without the cows, Dax and Mont-de-Marsan say no

Lhe big news was announced during the France Télévisions press conference in September 2024. Iconic program created in 1962 by Guy Lux and Claude Savarit, “Intervilles” will make its comeback on the small screen in the summer of 2025.

After several years of absence, this program marks its comeback with four evening events presented by Nagui during which two cities will compete. However, some major changes have already been announced, sixty-three years after the show's launch. The famous “Top à la vachette” launch will no longer be there. Indeed, those who made the success of the show hosted by the illustrious Léon Zitrone, Simone Garnier, Jean-Pierre Foucault, Julien Lepers, Olivier Minne and even Tex, attracting millions of viewers, will not be part of the party.

Two Landes towns accustomed to

Now supported by Nagui's production company, “Intervilles” would be filmed on a unique location (which has not yet been revealed) and which would always see two teams compete around physical challenges. Candidates will have to show the muscles. But, there will be an end to bursts of acceleration to avoid the horns of Rosa's successors (the cow symbol of the game).

Two towns in the Landes have often participated in this TV program: Mont-de-Marsan and Dax. Moreover, the spa town was the first town to put its name on the list of this show (in 1962, beating Saint-Amand-les-Eaux). She won it two other times, in 1971 and 2008 (beating Vannes in the final). The Dacquois could have won other stars in 2009 or even in 2013 (for a special broadcast on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of “Intervilles” and the remake of the first final). Mont-de-Marsan also shone by winning in 1998 in a Landes-Landes final against neighboring Dacquois (after a first failure the previous year at Disneyland against Puy-du-Fou). The Montois expanded this list in 2006 by winning in Nîmes (15-12) in the final, and the following year, in the Plumaçon arenas, by defeating Carcassonne (18-12).

They will not have the opportunity to achieve other victories in this show. The Landais do not recognize this new formula without cowhide. The City of Dax was approached by the production of the show. Information confirmed by Julien Dubois. The mayor of the spa town is categorical. A refusal to this request. “Without the cows, it’s no,” he declares. Participating would amount to endorsing the reason they put forward, namely that they would be suffering. »

For its part, Mont-de-Marsan was also approached in an “indirect” manner. The answer, on the other hand, is the same: without the presence of cows, it's nothing. The chief magistrate uses humor: “Let there not be Guy Lux and Simone Garnier, I'm willing, but the cows…” Charles Dayot knows this program well having been captain of the victorious Mons team in Carcassonne in 2007.

Date and day of broadcast, schedule of the games: very little has filtered out from the production company. Other bullfighting towns (also accustomed to this show, such as Bayonne or Nîmes) could also decline the invitation. To the point of postponing the return of the program for another year? The question is clearly posed.