Feria Sen Bertomiu

The Feria Sen Bertomiu: the festivals of Parentis-en-Born

The Feria Sen Bertomiu is the great traditional festival of Parentis-en-Born, a town in the north of Landes nestled on the edge of its lake. Every year in August, the town celebrates its feria for five days of intense festivities mixing taurine traditions, music, gastronomy and Gascon conviviality.

A tradition rooted in Gascon identity

The name Sen Bertomiu is the Gascon form of Saint Bartholomew, the patron saint historically celebrated in the Born region of Landes. The feria perpetuates a centuries-old tradition of patron saint festivals that punctuate the life of Gascon towns during the summer, with a program mixing the sacred and the profane, tradition and modernity.

The Roland Portalier arena at the heart of the festivities

The covered arena Roland Portalier is the beating heart of the feria. It hosts the taurine highlights: novilladas (bullfights with young bulls), Landes races with dodgers and jumpers, cockade competitions and capéas (taurine school open to the public). Two novilladas are traditionally scheduled for the weekend, attracting aficionados from all over the region.

Bandas, floats and dances in the streets

Outside the arena, the feria takes over the streets of the town with parades of decorated floats, concerts by bandas that make the town center vibrate with their brass and percussion, sevillian dances and popular balls that go on late into the night. The Banda Lous Pegaillouns, a local group, traditionally opens the festivities.

A day dedicated to children

The feria dedicates a special day to children with adapted entertainment: games, shows, sports and cultural activities allowing the youngest to fully experience the spirit of the festival. This family day demonstrates the desire to pass on festive traditions to new generations.

Gastronomy and conviviality

Gastronomy plays a central role in the feria: a giant omelette prepared in the arena on Saturday lunchtime, a traditional Landes tripe meal, bodegas offering tapas and local specialties, and a Landes day celebrating the terroir and culinary traditions of the department.