Ferias of the South-West

Tradition of the South-West

As part of France’s intangible cultural heritage, the South-West’s férias are unmissable festive events in the Landes and the Basque Country. Once a bullfighting festival used for commercial purposes, today’s férias have changed face, but the traditions are still very much alive. From May to November, numerous events are held in the towns and villages. Among them, the festivals of Dax in the Landes (45 minutes from the Eurosol campsite) and Bayonne in the Basque country.

The férias of Dax, 40 km from the campsite.

Organised around 15 August, “les férias de Dax” attract no less than 500,000 people every year. Dressed in red and white, the “Festayres” (participants) open the festivities in Dax by brandishing their scarves, singing traditional music and finally tying their scarves around their necks, marking the beginning of several days of festivities.

During the day as well as in the evening, numerous activities are organised in the town to the rhythm of the brass bands which delight groups of friends and families alike. They can take part in games (beret throwing, Basque pelota demonstration for example), taste local specialities at picnics and attend the emblematic bullfighting shows and Landes races. In the evening, the music and dancing continues until the end of the night!