Hi all, <BR> <BR>My friends and I are interested in seeing the autumn bullfights in Provence. I am finding ample reference to their EXISTENCE, just not specific information about dates, where to go, if they are only on weekends, etc etc. <BR> <BR>Has anyone here gone, what did you think (I understand that they are NOT fights to the death like in Spain) and how did you get schedule information? <BR> <BR>thanks! <BR> <BR>Beth <BR> <BR>ps. I'll try to quit hogging the site for a while!

Around the second week of September there is a Feria and the Fete du Riz (the Rice harvest festival) in Arles. <BR>Lots of bullfights... and contrary to what everyone thinks, they are not all Camarguais. Some are 'to the death' in both Arles and Nimes. <BR> <BR>Here is the Arles Tourist Office website, where you can probably find information: <BR>http://www.arles.org/default2s.htm <BR> <BR>PB

They dont kill them in the ring but afterwards they do, or so I have been told. How much fun is it to see an animal tortured?

Fear, blood, pain...just what I want to do on my summer vacation!

Beth: <BR> <BR>Me again, from lavender to bullfights. <BR> <BR>Our hotel in Arles was adjacent to the Roman arena. While there we picked up a brochure/map of Arles and on the back is listed upcoming events at the arena: <BR> <BR>Arenes d'Arles <BR> <BR>Feria du Riz, 7, 8 et 9 Septembre 2001. Novilladas, corridas et corridas equestres. <BR> <BR>50eme finale du Trophee des As <BR>14 Octobre 2001 <BR> <BR>The web site in the above post will no doubt be more helpful, but this at least gives you the dates in Arles. <BR> <BR>Joanne

P.S.: Just as I punched post my reply I noticed an e-mail address for the arena: <BR> <BR>[email protected] <BR> <BR>I'm sure you could get more info direct from them. <BR> <BR>Joanne

Hello, I am a bull. I would appreciate if you humans would not support such activity. It hurts!

I was in Arles during the last bullfight off the season which was the Rice Festival. This was a very fun day in Arles as they do a running of the bulls in the streets but it's not dangerous like Pamplona. Well, the bulls looked pretty bored with the whole thing, actually, and just kind of trotted up the street a bit and around the church and back, a few of the local boys ran in front of them, I guess--if the bulls had been more active or violent, it would have been scary as there was not a lot to separate them from the bystanders on the street watching (some simple moveable fence barriers). That bullfight was the kind where they don't kill them (novilladas?), but I didn't go anyway as I was busy doing other things. Here is the website for the arena at Arles: www.arenes.com/index.html and here is an overall bull stuff website which has calendars for Arles and Nimes, I think: www.eltoreo.com

Dear Bull, <BR> <BR>I'm on your side... I wouldn't attend a bullfight if someone paid me. However I live in an area where it's very popular. <BR> <BR>I think it's all torture - whether they fight on horseback, on foot or being a razeteur. <BR>I much prefer to see them loose in the nearby fields....happily grazing. <BR> <BR>PB <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR>

topping for Monica...<BR><BR>perhaps they will have the Course Camarguais, which is less cruel.<BR><BR>

<BR>We stayed in Nimes for a few days in August years ago and saw a bullfight nearby but I can't remember the name of the city. The matador did slay the toro, every time. It was an exciting afternoon. True the animal suffers some pain for a half hour or so until the matador puts his sword in but then it is over in an instant. The matador and his assistants are at great risk in the meantime, and sometimes suffer. The matadors are such pompous characters and put on a great display for the amusement of the crowd, strutting around and giving their open palm salute after the kill as people applaud and throw flowers. I wouldn't go too far out of my way to see another one but if I was in town on a bullfight day I would go for sure.

Do anybody knows where I can see the "Course Camarguaise" in the first week of July ?<BR><BR>

Hi<BR>The bullfight (corrida) in France are listed here -<BR><BR>http://www.corridas.net/<BR><BR>Read about Courses Camarguaises in English here -<BR><BR>http://www.fodors.com/features/esc/020122/listings.cfm?cur_story=3&display=essentials<BR><BR >Special report in English with dates here -<BR><BR>http://www.viamichelin.com/viamichelin/gbr/jsp/mag200105/art/html/sug_feria_pratique_gb.jsp<BR><BR>Lots more info on this region at -<BR><BR>http://tlp.netfirms.com<BR><BR>Peter<BR><BR>