Insights and articles on life in Provence and the South of France from the interesting and informative to the truly bizarre! The elegant Provence town of St-Remy-de-Provence will be transformed on 16th May by a tidal wave of sheep not forgetting goats and donkeys sweeping through the streets accompanied by their shepherds, sheepdogs and a cacophony of bells!
For this is the Fete de la Transhumance β an enduring tradition marking the day that the sheep leave the drying lowlands and head for pastures new in the high Alps.
During winter in Provence, flocks of sheep and goat are moved around the fertile lowlands β often keeping the grass at bay in vineyards and orchards, but as the ground begins to dry they are moved back up to the mountains.
The journey used to take 10 days on foot, but is more likely to be done by truck today. Festivities carry on for the whole day with sheepdog trials, cheese market and bric-a-brac stalls.
To really feel part of the action, join the lunch held on the Plateau de la Crau β buy tickets in advance from the Mairie Town Hall. Timings for Fete [β¦]. These fall whenever they fall according to the actual date and if they happen to fall on a weekend, an extra day may be given to employees in compensation, but this is not obligatory. What usually happens is that if the holiday falls on a Sunday the Monday is taken off, but if it falls on a Saturday that is hard cheese.
