Festival des Pastourelles et de la Bourrée

A festival dedicated to the traditions of the Massif Central

The Festival des Pastourelles et de la Bourrée was born in 2025 from the desire of the City of Espalion and the Ligue Auvergnate et du Massif Central (LAMC) to celebrate the folk traditions of the Massif Central in one of the most beautiful villages in Aveyron. This first edition brought together more than 14 folk groups from all over the Massif Central and Paris, united around the bourrée, this emblematic popular dance that George Sand described as « classic, supple, well-timed and very graceful in its simplicity ».

The Pastourelles: ambassadors of folklore

The Pastourelles are the ambassadors of the traditions of the Massif Central, elected each year to represent their territory. The festival brings together the five pastourelles from the elected territories, who parade through the streets of Espalion in traditional costume, embodying the living transmission of Auvergne and Rouergat cultural heritage.

A program rich in traditions

The festival program offers a full day of activities: mass in the parish church, conference on Parisians from Auvergne and the history of the Pastourelles at the Espalion town hall, parade and performances by folk groups in the town center, attempt at a world record for « Brise Pieds » (a traditional dance step), bourrée competition at the foirail, aligot meal, and traditional ball open to all musicians.

Espalion, cradle of living traditions

Espalion, with its banks of the Lot, its listed Old Bridge, and its medieval tanneries, offers a remarkable setting for this festival rooted in intangible heritage. The municipality thus perpetuates a long tradition of popular festivals and folklore, testifying to the vitality of the cultures of the Massif Central in the Aveyron region.