Course Camarguaise is the traditional form of bullfighting, from the Provence region of France. Unlike the Spanish Corrida, where the Matador is intent upon killing the bull, in fact the Provençal ‘razeteurs’ are the support act to this gladiatorial pursuit. The bulls are never killed - they are highly respected, valued, and indeed spectators come to admire the bulls over and above their human combatants.
The razetuers work as teams to grab tassled medallions placed on the horns of the taureaux. In a game of high speed chess, the razetuers traverse a sweltering afternoon, millimetres from death with each pass - a rare occurrence but a constant morbid shadow that seems to lend a heavy, palpable scent to proceedings.
