La Route des Imaginaires
Cyclo-cultural festival on the Voie Verte du Marsan et de l'Armagnac
2026
About Route des Imaginaires
Route des Imaginaires — edition 2026
The 17th edition of La Route des Imaginaires takes place on Saturday, September 19 and Sunday, September 20, 2026, in Mont-de-Marsan and along the Marsan and Armagnac greenway. Saturday in town: workshops from 10:00 AM, puppetry by Cie Le Montreur at 5:30 PM, DJ set by La Petite Populaire at 7:15 PM, and musical pyrotechnics by Cie La Brüme at 8:30 PM. On Sunday, cyclists depart at 9:30 AM from Square des Forsythias toward Bougue and Villeneuve-de-Marsan, featuring street theater, aerial circus by Cie Pakipaya, and a concert by BoomChild. Free access, no reservation required.
2026 Edition
CaféMusic is organizing the 17th Route des Imaginaires on September 19 and 20, 2026. The concept remains the same: a day in town on Saturday, followed by a cycling day on Sunday along the Marsan and Armagnac greenway, heading toward Bougue and then Villeneuve-de-Marsan.
Saturday kicks off at 10:00 AM at Place Saint-Roch with a bike customization workshop and concludes at 8:30 PM at Îlot Laulom with "AIR PULSE," a musical pyrotechnics show by Cie La Brüme. In between: a wild instrument-making workshop from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM at the CaféMusic club, puppetry by Cie Le Montreur at 5:30 PM at the Esplanade du Midou, stilt walkers from ESA at 6:45 PM, and a 100% vinyl DJ set by La Petite Populaire at 7:15 PM.
On Sunday, the departure is at 9:30 AM from Square des Forsythias, accompanied by the festival brass band from Cie Virus. The route stops in Bougue at 10:30 AM for street theater by Cie Astropophe, then reaches Villeneuve-de-Marsan from 12:00 PM, featuring the Collectif Billie fairground attraction, "Le Bal Mécanique" by Cie Virus, aerial circus by Cie Pakipaya in the bullring, and a concert by BoomChild at 4:30 PM.
If you don't have a bike, the AQM workshop in Saint-Pierre-du-Mont is available by appointment at 06 41 24 91 13, and Mont2Roues, located at 29 rue du Ruisseau in Mont-de-Marsan, by appointment at [email protected]. On Sunday, Mont2Roues provides roadside assistance along the route at 07 52 07 34 72. A bus departs from Le Peyrouat, passing through La Moustey and stopping at each stage; register with Fatima at 07 43 03 05 35. Beyond Villeneuve-de-Marsan, the terrain changes: a bus is available to pick up cyclists and bikes by reservation at 05 58 85 92 92.
Highlights Route des Imaginaires 2026
- "AIR PULSE" by Cie La Brüme — musical pyrotechnics, Saturday at 8:30 PM, Îlot Laulom
- "Shake Shake Shake" by Cie Pakipaya — aerial circus, Sunday at 3:30 PM, Villeneuve-de-Marsan bullring
- "Le Gros Crépuscule" by Cie Astropophe — street theater, Sunday at 10:30 AM, Bougue
- BoomChild — folk duo, Sunday at 4:30 PM, Villeneuve-de-Marsan
- "La leçon du montreur" by Cie Le Montreur — puppetry, Saturday at 5:30 PM, Esplanade du Midou
Programme Route des Imaginaires 2026
Saturday, September 19, 2026 — Mont-de-Marsan
- 10:00 AM — Bike customization workshop by the Maison Éco-Citoyenne des Landes · Place Saint-Roch · decorate your bike using recycled materials, open to everyone
- 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM — Wild instrument-making workshop by Cie Virus · Club du CaféMusic · build instruments from salvaged materials, followed by a sound-painting session in the late afternoon. Ages 8 and up, free with registration, limited spots, exclusive to members of CaféMusic and the Maison Éco-Citoyenne des Landes. Instruments created will join the festival brass band on Sunday
- 5:30 PM — "La leçon du montreur" by Cie Le Montreur (puppetry) · Esplanade du Midou
- 6:45 PM — Musical parade by ESA Échasses Spectacles Animations · from the Esplanade du Midou to Îlot Laulom
- From 7:00 PM — Amity Point food truck (world cuisine, classic and traditional) and temporary tattoo stand by Marc Paramelle · Îlot Laulom
- 7:15 PM — DJ set by La Petite Populaire (100% vinyl, collective from South Gironde) · Îlot Laulom
- 8:30 PM — "AIR PULSE" by Cie La Brüme (musical pyrotechnics) · Îlot Laulom · co-produced with OARA
Sunday, September 20, 2026 — Marsan and Armagnac Greenway
- 9:30 AM — Musical welcome by Cie Virus and the festival brass band, followed by the departure of cyclists and other soft mobility users · Square des Forsythias, Mont-de-Marsan
- 10:30 AM — "Le Gros Crépuscule" by Cie Astropophe (street theater) · Old train station esplanade, Bougue · co-produced with OARA
- From 12:00 PM — Musical welcome, entertainment, and gourmet village · around the bullring, Villeneuve-de-Marsan
- From 12:40 PM — "La Shooteuz" by Collectif Billie (fairground attraction) · Villeneuve-de-Marsan · safety goggles mandatory, supported by OARA
- 2:15 PM — "Le Bal Mécanique" by Cie Virus · next to Alambic des Arts, Villeneuve-de-Marsan · supported by OARA
- 3:30 PM — "Shake Shake Shake" by Cie Pakipaya (aerial circus, comedy) · in the bullring, Villeneuve-de-Marsan
- 4:30 PM — Concert by BoomChild (folk duo, handpan-drums and guitar-vocals) · next to Alambic des Arts, Villeneuve-de-Marsan
Ongoing
Saturday in Mont-de-Marsan: Bike customization workshop with the Maison Éco-Citoyenne des Landes from 10:00 AM, wild instrument-making workshop with Cie Virus from 11:00 AM, temporary tattoos by artist Marc Paramelle and Amity Point food truck from 7:00 PM.
