The Grand Prix of Saint-Louis is a competition of water tournament of Languedocien method which is held each year with Sète (Herault) since 1743. To note that the first water tournaments with Sète date from the July 29th 1666 at the time of the inauguration of the port. The 265e edition of this test was held of the August 22nd with the August 28th 2007.

The tournament of tournaments of Saint-Louis is the most important competition of its discipline, a kind of championship of the nonofficial world. It is held fine August along the royal channel on six to seven days. Each year, the winner receives a bulwark decorated by an artist with the area selected after a contest. Monday of Saint-Louis takes place the regional tournament of heavy and the handing-over of the bulwark. This Monday of Saint-Louis is non-working with Sète. Bernard Betti (News Launches Mézoise) gained the tournament in 2007. Tuesday is reserved for the program of fence.

History

August 24th 1747. The day before the tournament of water tournaments given to Sète at the time of the festival of Saint-Louis, one discusses installation of a payment so “avoiding different the too many ones between the jousters”.

Among the large jousters of the past, it is advisable to quote Louis Vaillé (ten victories in Saint-Louis) and Barthelemy-Louis Aubenque, known as “the terrible one”, which defied (according to the legend) a bridge in 1749!

On one of the bulwarks exposed to the Paul-Valéry museum in Sète is reproduced the names of the winners of the " Grand Prix of Saint-Louis" of 1846 with 1913.

Photograph gallery