Saint-Louis Festival in Sète: the 280th edition has begun!

Plusieurs centaines de personnes ont assisté à la cérémonie, place Léon-Blum. – K. M.

The Mare Nostrum Ambianceurs Company opened the festivities. Midi Libre – VICTOR GUILLOTEAU

Les minots se sont inspirés des “grands” sur la barge installée sur le Cadre royal. – J. B.

Le maire de Sète, François Commeinhes, a officiellement lancé la 280e édition de la Saint-Louis, ce jeudi. C’est parti pour six jours de fête, de joutes et d’hommage aux traditions.

The 280th Saint-Louis is launched! From the top of the municipal balcony, under a crowded Léon-Blum square, François Commeinhes officially opened the 2024 edition of the great traditional event. If we are to believe the enthusiasm encountered for this first day, the party promises to be beautiful, very beautiful even, until Tuesday, August 27.

Mayor François Commeinhes, accompanied by the guest of honor, the artist Benjamin Biolay. Midi Libre – VICTOR GUILLOTEAU

The Jousters' Quest for Gold

In this Olympic year, and a little over three months after the unforgettable passage of the flame in Sète, François Commeinhes dared to draw a parallel between this 280th edition and the Olympics. “The Olympics of the values ​​that we cherish, and that the jousts sum up so well: friendship, sharing, perseverance, a sense of welcome, courage, the kindness of a population that has come from many elsewhere […]. The Olympics of emotion, when our hearts beat in unison for our valiant knights of the tintaine […]. The Olympics of inventiveness, humor and self-mockery that we cultivate preciously."A 280th Olympiad of the art of living in Sète, quite simply.

The parade of the little jousters followed the opening ceremony. Midi Libre – VICTOR GUILLOTEAU

Before going down into the crowd accompanied by his municipal council, representatives of the jousting societies and guests of honor Delphine Le Sausse and Benjamin Biolay, François Commeinhes praised the involvement “of all those workers in the shadows”, without whom these five days of celebration would not be possible. “And there too, believe me, these are some serious Olympics!”

The little jousters then jousted on carts…

Coordination, society presidents, rowers, musicians, municipal services, security forces and associations were thus thanked, as well as Benjamin Tonuitti, the most Sète volleyball player on the French team, who appeared on the balcony as a special guest to celebrate his Olympic gold medal. That should give ideas to the knights of the tintaine. Who, failing to win gold, also intend to inscribe their name for eternity in the Saint-Louis prize list.

François Commeinhes dedicated this 280th edition to Christine Sidobre, conductor of the last 23 editions of the Saint-Louis, who died in mid-July. “She had an incomparable talent and generosity. The void is immense,” he declared.