Sunday in Villeneuve-de-Marsan: Circus arts discovery and initiation workshop by the Association Française de Cirque Adapté d'Aire-sur-l'Adour; oversized wooden games by the Youth Services of the Communauté de communes du Pays de Villeneuve en Armagnac Landais; the Sictom du Marsan's "SictoMixeur" in partnership with the Banque Alimentaire des Landes: pedal-powered fruit juice making to fight food waste; temporary tattoos by Marc Paramelle; AQM bike workshop stand; gourmet village featuring local producers, food trucks, and a refreshment bar run by the Comité des Fêtes, Avenue des Arènes.
Prices Route des Imaginaires 2026
Saturday's wild instrument-making workshop: free with registration, limited spots, exclusive to members of CaféMusic and the Maison Éco-Citoyenne des Landes.
Sunday lunch gourmet village, Avenue des Arènes in Villeneuve-de-Marsan: approximately €11 per plate; refreshment bar run by the Comité des Fêtes.
Practical information — Route des Imaginaires
Dates and access
The 17th edition takes place on Saturday, September 19th and Sunday, September 20th, 2026. Events are held in Mont-de-Marsan on Saturday, and along the Marsan and Armagnac greenway on Sunday, between Bougue and Villeneuve-de-Marsan. Admission is free and no booking is required.
Getting there by bike
The greenway is paved from Mont-de-Marsan to Bougue and continues to Villeneuve-de-Marsan. Beyond this point, the terrain and surface change; a shuttle bus is available for cyclists and their bikes by reservation at 05 58 85 92 92.
The Association de Quartier de la Moustey (AQM) bike workshop in Saint-Pierre-du-Mont takes appointments at 06 41 24 91 13 and will host a stand on Sunday. Mont2Roues, a participatory self-repair workshop located at 29 rue du Ruisseau in Mont-de-Marsan, takes appointments via [email protected]. On Sunday, the association will supervise the route, provide mobile repairs, and offer roadside assistance at 07 52 07 34 72.
Getting there by bus
On Sunday, a bus for local residents departs from Le Peyrouat, passes through La Moustey, and stops at each festival stage. Please register with Fatima at 07 43 03 05 35.
Dining
On Sunday at lunchtime, the gourmet village brings together local producers and food trucks on avenue des Arènes in Villeneuve-de-Marsan, with plates costing around €11 and a refreshment bar run by the local Comité des Fêtes. On Saturday evening, the Amity Point food truck will be at Îlot Laulom starting at 7:00 PM.
Weather and environment
Indoor alternatives are planned for both days; CaféMusic will announce them on their Facebook and Instagram pages. SICTOM du Marsan recycling bins are placed along the route, and pocket ashtrays can be picked up at the CaféMusic information stand.
Contact
CaféMusic, 4 cale de la Marine, 40000 Mont-de-Marsan. Phone: 05 58 85 92 92. Website: lecafemusic.com
A unique cyclo-cultural festival in the Landes
La Route des Imaginaires is a unique festival that has been combining two passions since 2010: cycling and culture. Organized by the CaféMusic of Mont-de-Marsan (Association Montoise d'Animations Culturelles), this free festival takes place every year on the third weekend of September, as part of the European Heritage Days.
Two days, two locations, two atmospheres
The festival unfolds over two complementary days. On Saturday, the festivities take over the city center of Mont-de-Marsan with street performances, concerts on the banks of the Midouze river, artistic installations, and family activities. On Sunday, La Route des Imaginaires truly comes into its own: a bike ride on the Voie Verte du Marsan et de l'Armagnac takes participants to discover local heritage, punctuated by shows, artistic performances, and gourmet stops in the villages along the way.
Performances, circus, and music along the route
Throughout the cycling route, performing arts companies take over unexpected places: circus troupes perform in village arenas, musicians liven up the stops, storytellers share local legends, and ephemeral artistic installations transform the landscape. The festival notably hosted the Spanish company Pakipaya in the Villeneuve-de-Marsan arena.
Heritage and gastronomy
La Route des Imaginaires is also an invitation to discover the built and natural heritage of the Marsan and Armagnac region of the Landes. Participants travel through varied landscapes, from pine forests to vineyards, passing through Gascon villages. Gourmet stops offer the chance to taste local Landes products in a friendly and festive atmosphere.
An eco-responsible event
By its very nature, the festival embodies an eco-responsible approach: cycling as a mode of transport, the promotion of short supply chains and local products, the discovery of nearby heritage, and social connection between participants of all ages make La Route des Imaginaires a model of sustainable festival.
Where does it take place — Route des Imaginaires
Route des Imaginaires in brief
History of Route des Imaginaires
Edition 2025 Sep 2025Other festivals near Mont-de-Marsan
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