Less than thirty minutes before the start of the white march in tribute to Matisse, several thousand people braved the rain. Place Lafayette, in Châteauroux, is already packed with people.
What there is to know
On Saturday April 27, Matisse, 15, was stabbed to death at the foot of a building in the Saint-Denis district of Châteauroux. The alleged murderer, also 15 years old, is in pre-trial detention and indicted for intentional homicide. For a week, the town of Châteauroux has been in shock. The family organizes a white march in tribute to Matisse.
Departing from Place Lafayette, the procession will then take Rue Grande, the street where the restaurant “Jeu 2 Goûts” is located, belonging to Matisse’s parents, Place Monestier, Place de la République, rue de la Poste, where the Saint-Hubert, the restaurant where Matisse was an apprentice, rue André Lescaroux, rue de la Gare, Place Gambetta, Rond Point Picard before returning to Place Lafayette.
- The white march begins at 3:30 p.m. from Place Lafayette in Châteauroux and will pass by the places that marked the teenager’s life
- Since this morning, family, loved ones and anyone wishing to pay their respects have been invited to the funeral chapel of Saint-Maur (Indre), to leave a last tribute to Matisse. The presence of the media is not desired by the family and access is controlled by the police.
- The family invites all participants to show respect throughout the route so that the walk takes place in a “serene and united spirit”
- Between 3,000 and 10,000 people are expected in the city, according to an estimate from the Indre prefecture.
- The Indre prefecture and the town of Châteauroux ensure a security system adapted to the event
- The curtains of shops in the city center will be closed during the march in solidarity with his parents, restaurateurs in Châteauroux
- Matisse’s father, Christophe Marchais, asks people to avoid coming dressed in black, but rather in pink, the favorite color of Matisse, a very happy boy