Feria de l'Atlantique

The Feria de l'Atlantique: The Grand End-of-Summer Bullfighting Festival

Each end of summer, the Arènes de Bayonne vibrate to the rhythm of the Feria de l'Atlantique, the bullfighting event that concludes the season at the Bayonne arena. For three intense days, bullfighting enthusiasts gather to witness exceptional shows featuring the best bullfighters of the moment against bulls from the most prestigious Spanish breeding farms.

Show Program

The Feria de l'Atlantique offers a rich and varied program spread over three days:

• Corrida Goyesque Bleue: On Friday evening, the inaugural bullfight features three top matadors in a spectacle steeped in elegance and tradition. The Goyesque bullfight, with costumes inspired by Goya's paintings, is a moment of grace and bullfighting art.
• Novillada picada: On Saturday morning, young novilleros (aspiring matadors) face young bulls in novilladas with picadors, offering a glimpse of tomorrow's talents.
• Corrida de Promesas: On Saturday afternoon, five promising young bullfighters compete in a unique competitive format, where each tries to shine and get noticed by professionals.
• Novillada sans picadors: On Sunday morning, the youngest bullfighters perform in novilladas without picadors, the first step in a bullfighter's career.
• Closing Corrida: On Sunday afternoon, the closing bullfight brings together the most experienced bullfighters against the most impressive bulls, for a spectacular finale.

The Arènes de Bayonne, a Major Bullfighting Venue

Inaugurated in 1893, the Arènes de Bayonne are one of the most beautiful bullfighting arenas in France. Located at 2 rue Alfred Boulant, they can accommodate over 10,000 spectators. Bayonne, along with Dax and Mont-de-Marsan, is one of the pillars of bullfighting tradition in southwestern France, an inheritance from historical ties with neighboring Spain.

The Bayonne Bullfighting Season

The Feria de l'Atlantique is part of the Bayonne bullfighting season, which runs from July to September. It complements the bullfighting programming of the Fêtes de Bayonne in July and offers increasingly prestigious shows as the season progresses. The Feria de l'Atlantique is considered the highlight of this bullfighting season.

Tradition and Heritage

Bullfighting is an integral part of the cultural heritage of Bayonne and the Basque Country. The Feria de l'Atlantique perpetuates this centuries-old tradition while adapting to the evolutions of contemporary bullfighting. Aficionados will find the authenticity and intensity of the great Spanish ferias, in a French setting imbued with Basque conviviality.