Saint Vincent in Collioure: five days and five nights of celebration in an exceptional atmosphere

When it came time to hand over the keys to the French people's favourite village to Stéphane Bern last June, the authorities of Collioure (Pyrénées-Orientales) were already worried about the 2025 edition of the Saint Vincent festival , from 14 to 18 August.

For five days, and therefore five very long evenings, the painters' port changes nature and the attendance of the town, already impressive in normal times, is multiplied by ten. "Perhaps even by fifteen!", they estimate at the tourist office. "We could reach 150,000 people on the evening of August 16 for the big fireworks display that excites the entire Vermeille coast." The teams welcoming tourists can only provide advice on how to reach the heart of the village, in this great traffic jam of humans at the height of the heatwave.

To accommodate everyone, the city is closed to vehicles, which are neither allowed to drive nor park, to create as much space as possible for partygoers who move and dance from bar to restaurant, to the rhythm of bandas, brass bands and DJs.

"It's an exceptional atmosphere," emphasizes Marc-André 2 Figuères, a contemporary artist and Collioure figure. "It creates a lot of bonding, without a doubt. In recent years, the festival has become a little more regulated. It ends at two in the morning, instead of at dawn before. And the numerous checkpoints on the roads discourage excessive consumption. It's undeniably a very intense moment in life."

The festival is also a powerful moment of religious life and fervor. Attending the procession with the relics of Saint Vincent, the patron saint of the 2024 French Favorite Village, is a must. For this occasion, the chapel overlooking the harbor is exceptionally open to visitors.

Another highlight: the Festa Major, on August 16. While waiting for the spectacular fireworks display at 10 p.m., there's no question of getting bored: the morning parade of Catalan boats is followed by a regatta in the afternoon, and street entertainment until the fateful moment.

For those tempted by the last-minute promises of Saint-Vincent, there's no point in looking for a room or accommodation. Everything has been booked for at least a year, including in the surrounding villages. The only solution is to come and go. Arrive early in the morning in the hope of parking your car near the parking lots along the coast, then take a shuttle.

The smartest among us choose the train, with shuttle-style TER trains (1 euro per ticket) dropping you off right in the heart of the city. You can depart from Perpignan, Elne, Argelès-sur-Mer, Port-Vendres, or Banyuls-sur-Mer. The carriages are packed, but it's a good workout before diving into the festive, dense crowds of Collioure.