You know that feeling, 1 minute you are driving by means of the winding streets of a peaceful Provencal village admiring fountains and chapels and deciding on a spot for lunch, the subsequent, you are surrounded by a raucous crowd and becoming shepherded down a flight of actions with additional sheep than you can shake a (French) stick at. To save your blushes, and to support you make the most of Provence’s intriguing calendar of neighborhood events and festivals, here’s my rundown of some of the most effective.
Fete du Citron, Menton
18th Feb – 9th Mar
Really situated on the Cote D’Azur just a couple of miles up the road from Monaco, but for a couple of weeks each and every year from Mid-February to March, the coastal town of Menton hosts the second greatest celebration in the South of France (right after the Nice Carnival, but just before the F1 Grand Prix). Over 230,000 men and women come to see 145 tons of citrus fruit cut, squeezed and carved into a series of elaborate floats and statues.
Hivernales Dance Festival, Avignon
24th Feb – 5th Mar
Those with an interest in performance art need to check out this spectacular contemporary dance festival in the city of Avignon. Each and every year there is an unmissable programme which showcases the most recent and most dynamic function from the most effective choreographers in the U.S, Cuba, France, Canada, Belgium, Argentina and Brazil.
The Roman Games, Nimes
23rd, 24th and 25th April
Roman life flourished in the South of France, and the city of Nimes is littered with much more historical evidence than most. At Easter, the amphitheatre will when once again come to life with the sound of the games as the city puts on the greatest historical re-enactment event in the region. Roman legionnaires, Celts, the Imperial Court, auxiliaries, cavalrymen and war chariots will all be paraded via the streets in this exceptional celebration. A should for the children.
Fete de la Transhumance, Saint-Remy
Pentecost Monday, Might
The Festival of Transhumance marks the seasonal movement of folks and their livestock to pastures new. To celebrate this nearby shepherds in conventional dress drive thousands of sheep by way of the streets of Saint-Rémy and put on impressive sheepdog displays just before the flock is divided up and driven via the town to their new grounds.
International Festival of Extreme Sports, Montpellier
13th – 16th Could
If the youngsters are slightly beyond Roman legions and sheepdogs, how about checking out this amazing 4 day competition in cosmopolitan Montpellier? Featuring some of the world’s ideal Skateboarders, BMXers and Wakeboarders, the action kicks off with the heats on Thursday and progresses via a knockout competition with the final on Sunday.
Les Choregies d’Orange, Orange
Selected dates from 9th July – 2nd August
A series of classical music events set inside 1 of the world’s greatest-preserved Roman theatres is the scene for the oldest festival in France. The remarkable theatre still attributes distinctive acoustics and seating for up to 9,000. This year the festival will be based on the function of Verdi and Beethoven.
Fete de Vin, Gordes
Beginning August
What compilation of French festivals would be total without having mention of wine, and what superior location to taste the outstanding neighborhood create than in picture-postcard Gordes? The Wine Festival is held on the initial Sunday of August in the gardens of this idyllic hilltop town with spectacular views towards the valleys and vineyards of the region.
Fetes Daudet (Daudet Festival), Fontvieille
Mid August
A festival in honour of the French Novelist Alphonse Daudet, who was born in the local town of Nimes. His “Lettres de Mon Moulin” referenced the windmill in Fontvielle and brought him to the attention of readers across France. Every single August the town celebrates with a torch-lit procession and folk dancing outside the mill.
Fete des Olives, Mouries
Mid August
In a further celebration of neighborhood excellence, the town of Mouries, recognized as the “Olive Oil capital of France”, honours the Green Olive each and every September by virtue of a procession in classic dress and mass tastings of this one of a kind nearby item.
Nautical Parade, Isle sur la Sorgue
Mid August
Antiques are relegated to second location on this occasion as the town focuses its collective attention on the wonderful nautical parade. Grab a table at 1 of the quite a few waterside cafes and delight in the evening procession of lit-up flower covered floats. There are prizes for the winners as nicely as nearby honour becoming at stake, so appear out for some fairly audacious designs.
Sarah-Leigh Shenton is Head of Advertising and marketing for Abercrombie & Kent Villas, a private rental villa specialist with villas in France as nicely as Italy, Greece, Spain and Portugal. Sarah-Leigh’s role takes her to some of France’s most lovely regions, such as Provence, the Cote d’Azur and the Dordogne.
Sarah-Leigh can be contacted on slshenton@akvillas.com
or see her internet-website: luxury Provence villas
