La Churascaia, a legendary nightclub hidden in the Camargue marshes near Arles, France, is celebrating its 60th anniversary on June 29. Known for its unique blend of clientele including cowboys, villagers, gay men and women, and Parisians, the club has fostered a genderfluid and hedonistic atmosphere since its opening in 1965. Founded by bull-rancher Jean Lafont, La Chu became famous for its all-night parties, eclectic music, and drag shows, attracting celebrities and becoming a symbol of Camargue identity.
Drink Pastis by the metre and party till dawn! The genderfluid French superclub in the heart of cowboy country
Club cultureFranceCultureGenderLGBTQ+ rights
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TL;DR: Key points with love ❤️La Churascaia, a legendary nightclub hidden in the Camargue marshes near Arles, France, is celebrating its 60th anniversary on June 29. Known for its unique blend of clientele including cowboys, villagers, gay men and women, and Parisians, the club has fostered a genderfluid and hedonistic atmosphere since its opening in 1965. Founded by bull-rancher Jean Lafont, La Chu became famous for its all-night parties, eclectic music, and drag shows, attracting celebrities and becoming a symbol of Camargue identity.
Trending- 1 June 1965: La Churascaia opens
- 2 Mid-1970s: Yves Mourousi drives car into club during power cut
- 3 Early 1970s: Club begins staging drag shows due to licensing changes
- 4 End of 1981: First incarnation of the club burns down
- 5 Two years later: Club rebuilt by Ricardo Bofill
- 6 1995: Jean Lafont sells the club
- 7 June 29: 60th anniversary celebration planned
- La Churascaia has become one of the longest surviving discotheques in the world
- It has fostered a unique, tolerant, and genderfluid atmosphere
- It has become a focal point for Camargue identity
What: La Churascaia, a legendary French nightclub, is celebrating its 60th anniversary. It is known for its genderfluid and eclectic clientele, all-night parties, and unique atmosphere.
When: June 29 (60th anniversary celebration); June 1965 (opened); mid-1970s (power cut incident); late 1960s and 70s (legend grew); early 70s (nationwide crackdown, drag shows started); end of 1981 (first club burned down); two years later (rebuilt); 1995 (sold by Lafont)
Where: Camargue marshes, near Arles, southern France
Why: To celebrate 60 years of operation and its unique cultural impact. The club was founded by Jean Lafont who wanted his own club close to home.
How: The club was built as a rudimentary circular building resembling bull-running arenas and Camargue cottages. It hosted celebrations, sold pastis by the metre, played cutting-edge rock'n'roll, and later staged drag shows.