Festi'Vals des Chibottes

Festi'Vals des Chibottes: A Celebration at the Heart of Vals Heritage

Born in 2021 under the name Festivogue des Chibottes on the initiative of the artistic collective Yggdrasil and the municipality, Festi'Vals des Chibottes has become the unmissable festive event of Vals-près-le-Puy, at the gates of Le Puy-en-Velay. Every late summer, over a weekend, the town celebrates its most emblematic heritage: the chibottes, these surprising dry stone huts of volcanic origin built by the shepherds and winegrowers of Velay.

The Chibottes: Unique Ancestral Heritage

The chibottes are double-skinned dry stone constructions, circular or square in plan, covered with a stone dome. Built mainly in the 18th and 19th centuries in the Dolaizon valley, they served as shelters for shepherds and tool sheds for winegrowers who practiced terraced polyculture. The term "chibotte" was popularized by the historian Albert Boudon-Lashermes. There were once over 200 chibottes at Crouzas. In 2011, a 5.5 km "sentier des chibottes" (chibottes trail), labeled "Respirando", was inaugurated and welcomes over 12,000 visitors each year.

A Festive and Family Program

Each year, Festi'Vals des Chibottes offers a rich program of activities for all audiences:

• Stone Soup: Prepared collectively on Friday evening to open the festival, this friendly culinary tradition brings together locals and visitors.
• Torchlight Procession: At dusk, a torchlight procession winds through the streets of the town center, accompanied by a brass band.
• Popular Ball: At Le Préau, the evening continues with music and dancing.
• Family Shows: Storytelling, puppets, magic, face painting, donkey rides, and creative workshops liven up the chibottes site on Saturday.
• Craft Market: Local artisans and regional producers offer their creations and specialties.
• Foulées des Vignerons: A 13 km race with a 400 m elevation gain, a family orienteering race, and a 7 km walk conclude the festival on Sunday.

An Identity Ambition for Vals-près-le-Puy

According to the mayor, Laurent Bernard, Festi'Vals des Chibottes aims to "forge a new image for the town" by making the chibottes the identity mark of Vals, similar to the Festival du Roi de l'Oiseau for Le Puy-en-Velay. The event allows residents to reclaim the emblematic Crouzas site by creating a collective imagination rooted in local heritage. Driven by passionate volunteers and supported by the municipality, the festival combines conviviality, heritage discovery, and popular festivities.