Fête des Rosières

The Fête des Rosières: A Unique Tradition in Lot-et-Garonne

Every year at the end of August, the bastide town of Tournon-d'Agenais, perched on a promontory overlooking the Lot Valley, comes alive with the Fête des Rosières, one of the oldest living traditions in the Lot-et-Garonne department. Since 1845, with almost no interruption, this ceremony has upheld the testamentary wish of a local benefactor by honoring deserving young women from the canton each year.

The Origins: The Will of Jean-Guillaume Dubruel

The history of this festival dates back to October 15, 1826, when Jean-Guillaume Dubruel, a wealthy landowner from the village of Anthé, wrote his will in his home in Fages. He expressed his desire that the income from his estate be used "to endow and marry each year as many virtuous and deserving girls as there are thousands of francs in income from the property I leave behind."

The first ceremony took place on December 27, 1845, and caused a sensation throughout the region. Twenty-one "rosières" (rose-bearers) were crowned during this inaugural edition. The famous Agen poet Jasmin, who was present that day, composed a poem in honor of the event—a text that can still be admired today in the cadastre room of Tournon-d'Agenais.

The Crowning of the Rosières

The highlight of the festival is the crowning of the rosières, which takes place on Sunday at noon under the historic town hall market hall. Four young women, chosen from the communes of the Tournon canton, are distinguished for their character and merit. According to the regulations established in August 1908, the rosières must be at least 16 years old and born in one of the parishes of the former commune of Tournon-d'Agenais. One must be from Anthé, the founder's parish, another from Tournon, which hosts the celebration, and the other two are chosen from the neighboring communes of the canton.

The ceremony takes place in the presence of the mayors of all the canton's communes, the president of the departmental council, and local dignitaries. The rosières receive their crowns in an atmosphere that is both solemn and festive, before a large crowd gathered from across the Tournonnais region.

A Weekend of Popular Festivities

Beyond the crowning ceremony, the Fête des Rosières offers a full weekend of popular celebrations in the streets of the medieval bastide:

• Boules and pétanque competitions: friendly tournaments that bring the village squares to life
• Gourmet meal: on Saturday evening, a large festive dinner showcases local Lot-et-Garonne produce
• Musical entertainment: bandas, musette orchestras, and DJs take turns providing the soundtrack for the evenings
• Popular dances: a dance party on Saturday night and a traditional musette ball on Sunday
• Solemn mass: on Sunday morning, a mass accompanied by a musical ensemble precedes the crowning
• Fireworks: a grand fireworks display launched over the bastide

A Living Heritage of the Tournonnais

The Fête des Rosières is much more than just a festive event. It embodies the collective memory and identity of the Tournonnais, bringing together residents from all the communes of the canton every year around a tradition that has spanned nearly two centuries. This celebration of virtue and merit, inherited from an era when charitable bequests structured the life of rural communities, remains a moment of pride and gathering for the entire territory.

The bastide of Tournon-d'Agenais, founded in 1270 and ranked among the most beautiful perched villages of the Lot-et-Garonne, provides an exceptional setting for this festival. Its medieval alleys, historic market hall, and panorama over the Lot Valley form a perfect backdrop for this age-old tradition.