transhumance or other local festivals in Provence in May?
Feb 15th, 2012, 03:45 PM
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transhumance or other local festivals in Provence in May?
DH and I will be in Provence May 19-27 and are looking for interesting photographic opportunities in towns and villages around the region. We will be based near St. Saturnin but will have a car (and enjoy driving, although would prefer to stay within a couple of hours or so). We have heard about the transhumance which we would love to see and photograph, but I understand St. Remy's is May 28. Are there other local festivals like that in nearby towns or villages? Thanks in advance for any suggestions
Feb 15th, 2012, 11:23 PM
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Hi Lisa,
First thing to say is that May is generally a good time of year for village festivities as it marks the start of the season and there are usually lots of weekend events going on. Still a bit early to know exactly what and when. The tourist office in Apt points out an excellent cultural guide each year, I'll post here or let you know when it's on-line.
One thing you might consider is the Gypsy pilgrimage to Saintes Maries de la Mer. Takes places the 24th and 25th of May - something not to miss, which yours truly has managed to do now for 10 years running. Perhaps this year we'll make it ! Anyway, as far as cultural festivals with plenty of photo ops, this one would be tough to beat. We've had guests go and they always raved about it, but it does get very, very crowded.
There is also the Luberon Jazz festival, on a different note. The closing weekend falls on the 19th and 20th this year. Usually quite a good street festival going on to mark the event in Apt.
-Kevin
First thing to say is that May is generally a good time of year for village festivities as it marks the start of the season and there are usually lots of weekend events going on. Still a bit early to know exactly what and when. The tourist office in Apt points out an excellent cultural guide each year, I'll post here or let you know when it's on-line.
One thing you might consider is the Gypsy pilgrimage to Saintes Maries de la Mer. Takes places the 24th and 25th of May - something not to miss, which yours truly has managed to do now for 10 years running. Perhaps this year we'll make it ! Anyway, as far as cultural festivals with plenty of photo ops, this one would be tough to beat. We've had guests go and they always raved about it, but it does get very, very crowded.
There is also the Luberon Jazz festival, on a different note. The closing weekend falls on the 19th and 20th this year. Usually quite a good street festival going on to mark the event in Apt.
-Kevin
Feb 15th, 2012, 11:49 PM
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Hi Lisa,
Kevin provided some great information. We are going to be in Provence on similar dates and also trying to find local festivals but have found most websites haven't been updated with this year's festival info yet.
There is also the Nimes Pentecost Feria in May (see my post asking about this festival on the forum). I imagine there might be smaller Pentecost celebrations in other villages during this time.
Jessica
Kevin provided some great information. We are going to be in Provence on similar dates and also trying to find local festivals but have found most websites haven't been updated with this year's festival info yet.
There is also the Nimes Pentecost Feria in May (see my post asking about this festival on the forum). I imagine there might be smaller Pentecost celebrations in other villages during this time.
Jessica
Feb 16th, 2012, 04:36 PM
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Thanks so much to both of you. These sound great and we will look into them and will keep monitoring other sites -- it is helpful to know that plans may be updated between now and then. Kevin, looking forward to meeting you and Elisabeth in May! I also saw something online about a cheese festival in Banon and something in Jonquieres -- both on May 20 -- and a festival in Cuceron on May 26, but confess my college French is rusty so am not 100% confident about exactly what they are 
Feb 16th, 2012, 11:20 PM
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Hi Lisa,
Big thumbs up for the cheese festival in Banon. For starters, it's own of the most famous cheeses in Provence of which the village is rightfully very proud. The village itself is one of those lovely perched villages that's managed to avoid the tourist hordes and so remains more or less authentic. There is a great butcher in town which has more sausage hanging from the ceiling than you'd think is possible. Also, strangely enough, the village happens to have the best (and possibly largest) bookstore anywhere in Provence.
As a bonus, the whole drive from here to Banon is just stunning. And the scenery is completely different from around here.
I'd recommend a full day out in that neck of the woods, perhaps with a great picnic lunch rustled up at the festival.
- Kevin
p.s.: not sure about the other two festivals you mentioned. I'll will say that Cucuron is a beautiful little village, well worth the visit and easy to combine with Ansouis, Lourmarin on the south side of the Luberon. If you have a link for the Cucuron festival, I can check it out.
Big thumbs up for the cheese festival in Banon. For starters, it's own of the most famous cheeses in Provence of which the village is rightfully very proud. The village itself is one of those lovely perched villages that's managed to avoid the tourist hordes and so remains more or less authentic. There is a great butcher in town which has more sausage hanging from the ceiling than you'd think is possible. Also, strangely enough, the village happens to have the best (and possibly largest) bookstore anywhere in Provence.
As a bonus, the whole drive from here to Banon is just stunning. And the scenery is completely different from around here.
I'd recommend a full day out in that neck of the woods, perhaps with a great picnic lunch rustled up at the festival.
- Kevin
p.s.: not sure about the other two festivals you mentioned. I'll will say that Cucuron is a beautiful little village, well worth the visit and easy to combine with Ansouis, Lourmarin on the south side of the Luberon. If you have a link for the Cucuron festival, I can check it out.
Feb 17th, 2012, 01:25 AM
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Hi Kevin -- here is a link to the Cucuron Sainte Tulle May Day festival:
http://www.cucuron-luberon.com/la-fe...2/detail.aspx#
http://www.cucuron-luberon.com/la-fe...2/detail.aspx#
Feb 17th, 2012, 10:42 PM
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Lisa,
The festival in Cucuron looks like it would be really interesting to see. This is the type of thing which really defines a rural French village. They have apparently been celebrating deliverance from the plague (great reason for a party if there ever was one !) for centuries. So it is not something concocted to lure in the tourist trade - which, for example, I got the distinct feeling was the case for the Transhumance in St. Remy.
Like I said before, you can easily combine Cucuron with the other lovely villages nearby (Ansouis, Lourmarin, Lauris) then even hit Saignon on the drive back here. That would be a really nice day without much car-time at all.
-Kevin
p.s.: I may join you on this one !!
The festival in Cucuron looks like it would be really interesting to see. This is the type of thing which really defines a rural French village. They have apparently been celebrating deliverance from the plague (great reason for a party if there ever was one !) for centuries. So it is not something concocted to lure in the tourist trade - which, for example, I got the distinct feeling was the case for the Transhumance in St. Remy.
Like I said before, you can easily combine Cucuron with the other lovely villages nearby (Ansouis, Lourmarin, Lauris) then even hit Saignon on the drive back here. That would be a really nice day without much car-time at all.
-Kevin
p.s.: I may join you on this one !!
