Saturday, Darmanin ordered police reinforcement to protect Jewish places of worship following what was "clearly a criminal act." Increased protection has already been in place at some sites following a surge of antisemitism since the start of the Israel-Hamas war last year The noise I heard was louder than anything I've ever heard in my life," local resident Karam Paquin so I walk by or I often pass by this street but it's true that today I was lucky as it's a Saturday when I'm not working French President Emmanuel Macron called the attack a "terrorist attack." French media said that a suspect had been seen on CCTV cameras shortly before the attack with a Palestinian flag tied around their waist "The fight against antisemitism is a constant battle," Macron said on social media Acting Prime Minister Gabriel Attal called the attack "an act of antisemitism." "Once again our Jewish fellow citizens are being targeted," Attal said in a post on social media. "Faced with antisemitism, faced with violence, we will never let ourselves be intimidated." Copyright ©2025 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. Two cars parked at the Beth Yaacov synagogue complex in the seaside resort town of La Grande-Motte near Montpellier were set ablaze just after 8 a.m. Saturday, anti-terrorism prosecutors said in a statement. Firefighters discovered additional fires at two entrances to the synagogue. A police officer who walked up to the site was injured after a propane gas tank in one of the vehicles exploded, the statement said. World & Nation there’s relief over a strong standard-bearer facing Trump A Kamala Harris win would represent continuity said that investigators were reviewing the city’s surveillance videos and that a lone suspect was spotted at the site of the attack “We don’t know if the individual has left the city or if he is still in the city,” Rossignol said in an interview with broadcaster France Info He added: “The individual in question did not manage to get inside the synagogue even though that was clearly his objective.” President Emmanuel Macron said the synagogue attack was a “terrorist act” and assured that “everything is being done to find [its] perpetrator.” Acting Prime Minister Gabriel Attal said the synagogue was targeted in the “antisemitic attack,” a “shocking and appalling” act of violence French Jews have been targeted and attacked because of their beliefs,” Attal said after meeting with local officials and the synagogue staff At least 200 police officers and other security personnel have been deployed to apprehend the perpetrator The assailant who hit the synagogue on the Shabbat morning was “very determined” to cause damage and casualties adding that preliminary evidence collected by investigators shows that “we have narrowly avoided a tragedy.” Acting Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin ordered more police officers deployed at Jewish places of worship around the country after a surge of antisemitism since the start of the Israel-Hamas war in October. Politics California Subscribe for unlimited accessSite Map The Project as a whole was given 3 billion francs and an objective to create 500,000 new tourist beds among the five locations to draw tourists from throughout France and northern Europe that it would not be successful if he imagined it from nothing This belief is what led to La Grande Motte’s distinctive eventually creating an architecturally cohesive whole that spans over 400 hectares (almost 1,000 acres) and signage; his goal was to create a complete aesthetic work © Flickr user Fred Romero licensed under CC BY 2.0Balladur’s master plan for La Grande Motte included zones for camping he collaborated with landscape architect Pierre Pillet to choose plant species that would tolerate the marine climate and held development back from the beach (while keeping the beach a walkable distance from apartments) to protect the natural landscape while also creating a pleasurable experience for visitors Large open spaces surround the main buildings and the city also includes public squares and parks Balladur made a distinct effort to celebrate and safeguard nature while also harnessing the region’s natural resources just enough to enhance visitors’ enjoyment You'll now receive updates based on what you follow Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors A synagogue was targeted on Saturday in southern France The National Anti-Terrorist Prosecutor's Office has taken up the case the first involving anti-Semitic violence since October 7 By Christophe Ayad and Henri Seckel president of the Association cultuelle israélite de La Grande-Motte (Hérault) speaks in front of the Beth-Yaacov synagogue PASCAL GUYOT / AFP The attempted attack on a synagogue in southern France on Saturday marks a turning point in the long series of anti-Semitic acts recorded in France since the attack − accompanied by massacres and numerous acts of violence − by Hamas against Israel on October 7 followed by the Israeli army's destruction of the Gaza Strip in retaliation These anti-Semitic acts have increased not only