In a trilogy of festivals in the Pyrenees, a thirsty bear causes mayhem and kidnaps young women to celebrate the arrival of spring.
Deep in the French Pyrenees, a legend is played out in a curious trio of festivals. Throughout the month of February, ‘bears’ are everywhere, stealing townsfolk, dancing, quaffing beer and even getting a shave. With the ceremonial passing of a real bear’s paw, the festival travels from town to town, starting in Arles-sur-Tech, before moving on to Prats-de-Mollo-la-Preste, a stone’s throw from the Spanish border, and finishing up in the little mountain village of Saint-Laurent-de-Cerdans.
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