La ringueta, the great festival of traditional games in Sarlat

La Ringueta is the festival of traditional games of yesteryear. Created on May 26, 1985, on the proposal of Patrick Salinié municipal councilor of the city of Sarlat and on the initiative of the movements for the defense of the Occitan of the Sarladais, the ASCO (Atelier Sarladais de Culture Occitane), the Amicale Secular from Sarlat, the musical groups Peiraguda and Pissafreig, this festival which takes place in Sarlat in the heart of the Périgord Noir invites us to discover how our ancestors used to have fun with simplicity but ingenuity! For two days, at Pentecost, in even years only, come and try nearly 60 traditional Occitan games on the Place de la Grande Rigaudie in Sarlat!

The ringueta? What are you?

But where does this name “ringueta” come from? Many used the word without asking the question when they were little. It’s the rank, the line, the row. This game called “tac-toe” where you have to try to line up three pawns in a row. The “rengueta” is therefore this morpionistic alignment. It was later pronounced “Ringueta”.

The meeting place for young and old

Since its creation, the “leitmotif” of this festival has been to introduce as many people as possible to the traditional games with which our grandparents had fun. This is the opportunity to discover the following games:

• The “Rampeau”: This game is still found in most village festivals in Périgord.
  A betting game that is played with 3 pins lined up and a ball a little larger than a pétanque ball. Like bowling, the goal is to knock down the three pins in one throw, if they all fall, we call it “Rampeau” and the player wins the right to play the next round. The big winner and the one who stays the longest and therefore makes the most “Ranpeaux”.
• The Barrel Rodeo: A game played mainly by children who, astride an old barrel threaded onto a 20 cm thick pole, must move forward by pulling a rope. A real game of balance, not always easy to stay in the saddle.
• The Maypole: Flagship game of Ringueta. The game is simple, a mast is erected in the middle of the Place de la Grande Rigaudie, with your bare hands you must climb to its top to win one of the prizes. If you don’t have a fear of heights, don’t hesitate to take on the challenge.

Without forgetting the traditional Game of Geese or even the stilt race and for the strongest, the legendary tug of war.

Saturday May 18, 2024 – Place de la grande Rigaudie in Sarlat

• 6:00 p.m.: Introduction to traditional dances with bilingual classes and ASCO musicians
• 8:30 p.m.: Songs in Occitan with ASCO
• 9:00 p.m.: BAL TRAD’ with the Gaziers du trad

Refreshment bar, Crepes, Snack bar on site

Sunday May 19, 2024 – Place de la grande Rigaudie in Sarlat

• 10 a.m.: 60 free games for young and old
• 12 p.m. and 3 p.m.: Musical entertainment with the FAT (traditional craft band)
• 6 p.m.: tug of war
• 7 p.m.: Large traditional Taulada meal €25 by reservation on 06 84 79 86 82 or [email protected]
• 9 p.m.: Traditional ball with the Peuch trio – Deltheil’s

For almost 40 years, the ringueta has made you discover or rediscover the spirit of traditional festivals in Périgord. See you on May 18 and 19, 2024 at Place de la Grande Rigaudie in Sarlat!

La Ringueta

Your Occitan outings in Dordogne

• Saturday May 18 and Sunday May 19 : La Ringueta, festival of traditional games in Sarlat with the ASCO choir, the trad guys’ziers and the Peuch-Deltheil’s trio and the FAT (traditional craft fanfare)
• May 18,19 and 20 – Limoges : Chabrettes meetings, conferences, exhibitions, concerts and balls
• Saturday May 25 – Bourdeilles : Festival Paratge D’oc et d’ailleurs with De la Crau, tricks, Sarah halgan…
• Friday May 31 and Saturday June 1 – Ribérac : 4th edition of Improbal with La manufacture verbale, Gilles Debecdelièvre, Le grand barouf and santa machete
• Saturday June 1 – Mining room – Piégut-Pluviers: Occitan Dictation
• Saturday June 8 – Bourdeilles: Bal de la Calandreta Pergosina with the Peuch-Deltheil’s trio

Musical programming of the show:

1. Brotto-Lopez sextet / Ronda del viatges
2. Joan-pau Verdier / Bradin bradau
3. Mena bruch / La pita joana
4. Massilia sound system / Dirty character
5. Alid Sans / Ara montanha
6. Cocanha / Qué son auros
7. Guillaume Lopez / Between the sea and the river