Pirates invade La Ciotat

Catching forty winks: the festivities of La Ciotat's 1720 wears the pirates out

The history behind the festival is one of philanthropic pragmatism and courage.

On 25 May 1720, a typical 18th century cargo ship called the Grand Saint-Antoine was allowed to dock at Pomègues, an island off Marseilles. Despite a string of deaths on board during her passage from Syria via Livorno in Italy, she was allowed to unload her precious cargo of fabrics. The ship was carrying the bubonic plague (Yersinia pestis). Negligent Italian doctors, the boat’s owners, the captain, and the Marseilles authorities all played their part in lifting the quarantine too soon. As a result, nearly 100,000 people across the Provence region, including a third of Marseilles’ population, lost their lives before it was brought under control in 1723.

La Ciotat survived intact as its population refused to let anyone into the town, while allowing shipments of wheat into their port which they left outside the walls for those towns blighted by the disease. Since 2002, La Ciotat has been celebrating the philanthropic courage and level-headedness of their ancestors with the 1720 festival.

A great day out for all the family is assured.

For more details on the programme and timings of events check out www.tourisme-laciotat.com

Claire Lathbury