In Aix-en-Provence in the south of France, Fête de l’Europe, a festival celebrating Europe, took place.. The Polish Tourism Organisation and its partners, the Polish Consulate in Lyon and the Association Polonica, attended the event, organised by local authorities, to promote Polish culture and tourist attractions.

The annual Fête de l’Europe festival, held in the heart of Aix-en-Provence, was an excellent opportunity to actively promote Polish historical, cultural, tourist and gastronomic assets among residents and guests of this beautiful French city. During the three-day event visitors could see the “Perła” folk dance ensemble. Created in 2005 by the Polish “Hobby Folk” Association in the Lithuanian town of  , “Perła” is a wonderful ambassador of Polish artistic heritage. Their usual repertoire includes traditional and historic Polish dances.

Among many other attractions, visitors of the European festival had the chance to see the premiere of the “Polonaise for 100 couples,” take part in dance lessons and dance the Polonaise together. It should be noted that the Polonaise is in the process of being entered onto the UNESCO List of Intangible Cultural Heritage.

A picnic with traditional Polish delicacies prepared by a Polish restaurant, a stand with Polish artistic crafts, as well as learning and singing of Polish national and patriotic songs were also activities which enjoyed great interest. All of them were perfectly in line with a wider campaign called “Tell your neighbour about Poland.” It is an initiative through which the Polish Tourism Organisation tries to engage members of the Polish diaspora as active ambassadors of our country.

The event in Aix-en-Provence was held with the motto #standwithUkraine. For this reason, the “Perła” ensemble also performed a show of Ukrainian folk dances for the French public. Other than Poland, the event was attended by delegations from Spain, Germany, Czechia and Italy.