Vallauris Pottery Festival

Vallauris, city of ceramics since antiquity

Vallauris has a thousand-year-old connection with ceramics. From Gallo-Roman times, the commune's clay soil attracted potters. In the 16th century, the reconstruction of the village devastated by the plague called for 70 families, including many earth artisans. At the end of the 19th century, 32 utilitarian pottery workshops were in operation. It is this age-old tradition that the Pottery Festival perpetuates and celebrates every summer.

Picasso's imprint

In 1947, the arrival of Pablo Picasso in Vallauris radically transformed the destiny of the town. Working at the Madoura workshop for over ten years, the master decorated more than 3,600 clay pieces, inventing artistic ceramics of unprecedented boldness. His presence attracted other great artists — Marc Chagall, Victor Brauner, Édouard Pignon — who came to work in the town's workshops. Vallauris thus became an international center for artistic ceramics, a reputation it retains today.

A lively potters' market

The Pottery Festival takes place every second Sunday in August on the Place de l'Homme au Mouton and the Place de la Libération. A professional potters' market showcases ceramics in all its forms and techniques: stoneware, faience, porcelain, glazed earthenware, and raku. Visitors can admire utilitarian and decorative pieces, discover the ancestral gestures of the artisans, and acquire original creations directly from the ceramists.

Demonstrations and workshops

Throughout the day, pottery wheel demonstrations, kiln firings, and decoration workshops are offered by the town's potters. The public is invited to participate in creative workshops: ceramic decoration, sculpture, modeling, and creative activities for all ages. Raku firing demonstrations take place at the Pottery Museum from 3 PM to 6:30 PM, offering a fascinating spectacle of this ancestral Japanese technique.

The procession of Saint Claude

A highlight of the festival, the procession of Saint Claude, patron saint of potters, crosses Avenue Georges Clémenceau accompanied by flag throwers from Castiglion Fiorentino (twin Italian town). This folkloric parade, blending Provençal and Italian traditions, recalls the historical ties between Vallauris and the potter families who came from Italy in the 16th century. A reception of honor follows on Place Saint-Martin.

Shows and entertainment

The festival is not limited to ceramics: street shows, folkloric parades, animated processions, and musical entertainment accompany visitors from 9 AM to midnight. The narrow streets of old Vallauris, lined with workshops and galleries, offer an authentic and warm setting for this festive day which attracts thousands of visitors each year.