FACT OF THE DAY Reinvent yourself and create a beautiful Easter fair

Premier there are no tickets of the time for the presentation of the Arlesian season at Krystal, in Moulès, new acquisition of Gardois Gaël Givet (with Samuel Gigot, regular at the arenas and friend of the Jalabert family). It even seems that Ludovic Giuly was there to put the chairs in place!

Come on, the evening starts about thirty minutes late. All the bullfighting gratin was there, a little “quiche” in this refurbished box. Let's hope that the excitement will be as close in April in the two-thousand-year-old amphitheater!

For Patrick de Carolis, mayor of Arles, “ It’s going to be great! This year, we will celebrate the 60th anniversary of the feria committee. This committee brought the bullfighting passion off the track so that it invaded the city. Thank you to all those who work in the shadows, thank you to the taurine commission and thank you, dear Jean-Baptiste, for having given a helping hand to many breeders in the region. We must stick together, be united! »

It's true, the Arles feria will celebrate its 60th anniversary and, it's also true, half of the ganaderos are from the Camargue! 60 years can be celebrated peacefully and it's time to celebrate the territory, its traditions and its passions. It all started from a meeting transformed over the years into a human adventure born in Nord-Pinus one evening in 1965.

Let's talk a little about the Easter fair. Upstream, the bullfighting area will be open from April 12 to 17. On the program, like every year, are activities and opportunities to discover the bullfighting world in complete safety and with the right people. Afterwards ? The big thing of the day: the Easter 2025 fair!

Director of the arenas, Jean-Baptiste Jalabert speaks. “ Thank you all, even the most discreet! The 2024 season was complicated because of the weather, the rain at Easter and the wind in September… But we saw the triumphs of Castella, of Luque, of Talavante, the despedidas of Pablo Hermoso de Mendoza, of Ponce, the beautiful Jean-Luc Couturier's race, in short, moments that made people vibrate. »

But, in bullfights as elsewhere, there are years with it and others without. The main thing is to bounce back, all the time, constantly. The empresa continues, “ Reinventing yourself could be the title of the 2025 season in Arles. There will be six presentations of toro matadors, six presentations of novilleros, the presentation of Spanish toros, but also of French toros, veterans, young people who win a place… We are attentive to the results and the guarantees of the toreros as well as the toros but the puzzle is never easy to construct. I am very proud of the cartels presented and as the dates are better, the weather should be too! »

It will be held from April 18 to 21. At the start, the Camargue race, logical.

The raseteurs on the program are El Ghiati, El Mahboub, K. Bouala, Katif, Marignan, F. Martin, Zekraoui and Ciacchini. The bulls will be Aramis (Nicollin), Montego (Lautier), Tardoun (Raynaud), Lichou (Rambier Cavallini), Vizir (Saumade), Malagroy 'Fabre-Mailhan) and Siffleur (Méjanes).

On Saturday April 19 at 11 a.m., novillada pique with six French breeders in competition. The examples of the Gallon brothers, the Jalabert brothers, Pagès-Mailhan, Cuillé, San Sebastian and Raphaël Chaubet will be opposed to two novilleros punteros and will see the debut in the category of a Saintois in the person of the regional of the stage Victor. He will be preceded by Javier Zulueta and Tomas Bastos. An international cartel which is not to displease the aficion. For Victor, “ I have to thank the Arles bullfighting school which supported me. I haven't fought a lot, but I've had a lot of good, intense moments in 2024. Thanks to maestro Jean-Baptiste for making me start in Arles with a very nice cartel, I'm leaving on Tuesday for Venezuela, but I should start my season in Arles. »

In the afternoon, at 4:30 p.m., France will be celebrating. Despite the presentation of the Spanish iron of E Parralejo, the cartel will be tricolor and composed of a Sébastien Castella who will celebrate his 25th doctorate ace, a Clemente in full swing and a ghost who will take the alternative. “ El Parralejo will present himself strongly in Arles and the alternative of Tristan Barroso should have been made in Dax then in Zaragoza but that did not happen. Three bullfighters from different generations, Clemente will confirm his alternative at the opening of the San Isidro in Madrid. »

In 2024, Clemente had 12 bullfights under his belt. He cut off 21 ears and pardoned two bulls! “ I recovered from these emotions and from this beautiful season during which I was able to express myself and take great pleasure in front of the animals. I feel lucky, Arles will mark the start of my time. »

In the process, Tristan Barroso is a happy bullfighter. “ Arles is a city that I didn't know until today and I fell in love with it! This race with three French bullfighters, I am very proud to be part of it and to come matador de toros here, in Arles where I have seen a lot of videos. The arenas are magnificent, of high quality and it is one of the most important plazas in France and the world. I really like this card! »

Easter Sunday is celebrated in Arles. And it is celebrated with dignity, just like Monday, but we will come back to that.

