Ban des Vendanges (Grape Harvest Festival), Avignon / Fête des Vendanges, Provence Villages

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Food & DrinkAvignon (and Châteauneuf du Pape, Gigondas, la Cadière D'Azur)
DatesDates TBACheck locally before booking
DurationAnnualEstimate from available data
Crowd-Public scale varies
Best forRegional food & drinkBan des Vendanges carries a documented
LanguageFrenchEnglish access varies
CategoryFood & DrinkFestival type
The story

Ban des Vendanges (Grape Harvest Festival), Avignon / Fête des Vendanges, Provence Villages in Avignon (and Châteauneuf du Pape, Gigondas, la Cadière D'Azur)

Ban des Vendanges marks the ceremonial opening of the grape harvest in Avignon, France, each year near the end of August or start of September. A brass band leads a parade through the city's streets to the cathedral, where wine brotherhoods known as the Bacchic Confraternities, dressed in traditional robes, formally declare the harvest open. The day includes a winemakers' mass, tastings of freshly pressed grape juice, a gourmet market, and dancing.

It gives visitors a defined, time-bounded reason to experience food & drink in Avignon (and Châteauneuf du Pape, Gigondas, la Cadière D'Azur), France.
Your trip starts here
What is special

The part that makes it specific.

01

The place changes

Ban des Vendanges carries a documented history back to the Middle Ages, with the earliest recorded mentions dating to the 14th century, when Pope Clement VI, a noted wine enthusiast based in Avignon during the Avignon Papacy, is credited with formalizing the custom, giving the ceremony unusual historical weight among regional harvest festivals

02

The mystery stays covered

The ritual role of the Bacchic Confraternities, wine brotherhoods who appear in traditional dress to proclaim the harvest's official start at the cathedral, preserves a guild-like ceremonial structure rarely seen outside a handful of French wine regions

03

The city starts moving

The day combines that formal proclamation with a winemakers' mass, tastings of grape juice pressed fresh for the occasion, a gourmet food market, and public dancing, folding religious ritual, trade tradition, and street festival into a single event

Traditions & symbols

The language of the festival.

What moves first

Living ritual

The Ban des Vendanges dates to the Middle Ages

Water and renewal

Living ritual

with the earliest documented references from the 14th century

The sacred route

Living ritual

when Pope Clement VI

The local code

Living ritual

based in Avignon and known for his enthusiasm for wine

Tradition 5

Living ritual

is credited with formalizing the custom

Tradition 6

Living ritual

The Bacchic Confraternities

Tradition 7

Living ritual

wine brotherhoods appearing in traditional dress

Tradition 8

Living ritual

continue to proclaim the harvest's start at the cathedral

Before you go

Essential information

When to go

Dates TBA

Getting around

Arrive early for popular stalls and pace the route instead of trying to taste everything.

What to wear

Comfortable clothing suited to warm late-summer weather works well; there is no formal dress requirement for visitors beyond practical shoes for walking through the city's streets.

Safety

Use normal food-market caution, hydrate, and leave time between crowded stalls.

Where to stay

Stay near the part of the city you will actually use, with a simple return route after the main event.

Tickets/cost

Entry may be free while tastings, meals, or special tables are paid locally.

Language/currency

Local language access varies. Keep key addresses saved offline and carry a payment backup.

Family friendly

unknown

Interactive map43.95 N, 4.81 EOpen in Google Maps

Avignon (and Châteauneuf du Pape, Gigondas, la Cadière D'Azur), France

TransportArrive early for popular stalls and pace the route instead of trying to taste everything.
Stay areaStay near the part of the city you will actually use, with a simple return route after the main event.

Your Trip Starts Here

External travel services to turn the plan into a trip — each opens in a new tab.

How to get thereRoutes, times and prices to Avignon (and Châteauneuf du Pape, Gigondas, la Cadière D'Azur) via local transport.Search routesFind a place to stayStays near Avignon (and Châteauneuf du Pape, Gigondas, la Cadière D'Azur), close enough for the event-day route.Browse staysFind flightsCompare fares into the nearest practical airport for festival season.Compare faresFestival gearComfortable clothing suited to warm late-summer weather works well; there is no formal dress requirement for visitors beyond practical shoes for walking through the city's streets.Shop the kitCheck visa requirementsSee whether you need a visa for France and apply online.Check entry rulesTravel insuranceCover for trip hiccups, gear and health on the road.Get covered

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FAQ

Quick answers.

When is Ban des Vendanges (Grape Harvest Festival), Avignon / Fête des Vendanges, Provence Villages?

Ban des Vendanges (Grape Harvest Festival), Avignon / Fête des Vendanges, Provence Villages is listed for Dates to be announced. Always re-check the official or local source close to travel.

Where does Ban des Vendanges (Grape Harvest Festival), Avignon / Fête des Vendanges, Provence Villages take place?

The festival is listed in Avignon (and Châteauneuf du Pape, Gigondas, la Cadière D'Azur), France. The map coordinate is a planning reference, not a guarantee of a ticket gate or exact venue.

How long should I plan for?

Annual is the listed festival span. Add time for arrival, local transport, queues, and any route changes during the event.

Is a source linked?

Official source linked. Eventisimus separates source confidence from travel suggestions, so check final details before booking.

Where exactly is it?

Avignon (and Châteauneuf du Pape, Gigondas, la Cadière D'Azur), France

Is it family friendly?

unknown

Sources and editorial review

About this guide

This guide is independently written by Eventisimus using publicly available information, official event and organiser sources where available, local tourism references, and additional editorial research. Eventisimus is not the official organiser of this festival and is not affiliated with it unless explicitly stated.

Festival dates, schedules, ticket conditions, access rules, and local arrangements can change. We aim to present useful and accurate information, but travelers should confirm important details with the official event source before booking transport, accommodation, or tickets.

Found something inaccurate or outdated? Email hello@eventisimus.com with the festival page link and the correction.

Official URLavignon-et-provence.com
Organizer accessAre you the organizer? Claim this listing →
SourceSource link available
Listed datesDates TBA
Source statusOfficial source linked
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