the essential
The new edition of the Bastide Enchantée in Villeneuve-sur-Lot will open its doors on Saturday December 7, with its classics on the one hand, but also many new features, including the return of the indoor ice rink and real ice.
“All the town hall services have been mobilized,” begins Béatrice Vaquier, in charge of commerce and the city’s commercial attractiveness. “Event services, technical services, cultural services, but also all the area's traders as well as the Villeneuve – Vallée du Lot tourist office. Everyone is playing the game to make these four weeks the meeting point of the 'entire department'.
Because traders and organizers are convinced of it. “The entire department will have its eyes on us during these 4 weeks of diverse and varied activities. Everyone will be able to come back every week, there will always be new things to discover. This is the strength of our organization and the numerous partnerships that we establish with retailers.
25,000 euros worth of gifts to be won in local businesses
Let's start with what the area's traders are offering, obviously very involved in this crucial period for them, that is to say from Villeneuve-sur-Lot, the Eysses district, Casseneuil and Sainte-Livrade. “We changed our formula this year,” expresses Andrée Akriech, on behalf of the federation of local traders. “We are not redoing the Golden Wheel this year, but the Santa Claus Hood. We have opted for scratch cards. There are 10,000 of them which will allow you to win 200 different prizes. These range from vouchers to partner businesses, even a trip to Sri Lanka and a black pearl set from Tahiti Everyone played the game to provide the necessary prizes, whether in kind or in cash, even if some are in difficult situations. somewhat difficult. We all know that the attractiveness of the territory also depends on us and that we are involved in these festivities.
New features and four attractions in the heart of the bastide
If the Georges-Leygues avenues are still in the middle of work before the start of the festivities, it is the entire historic center of the bastide which resonates with the sound of hammers and nails, the installation of illuminations or even the arrival of chalets intended to accommodate the various shops. “This year, we wanted visitors to be guided from the entrance to the Bastide towards the market hall and rue Lakanal. This is one of the big new features this year. Rue Lakanal will welcome the chalets with the shops of the artisans of art, Place Lafayette and its fountain will be at the heart of the ice rink, this year in real ice with these product shops to taste on site, going up via the Sainte-Catherine square with its educational farm and many surprises each weekend, to the foot of the Paris Tower which hosts the little enchanted bastide, a space dedicated to children and, new this year, an electric kart circuit on ice.
On Place Lafayette, the ice will soon form, sheltered from bad weather. “This is a request that was made to us last year. The sliding conditions were not satisfactory for the many ice skating enthusiasts who came. We heard them and we decided to redo a track. more than 200 m2 of real ice In addition, two theme evenings will liven up the ice rink: Saturday December 21 with a disco evening and December 28 with a fluorescent evening, all with a DJ each time.
The opening of the Enchanted Bastide is therefore planned for Saturday, December 7, with a large parade which will start from the left bank, Place d'Aquitaine before crossing the bastide to arrive on Rue Lakanal. “The inauguration will take place afterwards and it will be the start of four weeks of festivities and all in the Christmas spirit.”
The highlights of the enchanted Bastide
Obviously, we cannot forget the Christmas circus and its great magic until December 15 at the exhibition center, with around twenty international artists.
On the Sainte-Catherine square, an educational farm will welcome young and old children.
The big party will be on Saturday, December 21. Before the fireworks light up the city above Saint-Cyr Park, a bike ride will allow you to discover the bastide in a different way. To participate, you will have to come with your decorated bike (light garlands, Christmas baubles, etc.) and give free rein to your imagination. The meeting point is on the Allée Georges-Leygues, for a ride lasting around forty minutes, well supervised and secured by Villeneuvois à Vélo members. From 7 p.m., the park will host the now traditional fireworks display, set to the most beautiful Christmas music.
Don't forget the Georges-Leygues theater, the Conservatory, the library and the tourist office which will also offer shows, concerts, stories, workshops and treasure hunts.
