“We suspected that the events would be cancelled”: autumnal weather condemns the last day of the medieval festival

A premature curtain call for the Semaine Cévenole, in Alès, due to the rain. MIDI LIBRE – CHARLES LEDUC

A premature curtain lowering for the Semaine cévenole, in Alès, due to the rain. MIDI LIBRE – CHARLES LEDUC

A premature curtain lowering for the Semaine cévenole, in Alès, due to the rain. MIDI LIBRE – CHARLES LEDUC

Un baisser de rideau prématuré pour la Semaine cévenole, à Alès, en raison de la pluie. MIDI LIBRE – CHARLES LEDUC

All the events scheduled for this Sunday, October 6, for the Semaine Cévenole in Alès, in the Gard, have been cancelled. The retreat is almost general. Everywhere in the city centre!

In the heart of Alès, the days follow one another, but are really not the same. Because of the rain that prematurely puts a stop to the 12th edition of the Semaine Cévenole! From mid-morning on this Sunday, October 6, the news is circulating on social networks: all the events for this last day of celebration are cancelled. The day before, Max Roustan, the mayor, had been smart in inviting the public, at the end of the inauguration parade, to “enjoy this sunny day”, before predicting that the city might be "blessed", thus watered, the next day. And the effect is quickly felt on October 6th…

The interior of Fort Vauban is emptying…

"You're too late!", says one of the members of the Compagnons de la Tourentelle, inside Fort Vauban, around 1:30 p.m. At the foot of the building's walls, his companions are folding up the last knights' tents. And everywhere in the fort, as in the public garden of the Bosquet d’ailleurs, the time has come to retreat. The scene contrasts sharply with that of the crowd that was wandering here on Saturday.

"If we see that there are no more people, we will leave"

Further down, the town hall square is deserted, sometimes crossed by onlookers, some of them wearing a medieval costume made by Laurence Magnanelli, from the Théâtre de L'Atanga. And on rue Albert-Ier, the mecca of the medieval market, time has also retired… Arriving at 9am to sell her essential oils, Valia Bettinelli is now packing up her things. She does not regret, however, having opened her stand early in the day: "People came to see us  I think many had spotted us the day before." Further on, Lucie Beyssac, who was supposed to close her jewelry stall at 6 p.m., is also quietly tidying up. Of course, she is "inevitably disappointed" on this rainy day, but, she says, "you know, when you go to markets, that there can be bad weather". A few steps from the entrance to the Bosquet garden, Dino Accardo, a wooden toy seller, is, for his part, resisting and says he wants to stay as long as possible, keeping an eye on what the other exhibitors are doing. "If we see that there are no more people, we'll leave", he whispers. “For me, staying is a mark of respect to the organizers. They are preparing something very nice for us…"

"The children are still happy to have come"

This non-sedentary shopkeeper serves Sandra Poncet. In costume, she arrives from Nîmes with her two children and their grandmother. Disappointed by this end of the festivities before time, caused by the weather ? "It doesn't matter. And the organizers have nothing to do with it. We suspected that the events would be canceled", she smiles. "We ate at the restaurant and we take a little tour. The children are still happy to have come."

A "super friendly" Saturday, October 5th

Overall, the non-sedentary artisans and shopkeepers we met were satisfied with Saturday, October 5th. For Dino Accardo, it was "super friendly. There were an extraordinary crowd." "It was a very nice day. Particularly enjoyable", also considers Valia Bettinelli. Then she announces that she will return "gladly" to the Semaine cévenole.

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