Yesterday afternoon, the famous nautical flower battle between the pointus of the Côte d’Azur took place in Villefranche-sur-Mer. It was a chance for the city to take on a science fiction vibe, with partners and merchants invited to dress up in the theme of Space.
The floral naval battle… a tradition since 1902.
As every year, tourists and residents of the coast gather for this unmissable nautical ballet.
A flower battle armed with mimosa, carnations, and boxwood for the delight of both young and old.
The afternoon began around 1:30 PM with the parade starting on the docks: folk groups, flag throwers, and drummers marched in front of the audience before the naval battle began.
A public present in large numbers clapped their hands and feet, warmed up by the speaker from the terrace of one of the port hotels.
He urged the crowd to “make noise” so “the boats can hear.” The pointus finally set off around 2:00 PM.
The pointus: the boat of the south
Historically speaking, pointus are boats from the south of France. They are passed down from generation to generation as a cultural heritage.
Even though they are no longer used for fishing, they have nonetheless become a formidable tool for transmitting the Mediterranean soul. The floral naval battle is the perfect opportunity to show the people of the Côte d’Azur and tourists these boats that are part of the heritage.
The boats took to the sea for a first exhibition lap before the hostilities began.
A battle that did not really take place, due to a capricious sea which did not allow the pointus to stray too far from the port.
The pointus then returned in front of the crowd for the traditional throwing of all the embarked flowers, applauded by the crowd.
At the same time, folkloric groups paraded on the docks.
The afternoon ended around 6:00 PM, after a final classical concert by the Caravane des Arts of Monaco.
