Nice will host the 140th Santo-Estello (Sainte-Estelle), Congress of the Felibrige, from May 13 to 17, 2016. This announcement was made official this weekend on the occasion of the 2015 Santo-Estello, organized in La Roquebrou, Cantal.
The Santo-Estello and the Felibrige: what is it?
The Santo-Estello is the name given to the Congress of the Félibrige, held once a year in a different city within the region of Occitania. This cultural and festive event aims to promote the language and culture of the Occitan countries.
Over five days, during an extended weekend around the celebration of Sainte-Estelle, there are concerts, meetings, conferences, theater, debates, shows, and various activities. Each year, Sainte-Estelle gathers several hundred Félibriges.
The last Santo-Estello in Nice was in 1982, after those in 1936 and 1960. Since 2011, for the first time in 140 years, the Queen of the Félibrige for a term of seven years (chosen by the Grand laureate of the septennial Floral Games, Jean-Luc Gag) is a Niçoise: Angélique Marçais. This will thus be an opportunity to honor her as well as the Niçois Majoraux* who were Pierre Devoluy, Joseph Giordan, André Compan, and Francis Gag.
