The town of Limoux (11 Aude, Occitanie) south of Carcassonne and in the foothills of the Pyrenees, brightens up the winter months with its Carnaval which it claims as one of the longest in the World often running from January- mid March or later (26 January – 6 April 2025 various dates – see www.limouxin-tourisme.com
Weekends and Shrove Tuesday (Mardi Gras) tend to be the highlights with parades and floats, music and folk festivals. It all culminates on the last day of Carnaval with the the Nuit de la Blanquette (night of Blanquette) – the local specialty sparkling wine 6 April 2025
In April the town of Limoux holds an annual Brass Music Festival (Opus333) – 25 – 28 April 2024 – offering Jazz, Classical and Swing music -see www.limouxbrass.fr
Limoux Carnaval
With three months of non-stop revels and twice weekly parades tearing through town, Limoux’s carnival is the world’s longest, and most action-packed. The bonanza dates back to the 14th century when millers took to showering the streets with flour and tossing sugared almonds willy-nilly to celebrate payment of their taxes.
