Sainte-Barbe, a festival of arts and fire!
In the Hauts-de-France region of France, the mining industry celebrates Sainte-Barbe every December 4, the patron saint of firefighters, pyrotechnicians and miners who have to deal with the dangers of fire and explosions. For a number of years now, Lens-Liévin has been ablaze with fire installations and night-time performances, as well as highlighting some of the key sites in the land of the Black Pyramids, the mining basin that is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
For this 7th edition, the festival promises to be even more spectacular, with nationally and internationally renowned companies such as La Machine, Titanos, Commandos Percus and Inook. On the program: fiery installations, pyrotechnic performances and video-mapping, offering an impressive visual spectacle across the conurbation every evening.
Between fire, art and history, the Sainte Barbe festival promises magical moments for young and old, bringing together artists, residents and visitors in a warm, festive atmosphere at emblematic sites: the Jean Perrin faculty in Lens, 9-9bis in Oignies, and the Saint-Amé headframe in Liévin.
The highlight of the festival will be on Saturday December 7 at the Louvre-Lens museum, which is offering an exceptional evening to mark the reopening of the museum's Galerie du Temps, which has been completely renewed this year. The Inook company will present a unique video-mapping on the building's façade, making the museum's works "sing", followed by a grandiose fireworks display and a choreographic ball in the museum's auditorium!
Another highlight, on Sunday December 8 at 5:30pm in Liévin, is the Gueules Noires procession: surrounded by former miners who watch over her as she watched over them, the statuette of Sainte Barbe parades through the streets, from Liévin town hall to Saint-Amé church.
A weekend in Lens-Liévin for the Sainte Barbe festival
Beyond the shows, the festival is also an opportunity to discover the historical and cultural treasures of Lens-Liévin: visit the Louvre-Lens, climb a slag heap in the Bassin minier, discover a mining town and the Art Deco city center of Lens...
Come and discover a heritage rich in emotion. Three evenings, a weekend of fire, free spectacular performances, all in a historic and aesthetically unique setting - go for it!
For accommodation and transport ideas, visit festivaldelasaintebarbe.com
Dates and Opening Time
From December 6, 2024 to December 8, 2024
Location
Lens
17 Place Jean Jaurès
62300 Lens
Official website
festivaldelasaintebarbe.com
Instagram page
@festivaldelasaintebarbe
