Fêtes of every colour

First of all there is the red and white of the Landes and Basque “ferias” from June to August.

They take place in Saint-Sever, Aire-sur-l’Adour, Hagetmau, Mont-de-Marsan and Dax, the last of which is France’s leading spa town. And of course there are the famous Fêtes of Bayonne.

Bullfights, bodegas, races, bandas, and many, many other festivities are laid on for the 100,000 or so “festayres” present for the Bayonne Fêtes. 

After the red and white come the typical colours of green and white: the green of pastures and the white of sheep fleeces. The pastoral tradition is alive and well in the Pyrenees, and each year in early June the people celebrate transhumance in Lourdios-Ichère, in the Aspe Valley. Song, dance and food animate the day’s festivities.

Next is the black of coal which covers the cheeks of Olentzero, the coalman who descends from the mountain in the Basque Country to announce the longer days ahead. Over the years he has become another Father Christmas.

Lastly, there is the crimson colour of wine, celebrated everywhere in Aquitaine but particularly in Bordeaux, where the wine festival alternates every two years with the river festival.

At the beginning of July, Bordeaux Fête le Vin lasts four days and four evenings in which tasting sessions follow on from concerts and firework displays.