The Festival de la Sculpture et du Marbre de Saint-Béat celebrates its 25th edition in 2025, confirming its status as a not-to-be-missed artistic event in the Pyrenees. The event features Saint-Béat-Lez, recognised as the “capital of Pyrenean marble”, an appellation that testifies to the region’s geological wealth and ancestral know-how. From 12 July to 2 August 2025, the festival transforms the valley into a veritable open-air workshop, where the sounds of chisels and hammers on stone resonate. The festival’s 25-year longevity demonstrates the deep attachment of the local people and artists to this tradition of sculpture, which is the pride of the Pyrenees’ heritage.
The heart of the festival is its international symposium, where five world-renowned artists work live on marble for three weeks. These artists create monumental works before the very eyes of the public, offering a fascinating spectacle of artistic creation in real time. The exhibitions and sales are taking place in several towns: Saint-Béat-Lez (media library, arts mill, mission garden), Luchon (Maison du Curiste) and Saint-Bertrand-de-Comminges (cloister). More than 100 sculptures created by 14 artists are on sale, giving visitors the chance to buy unique pieces and support contemporary art.
This year’s artists are Claudia ZANAGA – Italy, Mario LOPES – Portugal, Yunmi LEE – South Korea and Aleksandar EFTIMOVSKI – Northern Macedonia.
The festival offers a rich educational programme with 7 sculpture courses running from 12 July to 1 August 2025. These courses are aimed at all levels, enabling participants to learn or perfect the techniques of sculpture on ceramic (3 days), stone (5 days), marble (5 days) or bronze using the lost wax casting technique (10 days). Daily introductory workshops on Luzenac stone are open to everyone aged 5 and over, offering a first approach to working with the material in one-hour sessions. This educational dimension makes the festival a veritable laboratory for passing on traditional skills to new generations.
One of the highlights of the festival remains the bronze casting, a unique moment when the sculptures take shape live thanks to the fusion of the metal at over 1000°C. Every year, this impressive technical demonstration attracts large numbers of visitors who are fascinated by the transformation of the material. The event is also punctuated by vernissages: the official opening on 12 July at 6pm at the Moulin des Arts, and the closing on 2 August at 12pm. Meetings with the artists taking part in the symposium provide an opportunity for privileged exchanges, with each artist presenting his or her work and approach at the end of the residency. These convivial moments strengthen the bond between the artists and the public, making the Festival de Saint-Béat much more than just an exhibition: it’s a collective celebration of sculptural art.
