Stopover in Sète 2024: “An event to enrich yourself and discover heritage”, appreciates Hermeline Malherbe

Hermeline Malherbe, president of the Pyrénées-Orientales Department: “Promote our Catalan territory, its identity, its heritage, its wines, its gastronomy…” Midi Libre – Dorian Cayuela

The Department of Pyrénées-Orientales is present for the first time at Escale à Sète. Its president Hermeline Malherbe explains the reasons and evokes the birth of Escale in Port-Vendres, "little brother" of the Sète demonstration.

Is maritime heritage really part of the Catalan DNA ?

Yes. And also the DNA of the Department as a community, which really carries, today, this heritage dimension. Christian Bourquin had started work before me with the Atelier des barques Catalanes, in the very beautiful site of Anse de Paulilles.

Why be here today?

Escale in Sète is a showcase. The whole world comes there. For us, it is a good place to highlight and promote our Catalan territory, its identity, its heritage, its wines, its gastronomy…hellip;

The Department of Pyrénées-Orientales is present for the first time on Escale à Sète. What are your impressions upon discovering the event ?

The Catalan Country was already represented here, notably by Facotem (the Federation of Catalan and Occitan Associations of Pond and Sea Traditions, Editor's note). For the community, in fact, it’s a first and we wanted to give it a nice dimension. Stopover in Sète is a popular meeting place. It allows you to discover heritage and enrich yourself. It’s really this type of event that I really appreciate and that we must share. Moreover, in two weeks, there will be the launch of Escale à Port-Vendres (from April 12 to 14, Editor's note), a little brother of Escale à Sète.

This will be the first edition of this maritime festival?

Yes. There will also be the presence of some large boats. The four characterful ports of the department, Cerbère, Banyuls, Port-Vendres and Collioure, whose mayors are also present here in Sète, are part of this dynamic.

Lots of people for the inauguration of the Catalan Village this Wednesday, at 5:30 p.m., Quai d'Algiers. Midi Libre – Dorian Cayuela

A very visual and heritage Catalan Village, quai d’Alger

Spacious, visual, diverse, heritage and gastronomic: you can't miss it! The Catalan Village, quay of Algiers. Inaugurated this Wednesday, at 5:30 p.m., it includes the Atelier des barques Catalanes, which will offer a series of events, demonstrations, workshops and met. Numerous conferences are planned, with the themes of Latin sail fishing, Catalan boats, the traditional habitat of fishermen in sanills, the Vikings in the OP. Tastings (boles de picolat, eel bullinada, cargolade…), sailing on Catalan boats, exhibitions and concerts (havaneres, sardana, traditional Catalan instruments) will also punctuate the Village week.

This Thursday, March 28

11 a.m. and 3 p.m.: teaser and/or film on a war wreck, the Bananier ; 5 p.m.: conference The traditional habitat of fishermen in sanills; afternoon: demonstration of marine framing; all day: presentation of the municipality of Cerbere.

Friday March 29

In the morning: presentation of the city of Port-Vendres and Cap Béar; 2 p.m.: conference Catalan boats, a living heritage; afternoon: demonstration of marine framing; 5 p.m.: maneuver aboard a lateen sail.

Saturday March 30

In the morning: recovery and restoration of a cargo schooner; afternoon: demonstration of marine framework, presentation of the book Latin sailing; at 7 p.m.: eel bullinada tasting

Sunday March 31

In the morning: recovery and restoration of a cargo schooner; 2 p.m.: conference Fishing with a lateen sail… and without a sail; afternoon: demonstration of marine framing, presentation of the book Lateen sail.

Monday April 1st

In the morning: recovery and restoration of a cargo schooner; afternoon: demonstration of marine framing; 5 p.m.: maneuvering aboard a lateen sail.