Special Events

The village of Gramont is well known for its cultural and artistic reputation and plays host to a variety of theatrical, musical, artistic and literary events on a regular basis. Below is a list of all of the events you can expect to findin Gramont and her environs each year. Coinciding your stay with one of these events promises a truly authentic and unforgettable experience of life in a rural French village.  Profitez-vous bien!

26th June 2011: Théâtre : Le Papier de Seville, Gramont

A unique interpretation of Gioachino Antonio Rossini’s opera « Le Barbier de Seville » this comédie lyrique featuring the “Lyrical quartet of the Cadars chateau” is touring the Gers and Tarne-en-Garonne region and will reach Gramont by the end of June.  The lively andinnovative interpretation of the story of the Barber of Seville in which all of the male roles are played by female actors and vice-verse and whose costumes and set design are made out of....bubble wrap, will take place in Gramont’s very own salle de fetes (town hall).   A comedy that regional newspaper, La Depeche, is calling, “une fête pour les yeux et les oreilles : à ne manquer sous aucun prétexte”, the performance will begin at 5pm and tickets are priced at 10 euros each with free entry for children under 12.

29th July – 15th August 2011: Festival du Jazz Internationale, Marciac

A haven for jazz fans Marsiac’s annual Jazz Festival is recognised as one of the greatest  celebrations of jazz in the world.  Every year musicians from all around the world come to play in this tiny village, just an hour and a half’s drive outside ofGramont, attracting aninternational audience of over   people.  The festival last for this week and this year features, amongst others: RICHARD BONA & RAUL MIDON, JOHN MCLAUGHLIN & THE 4TH DIMENSION, DIANNE REEVES and the SPANISH HARLEM ORQUESTRA.  Ticket prices range from 10 – 50 euros depending on the seats and the performers.  Consult the festivals official website to find out who is performing when and select your stay accordingly: http://www.jazzinmarciac.com/ete.html

Thursday 4th of August: Le festival de l’Ail, St Clar (a 5 minute drive from Gramont)

St Clar’s Festival de l’ail is an annual celebration of one of French cuisine’s most important ingredients: Garlic!  Every year residents assemble to commemorate this indispensible player in French cookery, and short of beret-clad men and women in stripped t-shirts swinging garlic around their necks, this event is as French as they come!  In the daytime farmers assemble as they usually would on a Thursday in St Clar (the town’s traditional market day) to sell their wares whilst the farmers’ wives and other volunteers prepare a traditional Gascon lunch including local soup with garlic base, turin, as well as galantine du poulet, poulet roti et ratatouille, cheese, apple croustade, coffee, Armagnac, Floc (the region’s signature appéritif, a mixture of wine and Armagnac) and of course, a selection of local wines.  The lunch, or repas des fermieres, is followed by a performance by local singer, Michel Etcheverry, and begins at 12:30pm until 4:30 pm, costing around  22 euros a ticket.

In the evening organisers put on another gastronomic feast, la soirée gourmande, which continues to celebrate the festival’s guest of honour and the eradicable mark it has made on French cuisine.  The evening part of the festival is filled with more food, lots more drinking, more garlic celebrations and an eclectic mix of French music (and some interesting French dancing to go with it!).  All in all: a fabulous way to spend a summer’s evening near Gramont.

The Garlic Festival is a favourite of David, Vikki and their family so if you book your week-longcookery course or weekend course around this date they will be sure to accompany you to this truly French expression of joie de vivre!

23rd September 2011 – Le Vendange

September: the month of France’s vendange (grape harvest) and a time for Gramont residents to celebrate the produce of their numerous vineyards.  During the weekend of Le Vendange local residents change into period costume and host a grape picking festival.  For our cookery school guests on the weekend course this means that halfway through the weekend you will meet with the local community in a nearby vineyard owned by Bernard Mellac and his family to handpick grapes that he will use to make his wine this year.

Le Vendange is a cherished local tradition that has been honoured annually in Gramont for just over a hundred years.  After the ceremonial handpicking of the grapes everybody congregates in the restaurant of Gascony Cookery School chef Bernard to celebrate the new harvest with a traditional Gascon lunch accompanied by that delicious local wine!

15th-16th June 2012: “Gramont Racont”: Le weekend du conte, Gramont

A weekend that celebrates the region’s rich heritage of storytelling and legend, this popular spectacle gramontois interweaves theatre and fine food in a way that makes for good value entertainment no matter how limited your linguistic capabilities!

On the Saturday night you will be taken on an interactive story telling journey around the village and regaled with Gramont legends brought to life by local performers.  Each stop on the tour will take in a different aspect of the village and will conclude with a traditional Gascon feast of gastronomic proportions at Gascony Cookery School chef Bernard’s restaurant.  The meal is a four course extravaganza featuring the region’s signature dish of cassoulet and including an aperitif, an entrée gourmande, cheeses, dessert and wine.

The price for the evening including the meal is 22 euros for adults and 10 euros for children.

On the Sunday the contes continue with a guest performer enacting traditional tales from the nearby Ariège region during which goûter’ (nibbles) will be provided.  The performance is priced at 7 euros per person, begins at 14:45pm, taking place in the middle of the village.