Les Mounaques are strange rag- dolls, stuffed with hay, that enliven the streets of Campan during the summer months. Mounaques were brought into fashion at the time of  the Mariolles feast.

custom details , Click
This old tradition took place when a widower got remarried or when someone married a person from the neighbouring village. If the happy person didn't satisfy the demands of the youngsters, the latter hung down a mounaque and made the "charivari"(Tin-kettle music) for one month at his door. The shop of collection mounaques  is open to the public, inCAMPAN. 
For further information call :+33 5 62 91 68 99

THE MARIOLLES CONFRATERNITY 
In 1992 the association Amasse decided to create a 
"Confraternity of the Campan Mariolles" .
Dominique Gaye Mariolle who was born on December 27th in 1767 in La Seoube, inspired this charter . Soldier of the Empire, he distinguished himself near Tilsit in 1807 by presenting to Napoleon an artillery cannon at arms length instead of a rifle. He's presumably at the origin of the expression "faire le mariolle" now partof the French language.    custom details, Click

THE  MARIOLLES FEAST
Every year, on the second Sunday of July, the  celebration of the Mariolles takes place

You'll find a festive air and numerous distractions.

TRANSHUMANCE

In Campan valley, "pastoralism" (traditional stock-farming) is still active. Every year during the summer, the herds and their shepherds leave and rejoin the"estives" (mountain grazings). 

On Saturday 7th of June of 2003, according to the tradition, more than 1000 sheep, start out from Campan to rejoin the "estives", accompanied by the crowd.

photos and video of transhumance, click