Vence celebrates Sainte-Élisabeth: three days of tradition, music, and ravioli

Until August 5, Vence comes alive to celebrate its patron saint with a programme blending spirituality, folklore, and conviviality. After an opening evening filled with music and the famous “Festin des Raviolis,” the town dives today into the heart of the festivities.

Every summer, the village turns into a vast open-air stage to honour Saint Elizabeth, protector of the countryside, with a tradition that has been uniting faith and rural life for over seven centuries. This year again, the Festival Committee, the association Lo Cepon, and the folk group La Brissaudo have prepared three days of events combining sacred and popular traditions.

A seven-century-old story

At the heart of the celebration stands the Romanesque chapel of Sainte-Élisabeth, dating back to the 14th century and preserving precious 15th-century frescoes attributed to Jacques Canavesi. The paintings depict scenes of Hell and the meeting between Saint Elizabeth and the Virgin Mary.

The bell tower, added in the 19th century and inspired by that of the Pénitents Blancs, recalls the time when the saint was venerated as the protector of harvests. The chapel’s porch once served as storage for farm provisions, bearing witness to the close ties between faith, work, and rural life.

Born in Hungary in 1207 and married to the Duke of Thuringia, Saint Elizabeth chose a life of poverty and charity after her husband’s death, dedicating herself to the poor as a Franciscan tertiary. She founded a hospital and devoted her life to serving the most destitute.

The Church commemorates her on November 17, but in Vence her memory lives on every summer as a moment of sharing between generations, rooted in local traditions.

Programme of the 2025 Patronal Feast

Today, Monday, August 4 – Historic centre and Place du Grand-Jardin
This morning, a musical parade enlivened the streets with the folk group Lo Cepon. Tonight, at 9 p.m., comedy takes centre stage with a free show by actor and comedian Richard Cairaschi, performing in the lively Place du Grand-Jardin.

Tuesday, August 5 – Sainte-Élisabeth Chapel
The final day will be dedicated to spirituality: at 6:30 p.m., mass will be celebrated in the chapel, followed by a musical aperitif by Lo Cepon. In the evening, a traditional dinner featuring pan bagnat (booking required at the Tourist Office) and the grand closing ball at 9 p.m. will wrap up the festivities.