in number but also in severity it appears that the intention of El Hussein K. the 33-year-old Algerian suspected of this attack The number of anti-Semitic acts has increased significantly since October 7: In 2023 compared with 304 in the same period in 2023 it is also marked by an increase in the violence of these acts They recently went from tagging the walls of synagogues and businesses run by members of the Jewish community such as the one suffered by 62-year-old Marco S outside a synagogue in Paris' 20th arrondissement an arson attack was committed on a synagogue in Normandy and on Saturday an attack was planned against the Grand-Motte synagogue You have 73.57% of this article left to read A drop in wind strength brought huge changes to the 49erFX leaderboard on day three of the European Championship in La Grande Motte in the South of France Anna Barth and Emma Kohlhoff rocketed up the rankings after the young German team scored the best set of results across four races in light winds on the Mediterranean Sea Scores of 7,5,1,2 have launched the Germans up into seventh place despite sitting out the windy race on the previous day “and especially nice because two days ago I injured myself and we couldn’t go out yesterday.” After nosediving and pitchpoling in Tuesday’s big breeze and steep chop Barth was hurled into the water and the boat landed on top of her After such a nasty bang to the head she decided that taking a day out from competition was the wiser option So after staying on the beach for Wednesday to bounce back with such a strong performance in today’s lighter breeze was the best comeback present they could have hoped for “We felt pretty confident because we’re going super fast in these conditions,” said Kohlhoff “It was tricky racing but we stayed calm and pretty relaxed When you’re fast you just need to keep it simple.” Two of the front runners struggled to maintain such strong form from the windy weather with the teams from Finland and Italy falling out of the top three and down to eighth and ninth respectively Instead the top of the leaderboard is a close battle between Belgium Now three points in the lead are Belgium’s Isaura Maenhaut and Anouk Geurts “Keeping relaxed was quite tricky,” said Geurts “because we had three races and then the wind shut down before it fully switched to the sea breeze so there was a lot of sitting around before the last one.” “We just tried to keep it cool,” added Maenhaut “We’re trying to talk about the strategic and tactical priorities for when the breeze came in from the new direction and then chatted about some random stuff.” To win the Europeans would be a huge boost for the team selected for Belgium but Maenhaut and Geurts said it was far too early to be dreaming of the top of the podium in La Grande Motte As for the Polish team of Alexsandra Melzacka and Sandra Jankowiak they have yet to learn if they’re going to the Games Lying in second place just three points off the Belgian lead they’re doing everything in their power to prove to the Polish selectors that they’re the right team to be sent to Paris 2024 “We try not to think about that,” said Jankowiak “We focus on the racing here and we hope that what we do will be enough [to get us to Paris].” A good day also for the highly experienced French team going to the Games A former Laser Radial World Champion Sarah Steyaert the Rio 2016 Olympic Champion in windsurfing “This is the first boat Charline has ever sailed,” laughed Steyaert “She picked a difficult one to start with but we’re enjoying our sailing a lot in the FX.” Picon says she likes the change of pace from the strong winds to the lighter airs “We managed to be very regular with our races today,” said Picon “We are making improvements to our technique and our equipment and we choosing some good priorities on the race course.” 49er: Some surprise winners and some solid Brits It was a long day on the water for the men racing in the last heats of the qualifying series This evening the top 25 find out who moves forward into the gold fleet finals The light and fickle breezes saw a number of less expected race winners including Oman’s Musab Al Hadi and Waleed Al Kendi who scored a bullet in the final yellow group heat At the top of the standings James Peters and Fynn Sterritt came away from a difficult day with two solid scores from three races to regain the overall lead from fellow Brits Laila van der Meer and Bjarne Bouwer surprised themselves with a spectacular day on the Nacra 17 race course The young Dutch team scored 3,1,1 in blue group to move up to second overall behind the Italians Ruggero Tita and Caterina Banti “It was nerve wracking out there,” said a mightily relieved and elated Bouwer in the boat park So at some point you looked like you were very bad and then you got a gust and you squeezed through So you couldn’t really tell where you were until the top mark.” “Our heart rates were high while we weren’t really doing a lot,” she laughed “It was a day were you had to change mode all day John Gimson and Anna Burnet also scored some good races on the other side of qualifying