The Insult Festival: An 18th Century Day of Debauchery and Rebellion

We are in the 18th century. Every year, in October, the vogue took place from Saint-Denis to Bron. It brought together around 30,000 people. Everyone came to this “insult festival”, a day of debauchery where people could drink to excess and insult the nobility and clergy without consequence.

This Sunday, October 11, 1711, there were around 35,000 people who came from Lyon to Bron.

In the evening, the Lyonnais must cross the Guillotière bridge to return home. At night, a barrier prevents passage. To lift it, you have to pay a…