Féria d'Aire-sur-l'Adour

The Féria d'Aire-sur-l'Adour: A Centuries-Old Bullfighting Tradition

Nestled at the confluence of the Adour and Broussau rivers, Aire-sur-l'Adour is one of the oldest towns in the Landes, with a history dating back to Roman times under the name Atura. Every year in mid-June, this sub-prefecture of 6,000 inhabitants transforms into the capital of Landaise festivities, welcoming thousands of revelers to celebrate the Gascon bullfighting tradition in a friendly and warm atmosphere.

The Maurice Lauche Bullring, the Beating Heart of the Féria

Inaugurated in 1932, the Maurice Lauche bullring is the jewel of Aire's bullfighting heritage. With a capacity of over 4,000 seats, it hosts the highlights of the féria: competitive Landes races counting towards the regional challenge, bullfights with prestigious ganaderías like Pedraza de Yeltes, and various bullfighting shows. The 'écarteurs' (bull dodgers) and 'sauteurs' (jumpers) compete with skill and courage against the Landes cows, perpetuating an art inscribed in the intangible cultural heritage of France.

Encierros, Bandas, and Street Entertainment

From Friday evening, the opening of the festivities signals the start of the celebrations. The encierros (cow releases in the streets) are moments of shared adrenaline between participants and spectators gathered behind the barriers. The bandas, these emblematic street orchestras of the Southwest, parade through the streets of the town center, leading the crowd in a festive and lively musical atmosphere. The 'peñas' (social clubs) compete in imagination to liven up their 'estanquets' (bars) where revelers gather for grilled food and sangria.

Outdoor Meals and Gascon Gastronomy

The Féria d'Aire-sur-l'Adour is also a gastronomic event. Outdoor meals bring together hundreds of guests under marquees, around traditional Gascon menus: garbure (cabbage soup), magret de canard (duck breast), foie gras, tourin (garlic soup), and pastis landais (cake). The 'peñas' estanquets offer tapas, grilled dishes, and local specialties throughout the day. On Saturday, a grand meal at the bullring brings together families and friends in a convivial atmosphere.

Popular Balls and Festive Evenings

Every evening, the féria continues late into the night with popular balls and free concerts in the town center squares. Orchestras and DJs liven up the evenings, while the 'peñas' bodegas remain open until the early morning. The fireworks on the Monday of the féria light up the Aire sky to beautifully conclude these four days of intense festivities.

The Fête des Arsouillos: Prelude to the Féria

Every year at the end of April, the Fête des Arsouillos, organized for over 35 years, opens the festive season with a program combining encierros, novilladas (young bullfights), bandas competitions, and festive evenings. This popular event allows younger generations to discover local bullfighting traditions in a friendly setting.