Anti-Parisian sentiment rises in French regions

Name: “Parisians out!”

Age: It officially commenced at the start of August.

Appearance: Scratched into cars and painted on walls, mainly.

Where? In southern Finistère, specifically in the Bigouden area.

In France, you mean? Yes, the western edge of Brittany.

Why wouldn’t Parisians be allowed in Brittany? They are, but they’re not wholly welcome. Many residents want Parisian tourists to go home.

Why? Because they’re sick of them.

When did this start? It’s said to have originated from a sharp rise in second homeowners from the French capital dating back to the pandemic, but this summer it began with a “Parisians Out!” sign being displayed in the town of Plogoff.

That’s not very nice. The mayor of Plogoff agreed. “We can defend our peace and quiet, our environment and our quality of life without rejecting or stigmatising those who come to our area,” he wrote.

Did that put a lid on things? It did not. Some days later in the town of Plobannalec-Lesconil, a car was scratched with the words “No to Parisians”. Two more cars were similarly vandalised.

How did the vandals know the cars belonged to Parisians? Cars registered in Paris have “75” in their number plates.

That sounds like a bad idea. Ironically, the vandalised cars were all owned by local people who had moved to Paris. Later, graffiti saying “Refugees welcome, tourists go home!” was found on a wall in the area.

Aren’t these places sort of dependent on tourism, from Paris and elsewhere? Yes, but the pressure on local infrastructure is apparently overwhelming. The population of some villages and towns in Finistère trebles in July and August.

I can see how that would be maddening. Also, the heatwaves and wildfires led people to change their plans and take “coolcations” on the northerly Brittany coast, adding extra pressure.

So the anger is confined to Brittany? Not at all. People are handing out “Parisians go home” leaflets on the Île de Ré, and threatening second homeowners in Corsica.

Threatening? A dormant Corsican independence movement has been revived this summer, with second homeowners told: “Do not consider yourselves safe on our national territory.”

That sort of language is totalement inacceptable. Agreed.

Do say: “Between the excesses of tourism and the rights of local people, a difficult balance must be struck.”