with a 1,8,1 from yellow group There are some specialists in the fleet who are good at one thing in one type of breeze That’s the real challenge for anyone with an eye on this week’s world title or this summer’s Olympic gold medal “That’s the hardest thing in the Nacra right now,” said Gimson because in no wind the Nacra goes from being pretty much a keelboat until you lift one hull and it becomes a catamaran and then when you’re fully foiling it’s very different again So we’re trying to make ourselves as all-round as we can which means you have to make compromises somewhere.” By the end of Thursday evening with all the protests resolved the Nacra 17 Worlds and the men’s 49er Europeans are re-flighted into gold and silver fleets with the prospect of more light airs competition for Friday 2025-05-06T08:37:00+12:00May 6th Switzerland’s Eric Monnin and his Capvis Swiss Match Racing Team of Ute Monnin Wagner and Maxime Mesnil today clinched a long awaited win of the 60th Anniversary Long Beach Yacht Club Congressional Cup stage three of the 2025 World Match Racing Tour season 2025-05-05T11:35:57+12:00May 5th The eyes of the sailing world will turn to Qingdao as the city prepares to host the 2025 ILCA 6 Women’s and ILCA 7 Men’s World Championships 2025-05-04T20:29:35+12:00May 4th Light airs and overcast conditions brought high-stakes racing to the penultimate day of the 60th Congressional Cup in Long Beach as the final four teams advanced to the semi-finals 2025-05-04T20:23:07+12:00May 4th and claimed Antigua Sailing Week’s most coveted prize 3 or 4 class winner with the fastest overall corrected times calculated on a time-on-distance basis 2025-05-03T17:34:46+12:00May 3rd The final day of racing at Antigua Sailing Week saw a return to steady winds of 10-12 knots that gradually built to 13-14 knots The big boats in CSA Racing Class 1 had a 20-mile course in conditions that had Roy Disney’s Volvo 70 Pyewacket hitting speeds of 15-17 knots 2025-05-03T17:28:09+12:00May 3rd The race to the semi-finals at the 60th Long Beach Yacht Club Congressional Cup is going down to the wire With just two flights remaining in the double round robin stage four teams are locked in a high-stakes battle for the final semi-final slots with crucial races to count Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription Sign up to receive awesome content in your inbox We don’t spam!Read our privacy policy for more info We keep your data private and don't spam. Read our full Privacy Policy © Copyright © 2005-document.write(new Date().getFullYear()) Live Sail Die Limited The views and opinions expressed on this web site are soley those of the original authors and other contributors These views and opinions do not necessarily represent those of official sailing agencies Live Sail Die is a recognised member of the NZ Marine Industry Association.Live Sail Die drone pilots are CAA Part 102 Certificated said on X that 'the suspected perpetrator of the criminal fires at the synagogue has been detained' Two cars parked at the Beth Yaacov synagogue complex in La Grande Motte in southern France were set ablaze Saturday morning Law enforcement officers stand in front of a synagogue following the fire and explosion of cars in La Grande-Motte PASCAL GUYOT / AFP French police have arrested a suspect in the attack on a synagogue in southern France that the 'perpetrator of the criminal fires at the synagogue' had been detained the suspect was arrested in Nîmes and was shot at by police officers before being taken into emergency care French authorities opened a terrorism investigation after an arson attack on a synagogue in a southern French town injured a police officer and security forces searched for a suspect Two cars parked at the Beth Yaacov synagogue complex in the seaside resort town of La Grande Motte near Montpellier were set ablaze just after 8 am on Saturday the National Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor's Office said in a statement A police officer who walked up to the site was injured after a propane gas tank in one of the vehicles detonated President Emmanuel Macron said the synagogue attack was a "terrorist act" and assured that "everything is being done to find [its] perpetrator." "The fight against antisemitism is a constant battle," Macron said on X Acting Prime Minister Gabriel Attal said the synagogue was targeted in the attack that he called an "an act of antisemitism." "Once again our Jewish fellow citizens are being targeted," Attal said in a post on X we will never let ourselves be intimidated." Acting Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin ordered police reinforcement to protect Jewish places of worship and said the incident was being treated as an "attempted arson" that is "clearly a criminal act." "I want to assure our Jewish fellow citizens of my full support and say that at the request of President Emmanuel Macron all means are being mobilized to find the perpetrator," Darmanin posted on X He ordered more police deployed at Jewish places of worship around the country following a surge of anti-Semitism since