Sacre feu! Marseille skyline lit up by fiery displays as it celebrates status as European Capital of Culture

  • Artistic collective Carabosse Company lit 6,000 buckets of fire for display
  • Giant flame sculptures illuminated city's Old Harbour

By Rosie Taylor

PUBLISHED: 17:26 GMT, 4 May 2013 | UPDATED: 20:13 GMT, 4 May 2013

The skyline above the ancient city of Marseille burst into flame yesterday.

But far from being some terrible disaster, the dramatic scene was actually a carefully orchestrated stunt by artistic collective Carabosse Company.

The French group, which specialises in creating 'fire gardens', lit more than 6,000 small fires contained in buckets which were fixed to giant sculptures around the city's Old Harbour.

The display was part of Marseille's cultural celebrations as it is the 2013 European Capital of Culture.

The French city of Marseille is lit up by fire displays as it celebrates being the European Capital of Culture

The French city of Marseille is lit up by fire displays as it celebrates being the European Capital of Culture

The city's Old Harbour is illuminated by more than 6,000 pots of fire beneath the imposing figure of the Notre-Dame de la Garde Basilica

The city's Old Harbour is illuminated by more than 6,000 pots of fire beneath the imposing figure of the Notre-Dame de la Garde Basilica

The event was put on as part of the Marseille-Provence 2013 cultural celebrations

The event was put on as part of the Marseille-Provence 2013 cultural celebrations

The two-day display started last night and will take place again tonight, but with a different arrangement of sculptures.

Carabosse named the event Le Vieux Port: entre flammes et flots - meaning The Old Harbour: between flames and waves.

 

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Marseille is France's second-largest city after Paris and is thought to be the country's oldest, with remains showing humans settled in the region around 30,000 years ago.

The Old Harbour area has been recently redeveloped, but architectural remains show it may date back to Ancient Greek times.

Fires were lit in pots fixed to specially-built sculptures around the city's Old Harbour

Fires were lit in pots fixed to specially-built sculptures around the city's Old Harbour

Crowds flocked to the see display, which was organised by artistic collective Carabosse Company

Crowds flocked to the see display, which was organised by artistic collective Carabosse Company

Carabosse Company ignited several dramatic sculptures for the display, named 'The Old Harbour, between flames and waves'

Carabosse Company ignited several dramatic sculptures for the display, named 'The Old Harbour, between flames and waves'

The free event was open to families and there appeared to be little restrictions stopping members of the public from getting up close to the flames.

Thousands of buckets containing small fires were fixed to metal sculptures, set floating in the quays and hung from bridges.

One sculpture was a series of arches of flame, which created a 300m-long tunnel visitors could walk through. The largest sculpture reached 35m into the air.

Pedestrians were able to walk freely through the installation in Marseille's streets

Pedestrians were able to walk freely through the installation in Marseille's streets

A walkway of rings of fire stretched for 300m along the city's streets

A walkway of rings of fire stretched for 300m along the city's streets

Visitors were excited about being able to get up close to the fiery art installation

Visitors were excited about being able to get up close to the fiery art installation

Marseille, in the south of France, came alive with light during the evening

Marseille, in the south of France, came alive with light during the evening

Local media estimated between 180,000 and 200,000 people came to view the display last night.

Jean-Francois Chougnet, director general of Marseille Provence 2013, said crowds enjoyed a 'friendly atmosphere' and that there were no incidents like injuries or arrests.

The flames were lit at 8.30pm by 60 members of the company dubbed 'flame lighters'.

Carabosse Company are known for their dramatic 'fire gardens'

Carabosse Company are known for their dramatic 'fire gardens'

The artistic collective has previously put on displays in the UK, including at Brighton, Milton Keynes and Stonehenge

The artistic collective has previously put on displays in the UK, including at Brighton, Milton Keynes and Stonehenge

Marseille is twinned with the Slovakian city of Košice as European Capital of Culture 2013.

The two cities replace Guimarães, in Portugal, and Maribor, in Slovenia, which were the culture capitals in 2012.

The accolade was initiated in 1985 with the aim of bringing Europeans closer together by celebrating culture.

It provides cities with the opportunity to spend a year focusing on a high-profile arts and culture programme, which brings knock-on economic boosts to the region.

Athens was the first capital of culture. Since 2000, more than one city has been able to hold the title at once.

Marseille and Kosice in Slovakia are the 2013 European Capitals of Culture, replacing 2012 cities Guimarães in Portugal and Maribor, Slovenia

Marseille and Kosice in Slovakia are the 2013 European Capitals of Culture, replacing 2012 cities Guimarães in Portugal and Maribor, Slovenia


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Our experience of Marseille: Dreadful smell of sewerage in a square near the Marina and as you walk along the streets.

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Marseille was founded by Ancient Greeks. Also there is no point going to Turkey to see culture unless you want to see Greek, Roman or Byzantine culture...nothing Turkish though!!!!

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European capital of culture? Well don't go to arrondissement 13 then. Been there. Never again. If you don't believe me look at Trip Advisor.

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The trouble with the EU is that it sucks the individuality out of countries and makes them all look and feel the same. Just makes me want to go to places like Turkey instead.

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Like all cities rough parts - bit I noticed groups of young louts target women tourists effectively pestering them - young rapper types who think tey are gods gift should be locked up.

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Violent and anti English

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Have lived in and around Marseille for 29 years. It has good & bad points like any other big city. I've never had any problems concerning the town.

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I am originally from Marseilles though I lived in the UK for a while and now in the Netherlands. I am very shocked by the comments made on this site. Yes Marseilles has its problems - the same I witnessed in Liverpool and Glasgow - but it is also a beautiful city with beautiful people and a lot of things to see. We are very proud of our city being capital city of culture and we hope it will bring more tourists and more frequentation in the area. Don't judge before you try. As of being mugged, it is indeed a bad experience, but it never happened to me in 21 years so let's not make generalities.

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Thanks for the Sunday morning laugh. I agree with the article - EU culture of thuggery and theft.

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I got mugged in marseille.

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