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Founded by enthusiasts of local history and Provençal folklore, it has been committed for many years to keeping alive the traditions that shape the identity of Sainte-Maxime.
Over the decades, the association has played a key role in preserving local customs, particularly during the town’s patron saint’s festival and its Bravade, and in ensuring that these events run smoothly.
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Originally, these armed villagers embodied resistance against invaders who came from the sea to plunder, and they defended their ‘homeland’. In Provence, the Bravade symbolised the protection of festivals and the defence of the village. Today, the shots fired by the Bravadeurs are signs of joy and prayers of thanksgiving to the Saint. The tromblon, the Bravadeur’s traditional weapon, fires black powder.
The tromblonades set the rhythm for the Bravade and the Patron Saint’s Festival, the safety of which is the responsibility of the Major. The civil authorities (the Municipal Police, the Gendarmerie and the Mayor) must certify that all necessary safety measures are in place for the ceremonies to take place. The Prefecture issues the Association for the Preservation of Maximois Traditions with a certificate authorising the acquisition of explosives.
