![French riot police look towards a burning barricade amid clashes with protesters during a demonstration on May Day. AFP](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/E5QBKACURN6UVZGJMHBJRFNCCA.jpg?smart=true&auth=5ed37480966ba3b253ab8fd9549f6e407b9c8168b69589b97abd21db29a6d857&width=400&height=225)
French riot police look towards a burning barricade amid clashes with protesters during a demonstration on May Day. AFP
French riot police look towards a burning barricade amid clashes with protesters during a demonstration on May Day. AFP
France is coursing with waves of violence right now, but its beauty will outlast them
Colin Randall is a former executive editor of The National, and writes on the UK and France
25 May, 2023