"I like to say that the goal is to bring joy to people,” explains Hippolyte Le Bougnec. “It’s about managing to take them a little out of their daily routine and have a pleasant moment, almost out of the city, to make them, and us, the workers of the place, escape.”
People come to Le Talus through various means, particularly via the participatory workshops on Wednesdays. Or through concerts and cultural offerings in the evenings. “We come to see an artist on stage and discover that Le Talus is also a garden, with educational, agricultural, and other activities. We can come back later for volunteer moments, for example.”
Another entry point is the weekend events, such as association meetings where local residents can benefit from a space to propose activities, share their ideas, and express their dreams.
Finally, the activities aimed at children, who are exceptional spokespersons for their parents. Nearly a thousand schoolchildren visit Le Talus each year to discover the link between agriculture and sustainable food, learn about the role of composters, beneficial insects, and more.
“And that’s how we manage to reach the maximum number of people,” enthuses Hippolyte Le Bougnec. “Marseille is a city not known for its parks and gardens. We have the calanques, we have the sea, we have plenty of things, but having a small oasis of freshness and greenery in the heart of the 12th arrondissement, where there are very few, apart from a few community gardens, makes Le Talus a unique place.”
“Le Talus allows each person to increase their power to act. It’s really a place of experimentation, demonstration, and possibilities. Ultimately, our strength lies in showing that we can, with a piece of urban wasteland in a short time but with a lot of human energy, revitalize a space to make it a refuge for biodiversity, a calm and soothing place. So I think that’s really what Le Talus brings, the humble realization of a utopia.”
