The best parties Languedoc Roussillon

The legend is that, on the day of Ascension of the year 719, a donkey woke up the Gignacois by its brazments while the Sarrasins were ready to invade the village. The donkey would have allowed the invasion to be postponed. Therefore, he became the totemic animal of Gignac. Every year, this picturesque event is celebrated on Ascension Day. From the day before 7:00 p. m., the donkey represented with a large armature covered with a blue dress, surmounted by a head whose jaws are noisy, is strolled in the streets surrounded by costume dancers.

"Força, Equilibri, Valor i Seny", in French: "Strength, balance, courage and wisdom", this is the motto of these men who build human towers with harmonious geometry. The Castellers, from the Catalan word "castell" (castle), are human tower builders with complex structures and different heights (some can reach the equivalent of a 5-storey building) that follow a precise code. Listed as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity since 16 November 2010, this tradition, which is certainly the most meaningful in Catalan culture, dates back to the 15th century. It is a breathtaking participatory show combining strength, agility and flexibility that most often takes place in a public square. Beyond a simple festive event, it is a philosophy of life, a demonstration of cooperation, teamwork, solidarity, self-sacrifice, concentration, courage, physical and mental strength where men, women and children, whatever their age, social origin and physical characteristics are essential to the building's elevation, each one having to trust the other before being in turn a pillar.

On Sant Jordi (Saint George's Day), Catalans celebrate love and books. On that day, men offer a rose to their sweetheart, and in return, women offer a book to their chosen one. It's a kind of Catalan-style Valentine's Day... plus culture. The story of St. George defeating the dragon is common to many countries, it is the symbol of the victory of Good over Evil. In 1995, UNESCO declared 23 April as "World Book and Copyright Day", giving Sant Jordi its full meaning, namely the victory of knowledge and understanding over obscurantism, with the red rose symbolizing the blood of the dragon.

Since 2009, gastronomes have had a new meeting, the Nuit de la Fricassée, organised by the association Les Fins gourmets des Marronniers, which aims to give this local dish its full place. The "Nuit de la Fricassée" brings together, from 6 p.m., all the specialities of Limoux, gourmet and folklore. Blanquette, chardonnay, pébradous, fricassee and beans, local cheese and honey, Limos, nougat, red wine and brandy are on the menu for an evening of bandas. Of course, the Basilian brotherhood of the "Capitouls" gets in tune and enthroned a few personalities before a carnival band, sharpens the curiosity of the guests who then dance until late at night.

The Fête des pêcheurs et de la mer is one of Agde's major traditional festivities. In honor of Saint Pierre, patron saint of fishermen, it takes place in Agde and Grau d'Adge over two days. Mass on Saturday, followed by a parade through the streets, a ceremony in tribute to the men of the sea, blessing of the boats and a concert in the evening. On Sunday, mass at Agde's Saint-Sever church, followed by an outing to pay tribute to fallen sailors. Great moments of conviviality!

Organized by the winegrowers' union of the AOC La Clape, the event takes place in the middle of the vineyards, from a vineyard of the massif. On arrival, participants are given a nice straw hat, a pouch containing cutlery, a tasting glass, a notebook and a pencil to immortalize each of their oenological impressions. The perfect equipment to measure the quality of the gourmet stops in the countryside, on this^3rd Sunday of May...

Organized by the Syndicat des AOP Olive & Huile d'olive Nîmes, the Advent Oil Festival takes place at the beginning of December, in many communes of the Gard. The opening of the mills of Beaucaire, Uzès, Villevieille, Saint-Gilles ... is conducive to the discovery of the domains and the tasting of local products. A rich and varied program, focused on the knowledge of the gold of the garrigues of the Gard is set up for the pleasure of the whole family.

In the past, abrivado was the term used to describe the driving of bulls from the pastures to the bullring under the watchful eye of the gardians. Today, it's a bullfighting tradition that consists of simulating these bull transfers by releasing them into the village streets during traditional Camargue festivals. The Abrivado at Grau-du-Roi is the first event of the year to launch the traditional cattle season. Would you like to experience it in Grau-du-Roi? Here, it's original: they take place both in the streets of the town center and, above all, on the beach!

Castelnaudary can't go a year without celebrating its cassoulet! The festival kicks off with the "ronde du cassoulet", a night-time walk and run, and continues on the following days with musical bandas, shows and concerts, a craft market, a cycle tour and the "Grande Confrérie du Cassoulet". Dance to the rhythm of the brass bands during the day, or dance the night away at the open-air discotheque, not forgetting to join in the corso fleuri, a grand procession of floats in honor of cassoulet!

Join the festivities in Aimargues for 10 memorable days! Every year, the program of festivities is monumental: a grand intervillage between Aimargues and the village of Vauvert, manade competitions in the arenas with numerous trophies awarded every day, musical aperitifs, pétanque competitions, bandas, traditional balls with orchestras, entertainment for young and old... and to round off the bullfighting festivities, a grand bandido of 100 bulls is organized! It's another great opportunity to immerse yourself in the traditions of the Gard!