Festival des Lanternes de Céret — Splendeurs de Chine

ℹ️ Festival discontinued in Céret. Splendeurs de Chine only had one edition at Château d'Aubiry in Céret, during winter 2024-2025 (from November 15, 2024 to February 16, 2025). The organizers decided not to renew it in Céret. No new edition is announced on site for 2026 or beyond; the municipality indicated that it was «too early to talk about it» regarding a possible other event in the castle park. This entry is kept as an archive of the 2024-2025 edition.

A magical journey to the heart of the Catalan Country

Splendeurs de Chine was the Pyrenean version of the Chinese luminous art of lanterns, practiced for over 600 years in the Sichuan province. For its first and only edition in the Catalan Country, the event took over the sumptuous Château d'Aubiry in Céret, an exceptional 19th-century residence nestled in a 5-hectare wooded park at the foot of the Albères mountains. The initiative was part of the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between France and China.

2,600 monumental lanterns

More than 2,600 handcrafted lanterns, composed of steel structures covered with painted silk, were specially created for the event, manufactured in the Sichuan region and assembled in Céret by Chinese artisans. About forty thematic scenes — imperial dragons, Chinese zodiac animals, luminous butterfly trees, giant pagodas — unfolded along a nocturnal path of over a kilometer. Some structures reached 30 meters in height and 70 meters in width.

A rich cultural program

Beyond the lanterns, Splendeurs de Chine offered weekly shows by traditional Chinese artists: music, dance, Tai Chi, and Kung Fu. A monumental video mapping projected onto the castle facade created an immersive experience. Every Saturday evening, fireworks at 8:30 PM illuminated the sky of Céret. An artisanal Christmas market and a Chinese gastronomy restaurant completed the offer.

An ephemeral but significant tourist event

With over 200,000 visitors over three months, Splendeurs de Chine established itself as a notable tourist event for the Pyrénées-Orientales. The initiative, supported by the City of Céret and its mayor Michel Coste, aimed to strengthen the winter attractiveness of the territory and create a cultural dialogue between French, Chinese, and Catalan traditions. Due to the organizers' decision not to renew it, the Céret adventure ended after this single edition.