Feria of Nimes – 27th May to 01st June
One of the most famous events in Languedoc-Roussillon since 1952 is the feria of Nimes (one during the Pentecost and one in September). The Pentecost is the most important one.
It’s a huge 5-6 days folk festival with nearly 1 million visitors every year where bullfights are the highlight of festivities. This event takes place from Wednesday 27th May to Monday 1st June 2009, which is a bank holiday in this area. Festivities start on Wednesday with the Pegoulage, a procession with floats, bands, singers, dancers and a pyrotechnic show. Two times per day (11am and 5pm) there are bullfights or novilladas (when a young toreador fights a torero younger than 3 years old). Several popular concerts are organised at place de la Maison Carée and jardins de la Fontaine. Besides, local dances take place in bodegas (wine bars) until 4am.
Encierros and abrivados are typical activities during the feria; bulls are running into a closed area in the streets. The Nîmes feria is not just about bullfights but also an entertainment atmosphere on the streets where people meet together especially when it’s time for pastis, wine and music.
Nimes is famous for wines and gastronomy. You could appreciate wine savour in cellar or its food specialities like the brandade de morue (salted cod), the tapenade, the gardianne de taureau (bull) or Gariguette (local strawberry).
Nimes is famous for wines and gastronomy. You could appreciate wine savour in cellar or its food specialities like the brandade de morue (salted cod), the tapenade, the gardianne de taureau (bull) or Gariguette (local strawberry).
Moreover, Nimes is an exceptional Roman city with lots of vestiges built during the reign of Emperor Augustus two thousand years ago such as the Maison Carée, the Roman arena, Roman walls, jardins de la Fontaine, Castelum, tour Magne and the Temple of Diana.