Upholding a tradition five centuries old, once a year, the heart of Saint Tropez beats to the sound of musket fire: a dazzling celebration and a symbol of belonging to the community.
The grand Bravade of Saint Tropez, which takes place each year on the 16th, 17th and 18th of May, follows a practically invariable ritual: the "bravadeurs", dressed in ancient military uniform, escorted by several hundred men and women in Provencal dress, go to collect the town captain at his home. Muskets are fired into the air and patron saints are celebrated, in the course of a large parade through the streets, to the accompaniment of bells, drums, fifes and bugles. The other important stages of the festivities are the Musketeers' mass and a giant picnic, which concludes with a huge "farandole" circle dance. The Bravade is not just folklore though, it also has a powerful social signification: "The locally born Var people have a real desire to affirm their identity", as Bernard Romagnan explains. A valuable heritage Heritage curator for the Gulf of Saint Tropez and Maures Country area council, he remarks that these festivities, characteristic of the Var and Alpes de Haute Provence regions, and probably of medieval origin, had practically disappeared at the beginning of the last century. They are now making a forceful comeback: "In Sainte Maxime they reappeared in 1968, in la Garde Freinet in 1983 and in Cogolin in 1997. Saint Tropez is the only town to have preserved the tradition without interruption over the centuries, despite historical upheaval. This is why it is exceptional, if not to say unique, and has such a high heritage value."A piece of advice, if you are planning to attend a bravade, don't forget to bring some cotton wool, or earplugs, for your own protection. Avoid taking along young children and animals, who may be frightened by the musket shots and sundry gunfire.
