Festival d'Abrivado des Plages

The Abrivado, an Ancestral Camargue Tradition

The abrivado — a Provençal word meaning "arrival" — is an emblematic practice of Camargue tradition. To lead the cocardier bulls from the pastures to the arenas, the manadiers and gardians escort the beasts among their horses, forming a protective triangle that gallops through the streets or along the beaches. This age-old tradition, the very foundation of Camargue bullfighting culture, finds its most spectacular expression during the Festival d'Abrivado des Plages in Les Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer.

An Exceptional Gathering on the Beaches

Every November, around November 11th, the beaches of Les Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer become the stage for a unique spectacle in Europe. Over a thousand horses, two hundred gardians, and dozens of manades converge to form immense abrivado columns that cover a 6-kilometer route, from the East beach (Rousty) or the fishermen's parking lot (Cinq Gorges) to the village arenas. Each day, the departure is at 11 AM, following a breakfast offered on the beach.

Three Days of Tradition and Popular Fervor

The festival takes place over three days, with an increasing number of abrivados: nine on the first day, ten on the second, and eleven on the third, bringing the total to thirty abrivados throughout the festival. Each abrivado is led by a different manade, with its own colors and riding style. The event, entirely free, attracts tens of thousands of spectators each year from all over Provence and Languedoc, in an atmosphere of popular celebration and Camargue culture.

An Event Sensitive to Health Issues

The Abrivado Festival, which brings together a considerable number of cattle and horses, is particularly sensitive to health issues. In 2025, the event had to be canceled due to preventive measures against bovine digital dermatitis, a disease that forced health authorities to ban livestock gatherings. This exceptional event illustrates the fragility of traditions that depend closely on animal health and health risk management.