14 August 18 August 2025
From August 14 to 18, Collioure vibrates to the rhythms of the Fêtes de Saint Vincent ! Historically, this festival celebrated the return of Saint Vincent’s relics to Collioure. Today, it’s Collioure’s emblematic festival, where traditions and festivities intermingle between land and sea.
Llaguts de rems, nautical games, Jocs del Fisso, a procession in the sea, not forgetting sardanes, brass bands and concerts, all liven up the town during these 5 days!
The highlight of the festive season is the fireworks display on August 16, shot into the bay. A magical, majestic spectacle awaits you!
Colourful, festive and popular celebrations!
August 16 is the Festa Major. It’s a day not to be missed, with a procession of Catalan boats in the bay, musical entertainment and the magnificent fireworks display on August 16.
August 16, the high point of the festivities🥳 !
The fire illuminates the entire bay of Collioure, from the Port d’Avall to the Chapel of Saint Vincent!
Saint Vincent, the town’s patron saint
According to Colliourencque legend, Vincent was a local fisherman who was martyred in the 4th century.
This saint is said to have been martyred on an islet near the village. A chapel, the Chapelle Saint-Vincent, has been erected in his memory.
He is said to have suffered horribly, being severely tied up, violently beaten and then burned alive. Witnessing his courageous sacrifice, the fishermen of Collioure naturally made him their patron saint.
Every year, they pay homage to this ancient tradition by taking a procession across the sea carrying the saint’s relics, preserved in the small chapel.
To the origins of celebrations !
Saint-Vincent in Collioure is a traditional festival commemorating the return of the relics of Saint Vincent, the town’s patron saint.
The loss of these relics during the 1642 war between Louis XIII’s troops and the Spaniards had a major impact on the people of Collioure, who demanded new relics of their saint.
Their wish was granted on August 16, 1701, with the “Return of the Relics”.
According to tradition, these precious relics were brought from Rome in 1790 by Abbé Prats, a native of Argelès-sur-Mer, to the chapel on the islet of Saint-Vincent.
This was followed, as night fell, by a procession across the sea, in luminous boats accompanied by musicians, jugglers and minstrels who formed a procession to escort the relics.
Here's how and why the first Fête de Saint-Vincent took place in Collioure !
Experience the heart of the festivities between land and sea !
A visit to the Saint Vincent festivities promises a journey to the heart of tradition, where the sea has its rightful place, without forgetting the festive spirit of the streets!
You’ll be at the heart of Collioure’s traditions with exceptional sea shows, including Catalan boat processions, llaguts, regattas and nautical games! You can also take to the streets to enjoy brass bands, sardanas and street parades!
Each day is organized around a theme !
During the festivities, experience the traditions of Saint Vincent in a different way every day ! August 14 marks the opening of the festivities, with fanfares and bandas strolling through the streets of Collioure! On August 15, the feast of the Assumption, you’ll be able to try your hand at nautical games and admire the Llaguts de Rems demonstrations in the bay of Collioure – it’s a must-see!
The Festa Major, the highlight of the festivities, will take place on August 16, with a procession into the sea and the not-to-be-missed fireworks display ! Then, on August 17, the festival moves to the Port d’Avall, with traditional games for children, sardana dancing, and closes the last day at the Hermitage of Consolation, where you can dance the sardana all day long!
During these 5 days, the streets of Collioure will be alive with brass bands, sardanas and street performances !
August 14 : Opening of the Saint Vincent festivities
It’s the opening of the festivities, and on this very day, we’re invited to dress in white. The mayor calls the festivities to order, and the Saint Vincent festivities can begin!
Imagine street parades to the rhythm of funk, as bandas and brass bands get into motion, and festive guinguettes gradually open up on the Place du 8 mai 1945 – this is it! The evening continues to the sound of DJs and concerts.
August 15 : Assumption Day
We’re on the water on August 15, but that’s not all !
Boat regattas, nautical games and demonstrations of llaguts de Rems (Catalan boats) flood the bay of Collioure today, much to our delight! The llaguts de Rems put on a fabulous show at sea, with a succession of Catalan boats right in front of our eyes – it’s superb!
We dance the sardana, with all generations. This traditional dance brings together regulars and the curious in several sardana circles on the Place du 18 juin. Dance the night away to the rhythm of brass bands, a popular ball and a DJ!
August 16 : Festa Major de Cotlliure
August 16, a date not to be missed !
The day begins at 9am with mass in the Saint Vincent chapel, featuring traditional Catalan songs by “Les Goigs de Sant Vicens”.