the start of the Israel-Hamas war last year Darmanin and Attal were expected to travel to Le Grand Motte later on Saturday Cobblestone streets and cafés lost in time quaint little ancient villages surrounded by vineyards heart-achingly beautiful architecture and skylines just like you’ve seen it in the movies it can look like the utopian post-war architects had an absolute field day with “2 for 1” deals on concrete It’s easy to forget that Brutalism was pioneered by a French architect Charles-Édouard Jeanneret or “Le Corbursier,” and that a lot of French people thought it was a very good idea to build these hulking monoliths of cement all over the country There’s the concrete holiday haven of La Grande-Motte a Modernist time capsule seaside resort of gleaming white concrete pyramids by architect Jean Balladur who dedicated 30 years of his life to the project most notably in the 12th and 19th arrondissements Brutalist and Modernist architecture is as much part of French (and global) history as the gargoyled churches and Haussmann-lined avenues albeit one that’s not always easy to see today under decades of dirt As you might be able to tell, I’ve come across an archive of vintage French architecture like no other. You think you know what France looks like until you’ve had a good rummage through Retro-Geographie a little corner of the internet that would argue that France was the true home of Modernism If you told me 10 years ago that I would one day be making a case for the preservation of Brutalist or Modernist architecture I’m still trying to get to grips with learning to appreciate it And so much of it did go up in place of precious and historic architecture reduced to piles of rubble during war As one of architecture’s most divisive styles branded “cold-hearted,” “inhuman” and “monstrous,” Brutalism has a reputation that’s hard to shake When so many of these buildings were used as authoritarian government facilities it’s hard not to imagine them as covert emissaries in a totalitarian or communist regime so many of them have aged poorly in damper climates To continue demolishing buildings before they reach the ripe age of 50 Architect and architectural historian Michael Kubo reminds us that it wouldn’t be the first time we vilify buildings once they’re no longer new but not quite old enough to be worthy of our respect In speaking to the Washington Post Kubo brings up the example of Victorian architecture; how much of it was once “regarded with embarrassment,” quoting a British humorist writer in the 1930s on the subject: Whatever may be said in favour of the Victorians it is pretty generally admitted that few of them were to be trusted within reach of a trowel and a pile of bricks…” Nowadays, we’re horrified to hear about Victorian architecture being sentenced to the wrecking ball and of course so much of it was tragically lost to overzealous city planners in the 20th century French comic Jacques Tati famously poked fun at postwar Modernism in in films like Mon Oncle (1958) detailing society’s relationship with this strange “pretentious” new architecture that was encroaching upon older parts of Paris “so geometric as to have lost any human or inhabitable character.” But speaking to The Financial Times professor of architecture and urban culture Iain Borden says that “although Tati’s cinema is critical of the Modernist aesthetic “The house in Mon Oncle is a suburban bourgeois villa faintly ridiculous design and pervasive middle-class values,” he says watching back Tati’s Mon Oncle is a visual treat allowing the viewer to appreciate both the charm of historic “old” Paris as well as the exciting designs of the Modernist aesthetic There is a growing case for Brutalist architecture already underway for Modernist architecture Who’s to say we can’t bring these buildings back with a pop of colour These 20th century photographs and postcards make it all look positively picturesque Could it be possible that some inexpensive renovations might bring some of that back In lieu of bulldozing them and rebuilding at great expense are they not the perfect canvas for experimentation It’s so easy to miss and dismiss as cold and depressing these buildings capture our innocence and optimism from a moment in time when we liked to believe we were already living in the future world on the verge of living in space with colonies on Mars but also of our ability to overcome adversity and hardship So I do hope this compendium of Brutalist and anonymous Modernist architecture (that you didn’t ask for) might prompt some of us to re-evaluate the visual appeal of these buildings finding the beauty in the ugly is always a healthy exercise Browse more French Brutalism and Modernism on Retro-Geographie Last Updated on March 7, 2024 by MessyNessy According to a recent survey carried out on behalf of French ski resort Tignes the carbon footprint for a day's skiing there totals 48.9 kg CO2e per person The resort wants us all to do more to cut emissions Like most ski resorts Tignes is planning ahead for operations in a warming world it recently gave up trying to open its