WATER JOUSTING SETE SOUTH FRANCE

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         SETE, Barthélémy Abenque, nicknamed " the Terrible", Vincent Cianni, " the man of one hundred victories" or even " the Unrootable" Casimir Castaldo. They are familiar household names to the people of Sète like Hercules or the Chevalier Bayard were to their forebears.
Since the beginning of Sète, the men have practised a spectacular type of combat, wich has been passed on trough the centuries : jousts.
Standing firm on their plank with the bowsprit overhanging the boat with its team of oarsmen, these "Knights", as they are called all along the banks of the Etang de Thau, brave one another with only a wooden shield and lance for protection.

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The tip of each lance is fitted with a triple steel point called an "epure". The aim of the competition is to knock one's rival into the water. The water jousting tournaments are at the same time simple and beautiful to watch, but can only thrive in a kingdom where life forces men to be brave and srong.

SèteFishermen and dockers are of course the most numerous cohorts of the jousters. But they are not the only one s : Is it not said that to be considered a true member of Sète, you must have jousted at least once in your life ? Wich is without doubt the reason why even the youngest children are given lessons.

If you do not understand this infatuation, this passion, this feeling of intoxcation for the jousts, you should take a seat on one of the tiers set up along the quays of the Canal Royal from the end of June onwards.

A show that unites almost 20 000 people for the supreme event of the season, the heavy weight grand prix which takes places on the Saint Louis Monday. SEE THE ST LOUIS 

The house of water jousting . Muséum of the stories of water joustins in the languedoc. 14 quai d'Alger. 04 67 18 09 93. Summer open to 10 à 12 h et de 15 h à 20 h. Other months, ouverture de 10 à 12h et 14 à 18 h.

   Voir les vidéos des Joutes Languedociennes