The Grand Narbonne Book Fair is celebrating its 12th edition and is taking place this Saturday morning on the Cours Mirabeau. Last year, nearly 18,000 visitors came to meet the authors.
In Narbonne, the book brings crowds together. Inaugurated this Friday, May 29 at the MJC Annex, the 12th edition of the Grand Narbonne Book Fair launched a weekend dedicated to culture, sharing and transmission, in the presence of sponsor Julien Sandrel.
Emma Bellotti, 3rd vice-president of Greater Narbonne in charge of cultural policy and action, warmly greeted the sponsor of this edition, the novelist Julien Sandrel. “A thousand thanks”she told him with a perfect accent, causing a few smiles. A show which confirms, year after year, its popular success. The 2025 edition attracted nearly 18,000 visitors, a figure which, according to Emma Bellotti, testifies to the public’s attachment to reading: “The book retains an essential place in our lives”she said, recalling that reading “allows us to find words to understand the world”. And to continue: “This is the ambition of the Book Fair: to thrill, transform, awaken.”
Dictation is tough!
Same enthusiasm from Yves Pénet, deputy mayor responsible for culture and entertainment, who spoke directly to Julien Sandrel: “You are an opportunity for us but we are also an opportunity for you”he declared, extolling the virtues of reading as “transmission tool, aid to travel and understanding in a world under tension”.
President of the Aude departmental council, Hélène Sandragné was also delighted with the influence of the event: “I am proud to see that Narbonne and Greater Narbonne were able, 12 years ago, to aim for the big leagues in cultural matters”. Before adding: “The success of this Show is evident, it has even become essential for the region. It is a popular Show which is open to the initiated, the curious, the newbies.” Sponsor of this edition, Julien Sandrel, whose first novel The Chamber of Wonders enjoyed dazzling success, was particularly sensitive to the speeches of elected officials: “There are still people who want culture to live in this country, that’s nice”a-t-il confié.
Before sharing a musical reading with Baptiste Giuliano, the author also invited the public this Saturday at 10:30 a.m. for a dictation based on a text by Bernard Pivot. The profits will be donated to the Maison des Femmes de Narbonne. With humor, Julien Sandrel issued a warning to the participants: “Revise this evening, I read the dictation, it’s tough!”The tone is set for a weekend dedicated to books, meetings and cultural transmission.
The Belmondo family at Les Halles
The association of artisans and merchants of Les Halles welcomes Luana and Alessandro Belmondo for the second time for the Book Fair.
This Sunday 31 from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., the association is offering a culinary event in the center of the market in the presence of Jean-Paul Belmondo’s daughter-in-law and his son who will prepare a unique recipe (pasta con carciofi guanciale e menta) taken from their latest culinary work “La Nostra Pasta” (Solar editions).
The ACA des Halles, partner of the Book Fair, will host authors throughout the weekend and will offer a meal to the winner of Saturday’s literary dictation.
