There was a cape hanging from the balcony of the Hôtel de Ville, apprentice bullfighters and young raseteurs, women from Arles in costume and herdsmen on horseback. A young, happy and colorful crowd. The very first opening ceremony of the Easter feria resounded, on Friday April 7, 2023 shortly before 3 p.m. on the Place de la République, like a hymn to the identity of the city, a strong claim to its bullfighting traditions. A radiant sun and a large audience witnessed this event wanted by the mayor Patrick de Carolis, who had gathered around him his elected officials, the Queen of Arles and her bridesmaids, the director of the arenas Jean-Baptiste Jalabert and other bullfighting personalities like the matador Mehdi Savalli or the raseteur Ziko Katif. “After a harsh winter during which our traditions were attacked right up to the National Assembly, I hoped through this ceremony that we fully reaffirm our bullfighting culture, which is so important in our economy and in the ecosystem of the Camargue » explained Patrick de Carolis, before symbolically handing over the keys to the city to the chairman of the Feria Committee, Frédéric Louis. The procession of Arlésiennes, herdsmen, bullfighters and raseteurs then paraded to the arenas, where a great Camargue race was going to launch the Arles bullfighting season. Novilladas, bullfights on foot and on horseback will then follow one another from Saturday April 8 to Monday April 10, 2023.
All photos from the ceremony
All the program of the feria and the cartels