A Milestone Anniversary for La Feria de la Crau

The feria de la Crau recently marked its 30th anniversary, a significant milestone for the Saint-Martin-de-Crau event. Benoît Pliers, president of the Federation of Taurin Societies in France, attended the event, emphasizing its importance in the French bullfighting landscape.

The Unica Association: Three Decades of Dedication

Pliers lauded the Unica association for its unwavering commitment to preserving bullfighting traditions over the past 30 years. He acknowledged the challenges of organizing such events, particularly for smaller organizations facing unpredictable whether and financial constraints. “The Unica has an immense merit of having been able to keep their bullfights for all these years and more than that, a feria in their city,” Pliers stated, highlighting the association’s resilience.

A Day of Intense Competition and Skill

The anniversary event featured both morning and afternoon bullfights. Pliers found the morning Novillada particularly engaging, noting the high caliber of the young bulls from François André’s stock. He observed that while the apprentices demonstrated potential,they still had a considerable journey ahead to reach the highest echelons of the sport.

The afternoon showcased bulls from Don José Escolar Gil, known for their challenging and unpredictable nature. Pliers described them as demanding, harsh, devious at times, creating opportunities for intense and significant confrontations. While the matadors displayed determination, Pliers suggested that the bulls presented a formidable challenge, perhaps too grate given the limited opportunities available to the fighters. He recounted one particularly difficult animal, a demon, that underscored the raw and unpredictable nature of bullfighting.

The State of Taurin Societies in France

pliers reported that the Federation of Taurin Societies comprises over 70 active organizations. Since 2020, his leadership has focused on upholding the core values of bullfighting: sharing, defending, and transmitting its ethics, authenticity, and integrity. this comes at a time when the sport faces increasing scrutiny and debate regarding animal welfare.

According to a 2024 report by the Observatoire National des Cultures taurines, while support for bullfighting remains strong in certain regions of France, particularly in the south, there is a growing divide in public opinion, especially among younger generations. This underscores the importance of the Federation’s mission to promote understanding and appreciation of the cultural significance of bullfighting.