The Basque city of Bayonne holds its annual Festival from 29 July to 2 August 2009.
During the first week of August Bayonne is ablaze in red & white with everyone dressed in the traditional white shirts and trousers and red neckerchiefs and sashes. The festival opens on the Wednesday night at 10p.m. in the town Hall square. The mythical King Leon of Bayonne appears on the balcony and celebrates his return by throwing the symbolic keys of the town to the crowd. Music, shouts and colours invade the town centre. Les Fêtes de Bayonne is the most important moment of the year for the inhabitants…no one would miss it !!!
If you come to the Festival, you’ll enjoy the incredible atmosphere and enthusiasm, running of the young bulls, bullfights, bandas (music bands) in the streets …
For more info see www.fetes.bayonne.fr/
See the Independent (14 June 2009) for more on Bayonne – http://www.independent.co.uk/travel/48-hours-in/48-hours-in-bayonne-1703732.html