International Noir Fiction Festival, Place Contr’un, Montaigne Media Library
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International Crime Fiction Festival
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FIRN 2022
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International Crime Fiction Festival (FiRN)
If you’re looking for your next reading list for your holiday in the Thau Archipelago, head to Frontignan at the end of June to attend the International Noir Novel Festival, more commonly known as FiRN.
It is on this occasion that around forty authors, both French and international, from established writers to emerging talents, come together to showcase their works, ranging from literature to comic books.
Over the course of these few days, there are also round-table discussions, exhibitions, readings, film screenings, live performances and even festive ‘black nights’!
Free and open to all, the International Noir Novel Festival extends with literary walks that allow you to meet an author, explore a local area and discover a local speciality. Whether on foot, by bike or by boat, these tours (which are also free) conclude with a book-signing session on site or in a bookshop.
Emmuscades at Le Mas Rouge
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Emmuscades at Le Mas Rouge, film screening, open-air cinema
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The Emmuscades
The essence of the Emmuscades: cinema, vineyards and a friendly atmosphere. This delightful mix takes place every year in July and August at various local vineyards over four evenings.
On the day, head to the estate with your picnic, collect your glass of Muscat and wait amongst the vines whilst watching the volunteers prepare the mussel brasucade. Don’t forget to pop into the estate shop and take home a bottle of Muscat to round off your evening.
Is the sun setting already? It’s time to take your seat for the open-air cinema screening and meet the professionals and volunteers from the Hallu’cinés association, which organises these screenings of rare and independent films.
Muscat Festival
Muscat: Frontignan’s great love affair! If you too appreciate this divine small-berried grape variety, come and celebrate it in mid-July in the town of Muscat. To mark the occasion, there’ll be a funfair, a waiters’ race… all adding to the festivities between tastings.
This day of celebration continues throughout the summer with three events, all centred on Muscat:
Les tables du Muscat: This event takes place in various restaurants across Frontignan, where a winemaker presents their range of wines and a chef draws inspiration from Frontignan’s wines to create the dishes served to you.
A Chef in the Vines: Fancy an exceptional dinner, cooked and served in the heart of a vineyard? Make the most of this event organised by a top chef and a wine estate to delight your taste buds.
Les Musc’halles: Join us every Thursday at Frontignan market to learn the basics of wine tasting and meet an epicurean and passionate oenologist. This will be an opportunity to discover the subtleties of Frontignan wines and pick up some ideas for food and wine pairings.
Fête de la Mer
To discover the traditions of Frontignan, head to Frontignan every 25 July to take part in the Fête de la Mer. Held in tribute to lost sailors, this traditional festival features a procession carrying the statue of Saint Paul, the town’s patron saint, through the town centre and out to sea before it returns to the church of the same name.
Marina Festival
Among the many traditional festivals that punctuate life in Frontignan is the marina festival. Every 14 August, the marina in Frontignan La Peyrade dresses up in its festive finery for a day.
A wide range of activities are organised, including jousting tournaments, mussel barbecues and a fireworks display.
Jousting demonstration in the port of Frontignan.
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The Thau Summer Festival
Loupian, Montbazin, Frontignan, Bouzigues, Mèze, Mireval, Balaruc-les-Bains, Sète, Marseillan… One date = one town to sample local wines and produce!
Les Estivales de Thau takes place every Thursday throughout the summer, offering a warm, welcoming atmosphere perfect for indulging in delicious treats: tielles, shellfish, cakes, chocolates, ice cream… You’ll be spoilt for choice and left with just one desire: to come back the following week.
Les Estivales, organised by Sète Agglopôle every Thursday throughout the summer.
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Les Estivales, organised by Sète Agglopôle every Thursday throughout the summer.
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Muscat Festival in Frontignan: glasses, cheers.
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The Languedoc jousting tournaments
Listed on theIntangible Cultural Heritageregister in 2012, the Languedoc jousting tournaments have been a staple of the Archipelago for centuries. To fully appreciate the significance of this tradition, you simply must attend a tournament!
From June to early September, the water-based contests take place one after another all around the Thau lagoon: Sète, Marseillan, Balaruc-les-Bains, Mèze, Frontignan. Much more than just a sport, these chivalroustournaments are even held throughout the year in the canals of Sète and Frontignan, in either ‘recreational’ or ‘competitive’ formats.
FUN
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Jousting tournaments
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Heavyweight jousting tournament, on St Louis’s Monday. A royal setting.
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