MIRONDELA DELS ARTS

This event was born out of the desire of three friends to promote their city, its cultural wealth and its economy to the best of their ability. As early as 1966, Henri Domens, Gabriel Lanet and Gérard Vogel-Singer, members of the association "les Amis de Pézenas", came up with the idea of creating a major tourist event during the summer season. One year later, the event took shape and put the spotlight on the historic district, its former glory, its heritage, its welcoming shops and the talent of its craftsmen. Its name comes from Charles Camproux, then professor of philology at the University of Montpellier and member of the Patronage Committee, who chose to draw on Occitan vocabulary to baptise the event: "faire Mirondela" means "to make a parade", so "mirondela dels arts" can be translated as "to exhibit the arts". The first edition served as a showcase for exhibitions of paintings and sculptures, but also for theatrical performances and organ concerts. In the following years, the festival grew and diversified (humour, theatre, dance, classical music, gospel, flamenco), and today it is an essential date in the city's agenda.