Nothing brightens up the depths of winter better than a local festival – and Europe is awash with ancient and brilliant carnivals

Having travelled to the area for years, I finally made it to the Limoux carnival last winter. What took me so long?! Every weekend from 25 January until 6 April, you can watch dancers and musicians parade around the medieval square of this beautiful town south of Carcassonne, dressed as ancient pierrots and modern scoundrels (Putin was featured last year), scattering confetti. There can’t be many carnivals that go on for so long in Europe. Bystanders cheer on the spectacle with a bottle or two of Blanquette de Limoux, one of the oldest sparkling wines in the world, and the perfect accompaniment to the mayhem. A great place to stay is nearby Mirepoix, another medieval centre of creativity.
Samantha