For Sunday, two races. In the morning, novillada piqué will come from Fernay y sus hijas. There too, two novilleros punteros who present themselves in Arles and a young person who should have been seen earlier, but who was prevented from doing so, the fault of an injury. Juan Molas, Aaron Palacio and El Mene.

In the afternoonthe ride will bring together the bulls of Jandilla, Emilio de Justo, Andrés Roca Rey and Tomas Rufo. « Sunday is the bullfighting day par excellence in Madrid and Seville. We used to see him there on Easter Sunday, but this year he chose Arles! There will be Andrés Roca Rey but you will also see the presentation of Tomas Rufo »

Another tradition, Monday morning, dedicated to horses with a race by Fermin Bohorquez for the return of Andy Cartagena, the arrival of the Nîmes Léa Vicens and the succession with the young Guillermo Hermoso de Mendoza, the son of the retired Pablo.

« At the end, it was important for us to keep the audience. The cartel is original and guaranteed. A French breeder based in Spain will present Jean-Marie Raymond and his Virgen Maria shoe in Arles. In front of them? Miguel Angel Perera, Paco Ureña and Fernando Adrian who also appears in our arenas. A helping hand, this bullfight will be free for children under 16! »

The calendar will continue with the Golden Cockade which is scheduled for July 7. Other activities will also be organized. In the middle of summer, the arenas benefit from the tourist surge and this date makes it possible to reach a new audience while ensuring a choice set for older ones.

Moreover, the men in white will be at the level because they are designated by the federation. For bulls, it's something else. There we find the atmosphere of the free races of yesteryear. Indeed, the Golden Cockade bets on the bulls, sometimes they reveal themselves, sometimes not… And this can divide the assembly. On July 23, a race for the Future (Souvenir Francis Espejo) will take place in the amphitheater and will bring together youth, enthusiasm and talent. Leal, Fernandez, D. Boualam, Ayme, A. Cadenas, Laouzi and Champetier will face Joanen (Fabre Mailhan), Kamalis (Salierenne), adhemar (Tiberio), Bel Ami (Du Pantaï), Mino (Richeboi) Engarran (Robert Michel) and Hauban de Plo.

Arlesian tradition obliges, the presentation of the Rice Feria was also topical. It will take place from September 12 to 14 and the Espace toros will be open beforehand.

On September 12, the Camargue race will take place. Aux As with Fanfan (Lou Pantaï), Gallion (Lautier), Mandarin (Méjanes), Caruso (Saint Leonard), Amphise (Fabre-Mailhan), castella (Saumade) and apollo de Rousty.

On Saturday September 13, it's time for the Goyesque bullfight which remains the hallmark of this bullfighting moment. Last year, the party was spoiled by the wind, the scenography did not resist the mistral. “It’s the flagship bullfight, the prestigious bullfight, the one that is most requested by the figures, but we need to change a little. The decorations and music will be revealed at the end of spring.

For the cartel? 100% Juan Bautista! “ Alvaro Nuñez will present his torosp for a cartel that particularly touches me. Alejandro Talavante in charge of lidia, Daniel Luque and Marco Pérez who will present themselves in Arles as matador de toros. This cartel is original and focused on the future, everyone has earned their place here and there will be a lot of competition during this great race! »

Finally, Sunday will have a few surprises in store. In the morning, the bullfighting school will be entitled to its novillada without picadors with becerros from Du Laget. In closing, “ a return which also affects us with the breeding of Robert Margé which increases every year. Before them, bullfighters capable of taking up the challenge with an international cartel made up of Juan Leal, Diego San Roma and Samuel Navalon, because we are also thinking of the bullfighting countries which can also suffer. »

End of the season with the final of the Trophée des As which will be held on October 12 in Arles this year. Ludi Arles organization does things well and does things well. See you in the arenas very soon to see if the posters live up to expectations!

From January 20, sale of subscriptions on the site of the Arles arenas or 08 91 70 03 70 (0.225 euros per minute).