Plumaçon Arena

At the end of Général Lasserre Street, just a short distance ahead, you’ll find one of Mont-de-Marsan’s most important landmarks: the Plumaçon Arena. As you probably know by now, bullfighting is a deeply rooted tradition in the Southwest of France and a source of great pride for Mont-de-Marsan. Now, bullfighting arrived in this city a few years ago, even though it’s now a big part of its identity. Back in the 17th century, locals enjoyed bullfights organized by representatives of the city and the surrounding area, elected beforehand by the local youth. Even when bullfighting was temporarily banned due to safety concerns, the tradition persisted. King Louis XV intervened, demanding that Mont-de-Marsan and its neighboring towns build sturdy arenas to make these events safer. The first Mont-de-Marsan arena was built of wood on Saint-Roch Square in the 17th century, but sadly, it was destroyed by fire. Thus was built the Plumaçon Arena, with a stronger, durable structure. Built on the site of former vineyards in 1889, the arena quickly became a beloved local landmark. It was expanded in 1933 and can now accommodate 7,100 spectators, that is, 3,000 more than before. This expansion was essential, given the popularity of the bullfights held here during the famous Madeleine Festival. Listed as a “20th-century Heritage Site,” the Plumaçon Arena is still an integral part of Mont-de-Marsan’s cultural life.