Fêtes de Gabarret

The Fêtes de Gabarret: Five Days of Celebration in the Heart of Gabardan

Gabarret, a commune of 1,500 inhabitants located in the heart of Gabardan in the northeast of the Landes department, celebrates its patronal festival every end of July, one of the most lively festive events in this rural and authentic territory. For five days, from Friday to Tuesday, the small Gascon town vibrates to the rhythm of the most deeply rooted Landes traditions.

The Gabarret Arenas: A Major Venue for Landes Bullfighting

The Gabarret arenas are a major venue for Landes bullfighting in the department. Throughout the bullfighting season, from February to November, they host competitive Landes races, promotional races, and training sessions for the local bullfighting school. During the festival, the arenas are the scene of exceptional bullfighting shows, with the best dodgers and jumpers of the season facing bulls from the Ganaderîa Armagnacaise and other renowned ranches. The public can visit the arenas for free and watch the unloading of the bulls.

Quilles de 6: An Ancestral Gascon Sport

The Fêtes de Gabarret give pride of place to quilles de 6, a traditional Gascon sport practiced for centuries in the Southwest. This game of skill, which consists of knocking down six pins arranged in a square with a wooden mallet, is the subject of passionate competitions during the festival. Local teams compete in a friendly atmosphere, perpetuating a tradition deeply rooted in the Gascon identity of Gabardan.

Flower Parade, Bandas, and Street Entertainment

The flower parade, a procession of decorated floats through the streets of Gabarret, is a colorful highlight of the festivities. The bandas liven up the streets with their brass and percussion, drawing festival-goers into a lively musical atmosphere. Street entertainment follows one after another: pétanque competitions, archery, snail races, and walking and horseback tours in the rolling landscapes of Gabardan.

Toro de Fuego and Fireworks

The highlight of the festivities is undoubtedly the toro de fuego, a fire bull that runs through the streets of Gabarret, shooting sparks, pursued by the bravest festival-goers. This nocturnal pyrotechnic show, followed by a grand fireworks display, offers a dazzling finale to the festival. The evenings continue with popular balls and concerts until dawn.

Gastronomy and Outdoor Meals

The Fêtes de Gabarret are punctuated by large outdoor meals bringing together hundreds of guests. The Friday snail dinner, tapas meals, Monday's mussels and fries, and open-air barbecues mark the five days of celebration. Food trucks and stalls complete the gastronomic offerings with Gascon regional specialties: foie gras, magret, pastis landais, and Armagnac.