Discover the fascinating bear festivities, part of UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage, which open Carnival and herald the end of winter. Legend has it that a bear kidnaps a shepherdess, and hunters set off in pursuit. After a long chase, they manage to capture the bear and save the young girl. This tradition is inspired by Jean de l'Ours, a half-man, half-animal with prodigious strength. A symbol of the passage to adulthood, the festival sees young men dressed as bears scour the villages to choose the young girls ready to marry; once captured, the bear is publicly shaved to become human again. A junior version, Os petit, introduces younger children to this ritual.
Sunday 1 February 2026: Arles sur Tech
Sunday 22 February 2026: Prats de Mollo
Sunday 1 March 2026: Saint Laurent de Cerdans