Even if you’re not used to attending this type of ceremony, it’s a great way to immerse yourself in Catalan tradition. Beyond the mass and the singing, you’re in the middle of a grandiose landscape, with the expanse of the bay, the church, the château and the port of Avall in your sights! You’ll also appreciate the mildness of the morning.
The procession in the sea starts 45 minutes later at the Saint Vincent beach, an unexpected spectacle in the water, from the Saint Vincent beach to the Boramar beach, where the crowds are blessed with traditional music by : Els Ministrils de Sant Vicens (traditional Catalan music, religious and secular).
Then it’s on to bandas, fanfares and street parades, until it’s time for the fireworks at around 10pm, the highlight of the show!
A fireworks display and an enchanting, grandiose spectacle await you!
The fire is reflected in the bay of Collioure, illuminating the facades of the houses, the Château Royal, the church of Notre Dame des Anges and the chapel of Saint Vincent. The festivities continue for the most festive of you!
August 17 : Fête du Port d’Avall
On August 17, we spend the day at Port d’Avall, a traditional family day out !
The whole family can play JOCS DEL FISSÓ (traditional games) on the beach at Port d’Avall. Dance the sardana to the rhythm of the cobla to make sure you don’t lose your footing, and take to the streets with the brass bands!
August 18: Feast of the Hermitage of Our Lady de Consolation
The morning begins at 8:30am at the Boramar, where a string of Catalan boats unfurls before our eyes. It’s easy to imagine the fishermen and women raking fishing nets in the heyday of Collioure’s fishing industry !
The procession then sets off for the Hermitage of Consolation, and the stroll to the Hermitage takes place in procession. On the heights of Collioure, the festivities come to a close in style, in the green and enchanting setting of the Hermitage of Consolation.
After mass in the little Hermitage chapel, sardanas and a Catalan ball blend into a moment of conviviality and joy in this beautiful haven of peace at the Hermitage!
The fireworks, a moment not to be missed in the hustle and bustle of summer !
Key information before you come
How to get to Collioure during the holidays?
For peace of mind during the holidays, avoid driving.
- Come by train : TER SNCF Occitanie
- Come by bus : LIO
- Come by boat with : KapMer, Roussillon Croisières, CTM croisières
- If you are traveling by car, we recommend parking at Cap Dourat (free shuttle to the city center from 10 a.m. to 11:30 p.m., every half hour), the water tower parking lot, the Douy parking lot, or the stadium parking lot, which are less crowded.
- Here is the map and parking rates
- To avoid long waits, download the “Flowbird” app, which allows you to pay online.
How to get to Collioure on August 16?
- Trains: Additional trains are scheduled for August 16: book your train now.
Train schedules for August 16: click here - Boats: special fireworks cruises : KapMer, Roussillon Croisières, CTM Croisières
- No bus today!
- By car: use the Cap Dourat car park – free shuttles* run every half hour from 10 a.m. to the city center and back.
*Cap Dourat shuttles: service interrupted on August 16:
– The usual stop at the Collioure school will be served until 12:00 p.m. (in both directions)
– From 12 noon: the stop at Collioure school will be replaced by a new stop at the stadium car park until 11:30 p.m., in both directions (if traffic is flowing smoothly and subject to changes made by the municipal police)
We also recommend the water tower car park and the stadium car park, which are less busy.
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- Here is a map of the parking lots so you can locate them.
- Find out the prices for parking in Collioure
What are the traffic restrictions?
- Traffic closed on August 14 and 15 from 6 p.m. in the city center, from the Christ roundabout to Place du Maréchal Leclerc (from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m.)
- Traffic closed on August 16:
– From 10 a.m. in the city center (including the suburbs, the train station, and Pla de Fourques) except with a pass
– From 2 p.m. to midnight (city center, suburbs, train station, Pla de Fourques, Douy, Soulane, Taillefer) except with a pass
When is the fireworks display?
The fireworks display takes place on August 16 at around 10 p.m.
Will the fireworks display still take place?
As of today, the fireworks display is still scheduled to take place, subject to a prefectural decree.
How to get to Collioure?
Find all the information you need to get to Collioure and get around Collioure here.
What is the weather like in Collioure?
Find out the weather in Collioure by clicking here.
Is there a page with all the frequently asked questions?
Find the list of frequently asked questions here.
Is it possible to consult the brochures (map, magazine, etc.)?
Find the brochures by clicking here.
When are market days in Collioure?
The Collioure market takes place on Wednesday mornings and Sunday mornings on Place du Maréchal Leclerc. Find out more about the markets
Autour des Fêtes de Saint Vincent !
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