TotalFestum « A La Montanha » Festival

TotalFestum « A La Montanha » : Occitan Culture and the World

In June 2025, the village of Lacaze, nestled in the mountains of the Tarn region of Haut-Languedoc, hosted the first edition of an extraordinary festival: TotalFestum « A La Montanha ». This new cultural and musical event carries an ambitious vision: to create a dialogue between the culture and languages of Occitania and the music and traditions from around the world.

TotalFestum, an Occitan Network Open to the World

TotalFestum is a network of Occitan culture festivals that spreads throughout the historical territory of the Occitan language, from Catalonia to Northern Italy, via Aquitaine, Midi-Pyrénées, and Provence. Each TotalFestum festival aims to be both locally rooted and universally open, celebrating Occitan languages, arts, and traditions while welcoming artists from all over the world.

The « A La Montanha » (« To The Mountain » in Occitan) edition is part of this approach by establishing itself in the Haut-Languedoc massif, a territory of gentle mountains, beech forests, and preserved villages. Lacaze, with its 600 inhabitants and medieval castle, offers an exceptional setting for this open-air festival.

Brazil, Mexico, Réunion, and Occitania

The musical program of the first edition highlighted musical cultures from around the world, chosen for their resonance with Occitan traditions:

• Brazil: Forró, samba de roda, nordestina music — these popular Brazilian music styles share with Occitania a deep tradition of choral singing, dance, and community celebration.
• Mexico: Son jarocho, traditional music, revisited mariachi — Mexican musical traditions, rich in intermingling indigenous and European cultures, find an echo in Occitan polyphony.
• Réunion: Maloya, séga, Creole music — the musical heritage of the island of Réunion, inscribed on UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage list, dialogues with Occitan sung traditions in a celebration of the cultural diversity of the Francophonie.
• Occitania: Traditional songs, cobla, folk dances, Occitan language — the vibrant heart of the festival, carried by groups and singers committed to the transmission and creation in Occitan.

An Open-Air and Free Festival

True to the tradition of popular festivals, TotalFestum « A La Montanha » is an entirely free and open-air event. Stages are set up in natural spaces around Lacaze, allowing the public to experience concerts and activities in the majestic setting of the Haut-Languedoc mountains.

The festival welcomes families, children, world music enthusiasts, and defenders of Occitan culture in an open and festive spirit. Dance workshops, introductions to Occitan languages and songs, and craft exhibitions complement the musical program.

Lacaze and Haut-Languedoc, an Exceptional Natural Setting

Lacaze is located in the Haut-Languedoc Regional Natural Park, on the border between the Tarn and Hérault departments. This mid-mountain region, with its forests, gorges, and stone villages, is one of the best-preserved natural areas in the South of France. The festival finds its full meaning in this setting, reminding us that Occitan culture is inseparable from its landscapes.

A Foundational First Edition

The 1st edition of TotalFestum « A La Montanha », from June 6 to 8, 2025, laid the groundwork for a festival destined to become a major annual event for Occitan culture and world music in Tarn. The success of this first edition among the residents of Lacaze and neighboring towns confirms the need for such an event in this territory.