Total Festum en Couserans

Occitan Culture Celebrated in Saint-Girons

Total Festum en Couserans is the local version of a regional event supported by the Occitanie Region: Total Festum, a grand celebration of Occitan and Catalan cultures that takes place annually around the summer solstice in over 80 towns and villages across the region. In Saint-Girons, the capital of Couserans, this event takes on a special dimension thanks to the collaboration of three cultural organizations: Art'Cade, the Scène de Musiques Actuelles (SMAC) of Couserans, Occitan en Couserans, an association promoting the Occitan language and culture, and La Calandreta deth Coserans, an immersive school in the Occitan language.

Concerts, Dances, and Outdoor Performances

The Total Festum en Couserans program is structured around several highlights spread over two to three days in early June. Friday evening is often dedicated to a film-concert or an opening night in a heritage venue in Saint-Girons. Saturday is the main day of celebration: starting in the afternoon, the Parc des Expositions hosts children's shows (Tipi'Tchoun), traditional dance workshops, processions, and Occitan games. In the evening, concerts of Occitan music, Gascon dances, trad' music, and festive sets follow late into the night. The traditional dance holds a central place in the programming, mixing Gascon dances, polkas, mazurkas, rondeaux, and bourrées in a joyful and participatory atmosphere.

La Setmana de l'Occitan

Since 2025, Total Festum en Couserans has been enhanced by La Setmana de l'Occitan (Occitan Week), organized by Occitan en Couserans and La Calandreta. This cultural week features exhibitions, meetings, film screenings, debates, and workshops on Occitan literature, songs, and dances, as well as conferences on the history and traditions of Couserans. This extension of the festival demonstrates the vitality of Occitan culture in this Pyrenean territory and the organizers' commitment to keeping this language and culture alive on a daily basis.

A Free, Popular, and Unifying Event

Total Festum en Couserans is an entirely free event and open to all, from the youngest to the oldest. Children are particularly well catered for with the Tipi'Tchoun program, which offers shows, workshops, and age-appropriate games. Gastronomy is also highlighted, with stands from local producers and tastings of Couserans specialties. The event aims to be a moment of intergenerational sharing, where Occitan culture is passed on with joy and conviviality, blending traditional rituals with contemporary creativity.