A major maritime gathering
The Association Lapérouse Albi France (ALAF) had the privilege of taking part in the 2026 edition of Escale à Sète, held from March 31 to April 6, a major biennial maritime event bringing together more than 120 ships and attracting nearly 300,000 visitors from around the world.
This major event in maritime heritage was an excellent opportunity to present our association, our projects, and our passion for the expedition of the famous navigator and explorer Jean-François de Lapérouse.
An attractive and interactive stand
On this occasion, we welcomed 5,000 visitors over five days.
With many activities appreciated by the public:
- Multiple-choice quizzes with three levels of difficulty and rewards for all participants.
- An introduction to the use of a sextant by our members,
- Participation of the members of the Castries association, who made the period costumes.
- The presentation of Olivier Gavignaud’s AI film project “L’Odyssée des Lumières”.
- Lecture by our president: Lapérouse in Hudson Bay — article to follow.
The activities we offered generated strong interest and led to many enriching exchanges with visitors.
Our participation in Escale à Sète took place in collaboration with the Association of Friends of the Château de Castries, which welcomed us and made part of its stand available to us. From the preparation of the event onwards, our proposals (conferences, educational workshops, exhibition panels, and activities) were selected and integrated into the joint program.
During a working meeting, we agreed that the central part of the stand would be dedicated to the sailors of Languedoc as part of the 400th anniversary of the Navy.
Communication and new encounters
Our presence at Escale à Sète also helped improve the visibility of the association. We distributed presentation cards for our association, directing people to our website as well as to the association’s Discord channel.
The press reported on our participation, notably Tarn Libre: https://www.letarnlibre.com/actualite-12524-albi-laperouse-fait-escale-a-sete, as well as the official Escale à Sète 2026 Twitter account.
Our association was also featured on Facebook during Escale à Sète 2026: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1C2UYLxd1o
Acknowledgements
We would like to express our gratitude to the Occitanie Region and the City of Albi for their help and support, as well as to Natacha Abriat, who enabled us to obtain this stand and to fully enjoy the various attractions of this event.We would also like to especially thank the Association of Friends of the Château de Castries, which kindly made part of its stand available to us free of charge and allowed us to sell our various products.We also salute the dedication of our many members, who contributed to the smooth running of our activities.
If our participation in events like this inspires you and you would like to help promote the legacy of the famous navigator Jean-François de Lapérouse, feel free to join the Association Lapérouse Albi France.
By joining (ALAF), you will become part of a team of enthusiasts committed to promoting maritime history, exploration, and the heritage linked to Lapérouse.
Your support helps keep the memory of this great navigator alive and to pass on the history of this great man to future generations.
Join the association: https://www.laperouse-france.org/en/join-renew/
You can also find and interact with the community on the association’s Discord, a new space for discussion and sharing for enthusiasts of history and exploration.
Join the le Discord : https://discord.gg/6sqHxpAM
Lapérouse, the adventure continues…
Article written by Nicolas Gosset