Top 10 Events
Must-see celebrations and events throughout the year...
1. THE TRAD'HIVERNalES IN SOMMIÈRES [JANUARY]
Festival of traditional music and dances. A good-natured party that returns every beginning of the year. We come as a family to participate, learn traditional dances, sing and have fun !
A festival always in perpetual evolution... the Trad'hivernales perpetuate themselves over time, thanks to volunteers, partners and artists.
2. MOTOCROSS INTERNATIONAL SOMMIÈRES-VILLEVIEILLE [FEBRUARY]
For over 50 years, the Moto Club Sommiérois has organized the Moto-Cross International: championship competitions that welcome excellent riders from all over Europe to the Circuit de la Tourille in Villevieille.
3. THE MEDIEVAL CASTLE OF SOMMIÈRES [april]
A day of entertainment in the courtyard of the Castle, at the foot of the Bermond tower, and in the medieval city.
A festive program with a camp of the knights of the order of the 4 winds and a medieval musical troupe in the courtyard of the castle, concerts, a costume and musical parade in the medieval city, artisan stands near the castle.
Merchants join the event with many other activities in the medieval city : animations in the shops, scenes with merchants, themed decorations.
4. VILLAGE FESTIVities [MAY TO OCTOBER]
Village festivities, known as "fêtes votives", are key events in the lives of the local people. They usually take place between May and October. They celebrate Camargue traditions.
The Camargue bull is the main attraction. It is guided by the herdsmen on horseback through the village streets during the 'abrivados' and 'bandidos'. Traditionally, the gardians' job is to lead the bulls from the fields to the arena and vice versa. Today, the bulls follow a route through the streets supervised by the gardians. The "catchers", young people from the village, try to prevent the herd from staying in formation. When they stop a bioù (bull in Provençal language), they are applauded by the public.
focus on the "GAZE" OR "GASE" of SOMMIÈRES [BEGINNING OF AUGUST]
This is one of the highlights of the festivities, which usually takes place in late July or early August.
It involves herds of bulls and horses swimming across the Vidourle river, accompanied by gardians on horseback.
5. CAMARGUE bull RACing [IN SEASON]
The bull is also present in the arenas during the Camargue bull racing, a sporting discipline that is unique in the world ! Young men called "raseteurs" use a hook to remove the attributes attached to the bull's horns (rosettes and tassels).
The Sommières arenas host many of these races
6. CINÉ-JAZZ À LA TOUR IN SOMMIÈRES [JUNE]
A unique festival of open-air jazz and blues concerts and films !
Over 4 days, the courtyard of the château comes alive in the evenings with concerts and open-air film screenings. The films are projected directly onto the Bermond Tower of the Castle of Sommières No canvas, but a historic monument.
The event is organised by the Sommières association Somm'Imaginaire.
7. WINEGROWERS' EVENINGS [JULY/AUGUST]
Discoveries, meetings, exchanges, around the tasting of wines AOP Languedoc Sommières... with a musical atmosphere, to take advantage of the beautiful summer evenings...
- The Estivales de Sommières. Every Monday evening in the market square.
- The Jeudis de Salinelles. Every Thursday evening, in the château grounds.
- The Apéros Gourmands de Calvisson. Every Friday evening, in the square Général de Gaulle.
- Vinum, Sommières regional wine fair. Mid-August.
8. MARKET ATMOSPHERE [ALL YEAR ROUND]
A must-see ! The markets in Sommières and Calvisson are among the biggest and most popular in the Gard.
The special feature about Sommières : buy fresh produce and sit on the terrace to enjoy it with a glass of local wine ! It's here and nowhere else!
Visit the weekly markets in the Pays de Sommières to find your local produce, from producer to plate.
Focus on the Sommières summer night market
The night market takes place every Wednesday evening in July and August. It's an invitation to take a relaxed stroll and discover local crafts and products.
During these evenings, shopkeepers open their doors to the delight of visitors.
9. JAZZ À JUNAS [MID JULY]
A not-to-be-missed event that takes over the village of Junas in summer. Concerts, exhibitions, courses and meetings are held in the village centre, Place de l'avenir, the temple and the famous Quarries "Carrières du Bon Temps". For more than 25 years, this magical spot has been home to internationally renowned artists.
The event is organised by the local Jazz à Junas association.
10. STONE ENCOUNTERS AT JUNAS [MID JULY]
This event, which has been running for 26 years, brings together stonemasons from all over Europe during the summer. Exchanges, works made on site and music make it a convivial festival for everyone!
The event is organised by the Junassole association Des Hommes et des Cailloux.
