Until April 23, at the Varye estate, Saint-Doulchard celebrates Portugal during the 50th anniversary of the Franco-Portuguese Centre, the 50th anniversary of the Carnation Revolution, and an exhibition of artists and craftsmen from Oleiros.
For a week, in Vari, Saint-Dulchard highlights Portugal. The Flores de Lima folkloric band opened the festivities on Wednesday evening, and despite the rain falling over the castle, the heat was certainly in the dances and in the hearts. “This is a big event for our association,” says José dos Santos, president of the Franco-Portuguese Center since 1990.
The association celebrates half a century since its founding
The (originally popular cultural) association is exactly half a century old, and it faithfully traces it through photographs and newspaper clippings that recount its exhilarating human adventure.
Created in 1974 by José Nogueira in the La Chancellerie area of Bourges, the goal was “to combine Portuguese, religious or traditional festivals, with the Portuguese people from the exodus of the 1970s,” recalls José dos Santos. Successful ambition.
Today, the Franco-Portuguese Center (renamed in 2005) includes 300 families from all over the region. “Things have evolved, but we have remained the same.”
The Franco-Portuguese Center has been located under the bridge since 2000, and has been a partner of the city of Sant Dulchar, especially in terms of cultural exchange with Oleiros, the Portuguese twin city, since 2016. “This twinning is growing,” says Bruno Martins, the specialist assistant. “Especially with schools.”
Celebrations continue on Friday evening. The tripartite exhibition will be opened in the presence of an official delegation from Oleros, headed by the city's mayor, Miguel Márquez.
Tomorrow, Saturday, starting at 5 p.m., accordion players will send out the music.
