Abrivado saintes maries de la mer: what is the abrivado camarguais?

The Camargue abrivado, a bullfighting tradition in which bulls run free through the streets of a town, is a must-see event in our region. Les-Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer is home to this tradition for 2 days in November. Discover these memorable festivities.

The abrivado, a strong tradition in Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer and throughout the Camargue

Although it's an important tradition for the Camarguais, the abrivado is above all an opportunity to take part in a great festival. The bulls are set free into the crowd, protected by the presence of mounted herdsmen charged with securing their movements. This moment of great conviviality attracts many tourists every year, who take the opportunity to visit the treasures of the region.

The abrivado, an ancestral story

In the Camargue, the abrivado of horses and bulls is a well-established tradition. The Camargue horse is one of the star attractions of this beautiful region. However, it must share the podium of the most admired Camargue animals with the pink flamingo and the bull. The abrivado, then, historically refers to the driving of the bulls from the meadows to the arena.

A well-honed technique

To prevent the herd from overflowing, a whole machinery is set up around the abrivado. And with good reason, since this popular event unleashes the crowds. The gardians who supervise the abrivado are numerous and well-trained. They spend a lot of time with the animals to develop a relationship of trust. Passionate about their work, each has a very precise role and coordinates perfectly with the rest of the team.

The abrivado festival at Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer: a festive occasion

The abrivado is synonymous with celebration! In Les Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer, as elsewhere in the Camargue, tourists are invited to join in the festivities alongside the locals. If casual visitors are intrigued by the practice, or even shy, they are quickly won over by the confidence of the Camarguais. Under the guidance of the gardians, who succeed one another from generation to generation, the bulls seem to behave themselves. It's easy to get caught up in the game, fascinated by the unusual spectacle unfolding before our eyes.

Stay in a gardian's hut

If you want to take part in the festival in the best possible conditions, there's one address right at the heart of the event: the Auberge Cavalière du Pont des Bannes. Located in Les Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer, in the heart of the Camargue Natural Park, this luxury hotel is all about tradition: you can choose tostay in a real gardian's hut. This way, you'll be even more immersed in the tradition of the abrivado.

An ideally located hotel

Leave your gardian's hut to enjoy the luxury of our 4-star hotel. Treat yourself to a massage at the spa or enjoy a typical dish in our semi-gastronomic restaurant, in a gipsy atmosphere. Discover the cabanes des Launes on the seafront and the town's charming alleyways. Take advantage of the opportunity to explore neighboring towns less than an hour away: from Arles to Marseille, via Salin de Giraud.

A whole lexical field has been created around the abrivado: the gardians are said to enamel the bull in order toshelter it until it reaches the arena. Come and discover the meaning of the terms bandido, roussataïo and ferrade. You'll leave Auberge Cavalière du Pont des Bannes with just one thought in mind: to return at the earliest opportunity. Next time, you'll know what "le biòu a escapé" means!

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