Fêtes d'Amou

The Fêtes d'Amou: Chalosse in celebration

A bastide founded in the 13th century at the confluence of the Luy de France and the Luy de Béarn, Amou is a village of character in Chalosse landaise that proudly perpetuates its festive traditions. Its patronal festival, organized every year in mid-July, is one of the highlights of the summer in the Landes department, attracting festival-goers and families for four days of authentic celebrations.

The Jean Lafittau arena, temple of the Landes race

At the heart of the festivities, the Jean Lafittau arena hosts Landes races that are among the most popular of the season. In this setting steeped in taurine history, the écarteurs (dodgers) and sauteurs (jumpers) face the racing cows from the best breeders in the Southwest, under the passionate gaze of a knowledgeable audience. The arena vibrates to the rhythm of the bandas accompanying the races, playing the traditional entrance march and punctuating the dodges and jumps with lively melodies. These formal races count towards the official challenges of the Fédération Française de Course Landaise.

Bandas, parades, and street atmosphere

The bandas, these brass and percussion bands from the Southwest, are the soul of the Fêtes d'Amou. They parade through the streets of the bastide, leading the festival-goers dressed in red and white, the traditional colors of the Landes festivals. Float parades and costumed groups cross the village, creating an atmosphere of popular jubilation. The peñas, groups of friends who liven up the festivals, set up their stands and bars in the village square.

Rustic meals and Chalosse gastronomy

Chalosse, renowned for the quality of its local products, offers a generous gastronomic program during the Fêtes d'Amou. Rustic meals bring together hundreds of guests around long tables set up under the plane trees: salade landaise, grilled magret de canard, confit, foie gras, and pastis landais make up menus that celebrate the Gascon terroir. Tapas evenings and night-time grills extend the pleasure of dining well beyond dinner.

Balls, games, and entertainment for all

The nights in Amou are enlivened by popular balls where orchestras and DJs make festival-goers of all ages dance. During the day, traditional Landes games bring together young and old: sack races, tug-of-war, nine-pin bowling, pétanque tournaments, and inflatable activities for children. The traditional fireworks display lights up the sky of the bastide, while the Landes stilt walkers stroll in traditional costume, recalling the pastoral heritage of the Grande Lande.