Béziers Féria 2009

This weekend it's the big one in our region: it's the Béziers Féria. This five day event is huge, attracting over one million visitors, all of whom come to enjoy the excitement, the music, dancing, food and wine.

The whole of the city centre is closed off, with barriers erected on the main roads, with bars and restaurants moving onto the pavements and allowing pedestrians to completely fill the streets, streets free of any traffic.

Initially the Féria centred around bullfighting, a big tradition in the area, with a large Corrida taking place over four days in Béziers Arenas. I know many people who go each year to the Arenas for the Corrida, but this isn't for me.

Béziers Arenas, with the tops of the hospitality marquees just visible

I go for different reasons. The Arenas building is perfect for staging other events. Only two weeks ago we had a beautiful evening at the opera. We were invited by our local printers in Béziers, Combes-Hund, first as guests in their hospitality marquee, and then in their 'royal box' to watch Verdi's "La Traviata". This was a beautiful. We eventually moved to a place in the Arenas, sitting under the stars on a very warm evening and thoroughly enjoyed the performance. It was beautiful.

La Traviata. The photo quality not as good as David's photos, but this was taken on my mobile

Even if you don't visit the Arenas for the bullfighting, there are large marquees called "Espace Corrales".

These are the large marquees that surround the building, and they are open to the public each lunchtime and evening. here you can enjoy a plate of Tapas provided by a famous chef from Toulouse for around 12 euros - Jambon Rioja+Pan con tomate, Chorizo, Tortilla, Tapenade. Delicious, with local red wine and sunshine.

The main entrance to the Arenas

There are also many other events held here that are perfect for the seating arrangements and the general ambiance of this historic building. So, even though bullfighting at the Arenas is big for many people in Béziers, I prefer a rock show or an evening at the opera.

But, back to news about Béziers Féria 2009. It is officially opened by the sénateur and mayor of Béziers, Raymond Couderc on Thursday August 13. Then it's party, party, party, with loads of events and activities during the day, and the whole town coming alive during the night until 4 and 5 each morning. All the cafés and restaurants are bulging, and you can't visit a cafe or bar without the traditional bowl of mussels and plate of fries. Each cafe seems to be competing to attract your custom to indulge yourself.

Fountains at the top of Allées Paul Riquet - evenings this area will be packed with revellers

On the main Places, plus the normal car parks, long tables have been installed, so visitors can go to any of the mobile cafes, order their meal and then sit in the open wherever the wish. And of course, local wine is in abundance. They even have a special wine produced just t fro the Féria. I don't suggest that the wine is as good as the excellent wines from famous domains, but it is quite drinkable and is a wonderful souvenir to take home to drink and remind you of your holiday in the south of France.

The programme is jam packed with parades, gala events - including the crowning of Miss Féria, spectacular dancing (tango, flamenco, rumba, pasa...), concerts, music from a score of different groups and orchestras, including the famous Copa Cabana orchestra, street disco parties, bodegas, the Village du théâtre have what they call “le plus gros dance floor 80’s de la Féria 2009″, the largest 1980s dance floor in the world, and music at the Place de la Madeleine, equestrian events, rugby matches - including the one featuring the Catalan Dragons (Perpignan) against Hull FC I mentioned in a previous article...


I stop. Rather than trying to list the five day's of events you can visit the websites of Beziers Tourist Office, or Béziers Arenas, or there is a programme you can download. Click here for the Programme (PDF file). Maybe it's too late for your holiday this year, but next year pencil it in - holiday, south of France to go to the Béziers Féria!

As a foot note, the Mayor was brought into a controversy surrounding the publication of the official poster for the Féria, shown at the top of this article. This is a collage of typical Féria and Béziers images - flamenco dancer, a toreador, and a Béziers rugby player with a bulls head superimposed on his body. Unfortunately, the artist who did this used a photo of the famous French player Sébastien Chabal. Chabal objected to his photo being used in connection with bullfighting - he does not approve, and the mayor ordered the quick withdrawal and re-printing of the poster.