slopes in early autumn and is instead accelerating its energy aiming to become fully sustainable by 2030 According to a recent survey carried out on behalf of the resort the carbon footprint for 1 day skiing in Tignes totals 48.9 kg CO2e per person not a lot different to the western world’s daily average of about 40kg per person which represent 25.4kg and 52% of all emissions and we’re down at 23.5kg for everything else – so much lower than the daily average in most people’s day to day lives at home In the audit “Community” came out as the second greatest part of emissions at 7,9 kgCO2e per person per day heating and operating resort infrastructure facilities and services related to tourism – besides the actually skiing by ski equipment emissions at 8.5 kgCO2e – based on the production and transport of things like skis The message there being to reuse for as long as you can rather than buy news however ‘eco freiendly’ the production process Food was next with 4kgCO2e per person making up 8% of the total with Tignes noting that a vegetarian reduces his/her carbon footprint in that category by as much as 75% Next came tourist accommodation at 4% and 1.7 kgCO2e with operating the ski lifts snowmaking and grooming coming in at the smallest share of emissions That’s perhaps because Tignes uses green electricity and biofuels Two time-lapse cameras have been installed on the La Grande Motte glacier to help collect data monitor the impact of global warming on the ice melt and provide food for thought on the evolution and adaptation of water How to reduce your carbon resources in the future elected members of the Children's Council in Tignes will plant a time capsule in the bowels of the Grande Sassière glacier The aim of the experiment is to follow the evolution of the glacier over a 10-year period The resort says that this scientific and educational project aspires to raise awareness on global warming in the area and to study the glacier melt Simon Porte Jacquemus made a name for himself in 2010 when He staged a variety of outlandish shows in the likes of public swimming pools and blacked-out halls and has since become the go-to designer for the Parisian it-girl His collections embody a playful French spirit each one telling a story with the latest taking on the narrative of a young girl on vacation in La Grande Motte it is characterised by its homogeneous architecture made up of Ziggurat towers and streamlined geometry “It was just built on one idea and that makes the city very strong,” explains Jacquemus This clean-cut precision feeds into his S/S14 collection of crop tops Jacquemus was inspired by 1960s and 1980s French cinema and the youthful buoyancy and joie de vivre that they provoked he has released a book to accompany the collection he speaks to AnOther on the book and the influence of French town Why did you decide to produce a book?I don't do collections so I always focus on the story as well as the clothes I was really excited to make an object from this collection and to have something to keep for all time Who is the girl in the story?It is a bit of an 80s French film cliché She is there but she doesn’t know what she is doing there she plays tennis and she falls in love" — Jacquemus What are your thoughts on La Grande Motte?It is a very strong architectural city built and designed by just one guy Right now the city is very popular but it is getting a trashy reputation but I still think La Grande Motte is a very inspiring and exciting place Although I don’t think you could go there for more than one or two weeks When did you first visit La Grande Motte?When I was a child I was living forty minutes or so from the city I had my first vacation there when I was eight but I didn't remember anything about the architecture Jacquemus: La Grande Motte is out now 2021 proved to be a blockbuster summer and fall for events around the globe and the International Mulithull Show is looking to continue that trend in 2022 is about one thing and one thing only—multihulls the show has served as a showcase for the latest in multihull design The event also provides the perfect venue for multihull aficionados from around the world to compare and share ideas—the more cutting-edge the 2022 show will include what organizers are calling a “Multihull Club Design” area showcasing the latest in multihull innovation The show will also play host to a range of equipment suppliers exhibiting everything from deck hardware to sails the event is expected to draw exhibitors and visitors from around the world making it an international affair in the truest sense of the word—a gathering of the multihull tribes not to be missed For the latest on this year’s International Multihull Show, go to multicoque-online.com Sail Editors providing content for this Sail Magazine article Many products featured on this site were editorially chosen Sail Magazine may receive financial compensation for products purchased through this site Copyright © 2025 Sail Magazine Firecrown Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is 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