Gypsy Festival in Saintes Maries de la Mer
In May, the Pilgrimage of the Gypsies to Saintes Maries de la Mer is a large, colourful and picturesque popular festival full of age-old rituals and typical customs.
During the summer months, Provence is a succession of cultural events, with traditional folk festivals, artistic events or festivals related to the typical products of the various areas.
We will highlight the most important ones, but a host of small villages organise festivals and events. We therefore advise you to contact the individual local tourist boards that you will find throughout the territory.
The Cannes Film Festival is a film festival held in May at the Palais des Festivals et des Congrès in the city of Cannes for a fortnight.
Many film stars attend the Festival and linger on the catwalk at the entrance to the screening room for the many photographers and fans.
16-17-18 May
Traditional festival with spectacular gunfire setting the sky of St. Tropez ablaze and accompanying the procession carrying the remains of the patron saint to the beach where the blessing of the sea is held.
www.ot-saint-tropez.com
24-26 May
This is an absolutely unmissable festival, one of the most important in Europe. Gypsies from all over Europe flock to the heart of the Camargue, to Saintes Maries de la Mer to honour their patron saint, Saint Sara, who has her own crypt here. Women in traditional costumes dancing the Arlesian dances, ancient rituals including equestrian trials and rodeos in which the gardians, the guardians of the bulls, compete, and the opening of the non-bloody bullfighting season make this festival truly colourful and full of truly emotional moments such as the blessing of the statue of the saint in the sea accompanied by the herdsmen leading their horses into the water.
21st June
This national holiday results in a multitude of musical events in all regions and small towns of the province. Groups, singers, orchestras and street musicians take to the streets of all towns and villages.
http://fetedelamusique.culture.fr
June
It is held every year in Tarascona on the second weekend in June and celebrates the defeat of the monstrous Tarasca creature, a kind of giant turtle with a lion’s head.
www.tarascon.org
July
For three weeks, the beautiful papal city of Avignon becomes the ideal setting for one of the most important artistic events in France, attracting spectators from all over Europe. Theatre, film, music and dance performances enliven the Provençal city, especially in the Place de l’Horloge.
www.festival-avignon.com
August
This is the most important festival dedicated to lavender and is held every year in Digne les Bains to give thanks for the harvest. The whole town is decked out with colourful stalls offering all kinds of lavender products and the highlight of the event is the parade of flower-covered floats that march while lavender water is sprayed, flooding the town with the unmistakable fragrance.
www.ot-dignelesbains.fr
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