Abrivado festival, mushroom fair, guided tour of L’Occitane… our 6 outings this Sunday in Provence

The abrivado festival, an ancestral tradition on the beach in Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer

Escorting the bulls to the arenas by guiding them with horses is the Abrivado festival, which continues this Sunday on the beach of Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer. An ancestral tradition which should attract a crowd of curious people. This spectacular event (1,000 horses and around 200 herdsmen present) is an opportunity to head to the Camargue lands for this continuation and end of the long weekend.

Herdsmen who are there to show their dexterity by accompanying the bulls from the east beach to the village arenas. On the starting line, to perfect the folklore, we enjoy a savory breakfast (a glass of wine, bread and cold meats) and we gain strength.

This Sunday, the start is given at 11 a.m. on the East beach (place called Rousty) with a scheduled arrival at the arenas. The Festival also continues on Monday: departure at 11 a.m. from the East beach (place called Rousty).

Market, competition… The art of (homemade) jam in Ansouis in the Luberon

Having become trendy again and can be made at home, jam inspires artisans and amateur cooks who make it a tasting product in its own right. We’re leaving this Sunday for Ansouis, in the Luberon, for this second edition of the fruit market and jam competition, organized by the Libellules & Coccinelles association.

First of all, place the “Fruitanilles”, the fruit market, with exhibitors, nurserymen, stands of products from arboriculture, aromatics, bulbs and seeds. Then, during the day, the jam competition which worked well last year: tastings start around 10 a.m. for the general public before a verdict scheduled for around 2 p.m. Strawberry, rhubarb, clementine, kumquat, we find surprising flavors. Don’t forget, if you can, to drop off your jam jars at the library beforehand.

Also all day: games for children, donkey rides, snacks. / Photo Bruno SOUILLARD

From 10 a.m. in Ansouis. Entrance is free

For this long weekend in November, the editorial team highlighted the castles of Provence in its Friday leisure page. There are the most famous: Tarascon, Lourmarin, La Coste, but also those less known and which offer free tours to the public. Before being the imposing medieval fortress that we know, the castle of Simiane-la-Rotonde has gone through the ups and downs of history. It was the property of the Agoult-Simiane family and has undergone significant alterations over the centuries.

Today, the place is in itself a lesson in architecture with an old part, the tower in the shape of a truncated cone, 18 meters high and the centerpiece, the rotunda, the upper room of the keep with its dome and its ribs . Stone masks from a medieval bestiary coexist today with contemporary works. And from the terrace, don’t miss the breathtaking view of the fields and wooded hills.

From 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Prices: €4.50/€5.50

Guided tour of the L’Occitane en Provence factory in Manosque

It’s a real success story in the region. The L’Occitane factory, an emblematic company in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, located in Manosque, is almost fifty years old. It has 3,000 stores in more than 80 countries, around 800 employees and a reference today in the very closed world of cosmetics. On a guided tour you can learn more about the manufacturing processes.

From the production workshop to product packaging, a journey punctuated with sensory activities is offered to the public. In the company, we may not know it, but 12,000 tonnes of cosmetics are manufactured each year and 5 million units are packaged every month. Perfumes, facial care, body and hair care, bath products, you can find everything. Guided tours last on average one hour and take place every day from March to December. It’s also an opportunity to do some shopping before the end-of-year holidays since the store is open on Sundays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Price: €6. Free for under 16s.

The mushroom show at the winegrowers’ room at Les Milles in Aix-en-Provence

The season has begun to go into the forest to pick porcini mushrooms, milk mushrooms and other boletus. Mushroom hunters from the Mycological Association of Aix-en-Provence (AMA) are gathered in the Espace des Vignerons for the annual exhibition of fresh species in Les Milles, near Aix-en-Provence, until this evening. More than 200 species are to be discovered, but you can also get advice and knowledge from amateur mycologists. On site, exhibition of fresh mushrooms, odor workshops, microscope demonstration, sale and at 3 p.m., “Ten edifying stories about mushrooms” to listen to. In the living room, we meet scholars but also a few curious people, baskets or boxes in hand.

Finally, do you know that the diversity of mushrooms on the planet is such that a wide variety of species has not yet been discovered? We certainly know the mushroom, it is true, for its culinary attractions, less for the essential role it plays in nature because the mushroom helps in the destruction of dead leaves and the decomposition of wood. Please note that the show is organized with the participation of the Natural History Museum.

From 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Espace des Vignerons aux Milles. Entrance is free.

In Italy, culinary tradition and know-how are an integral part of the national culture. This weekend, head to Cassis for this event which takes place on Place Baragnon in the city center. There are some “made in Italy” specialties and around thirty artisans and producers. Gastronomy is therefore widely represented on site: parmesan (obviously!), panettone (for Christmas), Piedmont wines, sparkling prosecco and Portofino wines. But that’s not all because the cashmere, shearlings, leather goods, gloves and accessories on offer will dress up your winter.

It’s on Place Baragnon in Cassis from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Entrance is free.