FESTIVAL FOR THE BICENTENARY OF PORT-VENDRES AND A NEW TAPESTRY PANEL / FETE DU BICENTENAIRE DE PORT-VENDRES ET UN PANNEAU NOUVEAU DE LA TAPISSERIE !
The natural, well-sheltered, deep-water port of Port-Vendres has been considered as being the port of Collioure over centuries. In planning for Collioure to become his Catalan capital, King Jacques I of Mallorca bequeathed 5000 sous per annum for the construction, maintenance and fortification of the port, recognising its strategic importance. At the time it was cited as “Port-Vendres de Collioure”, indicating a single commune.
The warring between Spain and France caused Port-Vendres to become the Mediterranean port of war. Later, in 1679, Vauban wrote about Port-Vendres, as a result of which King Louis XVI created a major expansion of the port, creating safe shelter for his naval ships to be moored.
Following the French Revolution, King Louis XVIII took the decision to separate the 2 towns, creating the commune of Port-Vendres. The decree was signed on 23rd April 1823, 200 years ago.
So this is the bicentenary of Port-Vendres.
The celebrations started on 23rd April, with an exhibition of the actual decree, in the Mairie, which can be viewed until 23rd September 2023.
We are currently planning for a major celebratory festival weekend, from 1st to 3rd September, with the beautiful 3-masted ship, the Belem, arriving on 1st September at 16.00. It will be open for visiting on the subsequent 2 days.
Other boating and musical activities, together with various exhibitions will also be covering the festival days. This will include the exhibition of the Great Tapestry of Port-Vendres in the Cultural Centre, Place Castellane.
The Great Port-Vendres Tapestry, depicting the history of our town, is now permanently exhibited on the 2nd floor of the Port-Vendres Cultural Centre, Place Castellane. We also have a small atelier/meeting room, where the members normally meet every Wednesday afternoon, between 2.00 and 5.00 pm.
The Cultural Centre is currently frequently closed for the holiday period, but if you wish to make an imminent visit to the Tapestry you can make arrangements by calling 0645981703.
Visitors are always welcome to join us to view the 21 exhibited tapestry panels, examine the tapestry work currently underway, and even take part in the association as a member.
In order to support the town in its celebrations we decided to create a 22nd tapestry panel, recording this moment in our history and this can now be viewed as part of our exhibition.
We are also now in the process of designing a 23rd panel, reflecting the period when the Communards came to Port-Vendres. Those of you who have already viewed the Tapestry might enjoy the opportunity to renew your enthusiasm by coming to see this new exhibition.
THE 22ND TAPESTRY PANEL, CELEBRATING THE BICENTENARY OF PORT-VENDRES has been designed to show the following:
The natural, well-sheltered, deep-water port of Port-Vendres has been considered as being the port of Colliure over centuries. In planning for Collioure to become his Catalan capital, King Jacques I of Mallorca bequeathed 5000 sous per annum for the construction, maintenance and fortification of the port, recognizing its strategic importance. The city was cited as “Port-Vendres de Collioure”, indicating a single commune.
The warring between Spain and France caused Port-Vendres to become the Mediterranean port of war. Later, in 1679, Vauban wrote about Port-Vendres, as a result of which King Louis XVI created a major expansion of the port, creating safe shelter for his naval ships to be moored.
Following the French Revolution, King Louis XVIII took the decision to separate the 2 towns, creating the commune of Port-Vendres. The decree was signed on 23rd April 1823, 200 years ago.
IN designing the panel to reflect this history we have modified the original title of the Act signed by the King in order to adapt it to modern sensibilities.
In the upper corners are the coats of arms of the two cities and their modern logos are in the lower corners.
In the top centre part of the panel we have shown the map of the region containing both Port-Vendres and Collioureat the top centre, with the red dotted line showing an earlier map as delimited by Napoleonic law, before the separation.
To the right of the map, we have written the names of the mayor and the members of the municipal council who appeared in the act, signed by the king. Neither the Mayor of Collioure nor the members of his municipal council were noted in the act, but we inserted the name of the Mayor at the time of his signature.
The main lower part of the panel shows our reflections of the paintings of the two cities made by Louis Garnerary in 1823, wondering about the coincidence of this date.
In the central area of the panel, we have shown the grapes, fish and boats common to both town’s economies, whilst delineating the relative size and importance of those in Port-Vendres
The panel was designed by Jane Forsyth, embroidered by Francoise Moure and sponsored by Deborah Raper.
