This summer, come and discover the Landes race at Vieux-Boucau

All summer long, the Landes races thrill the crowds in the arenas of Vieux-Boucau, in the Landes region. It's a unique cultural and festive spectacle, to be experienced at least once in your life. We tell you all about it!

A typically Landes show sport

Heir to the traditional bullfighting games practised since the Middle Ages, the course landaise is still the central event of village festivals today. It is both a sport and a spectacle that appeals to the whole family.

Dressed like gymnasts in their costumes of light, the bullfighters have to perform acrobatic escapes to avoid the cow's horns and somersaults over the galloping animal. Spectators sometimes shudder, but are always delighted.

This age-old discipline, combining courage, skill and respect for the animal, offers aficionados a unique and captivating spectacle at patron saint festivals and férias, as well as at official competitions organised by the Fédération française de la Course landaise. To see a Landes race, head for the Vieux-Boucau bullring, the "little Mecca of the Landes race".

2023 Landes race calendar in Vieux Boucau

In Vieux-Boucau, the Landes races are a not-to-be-missed summer event. From June to September, the "Joseph Laudouat" bullring plays host to the cream of the Landes spreaders and jumpers, facing the most famous toros from the department's ganaderias. These are mixed races, with a formal Landes race and a second part reserved for arena games, in which the public can take part.

Here are the dates of the Landes races not to be missed in Vieux Boucau:

- Thursday 6 July: ganaderia Dal - cuadrilla Bastien Moity, from 9.30pm to 11.30pm
- Tuesday 11 July : ganaderia Dargelos - cuadrilla Lilian Garanx, from 9.30pm to 11.30pm
- Thursday 13 July : ganaderia Deyris - cuadrilla Jérémy Lafitte, from 9.30pm to 11.30pm
- Tuesday 18 July : ganaderia Dargelos - cuadrilla Lilian Garanx, from 9.30pm to 11.30pm
- Thursday 20th July : ganaderia Deyris - cuadrilla Jérémy Lafitte, from 9.30pm to 11.30pm
- Tuesday 25 July : ganaderia Dal - cuadrilla Cyril Dunouau - Landes Béarn, from 9.30pm to 11.30pm
- Thursday 27 July : ganaderia Deyris - cuadrilla Jérémy Lafitte, from 9.30pm to 11.30pm
- Tuesday 1 August : ganaderia Armagnacaise - cuadrilla Bastien Moity, from 9.30pm to 11.30pm
- Thursday 3 August : ganaderia Deyris - cuadrilla Jérémy Lafitte, from 9.30pm to 11.30pm
- Tuesday 8 August : ganaderia Armagnacaise - cuadrilla Bastien Moity, from 9.30pm to 10.30pm
- Thursday 10 August : ganaderia Dal - cuadrilla Bastien Moity, from 9.30 pm to 10.30 pm
- Monday 14 August : ganaderia Dal - cuadrilla Bastien Moity, from 9.30pm to 10.30pm
- Thursday 17 August : ganaderia Dargelos - cuadrilla Lilian Garanx, from 9.30pm to 11.30pm
- Tuesday 22 August: Ganaderia Armagnacaise - cuadrilla Bastien Moity, 9.30pm to 10.30pm
- Thursday 24 August: Cows without strings championship, from 9.30pm to 10.30pm
- Wednesday 30 August : ganaderia Armagnacaise - cuadrilla Bastien Moity, from 9.30 pm to 10.30 pm
- Thursday 7 September: ganaderia Deyris - cuadrilla Jérémy Lafitte, 9.30pm to 11.30pm
- Thursday 14 September : ganaderia Aventura - cuadrilla Rémi Corrihons, from 9.30pm to 11.30pm

A ganaderia is a fighting bull farm where the bulls live in freedom. Landes cows are selected for their courage, strength, nobility and controlled aggression, all essential characteristics for Landes racing.

A cuadrilla is the name given to a professional team of bullfighters, made up of a trainer, a tailor, a second in command and several spreaders and jumpers. Each cuadrilla is the pride of its home town.

Practical info:

- Address: Place des Arènes, 40480 Vieux-Boucau-les-Bains, Arènes car park (free)
- Full price: €13, concessions: €6 (6 to 12 years), free for children under 6.
- Tickets available at the Arena box office on the day of the show from 8pm to 9pm. Online ticketing and at the tourist office until 6pm on the day of the race.

A great show in the Vieux Boucau arenas

Located right in the heart of the town, Vieux-Boucau's "Joseph Laudouat" bullring was built in 1964 under the direction of Landes architect Franck Bonnefous. Adopting the style of Spanish bullrings, they are distinctive for their circular shape and can accommodate up to 3,000 spectators.

The best seats for families are usually in the central tiers, which offer a panoramic view of the action. Did you know? In the past, bullrings were simple temporary structures, built with wooden fences and cattle pens. In those days, spectators stood behind the fences because there were no stands.

You might also like to read: Vachette landaise, écarteur, sauteur... find out all about the course landaise and become a perfect coursayre