Els Bous a la Mar, declared a Festival of National Tourist Interest, is undoubtedly one of the best-known celebrations in Dénia. In addition, it is one of the oldest traditions and one of the main events of the Festival Dénia, which takes place in July.
When are they?
The Dénia bulls are celebrated during the Festivities of the Most Holy Sang, which is the week of patron saint festivities of the municipality. The date of this Festa Major is always at the beginning of July, during the week of the Day of the Most Holy Blood.
Since 2024, the city's bullfights have been reduced by half to avoid the suffering of animals during the hottest hours. There will only be Bous a la Mar in the square during the afternoons from July 6 to Saturday, July 13. Entries are therefore made in the 19:00 p.m. session.
During some days, the show in the square is preceded by an entrance that runs through Marqués de Campo and the port. These days used to be the first Saturday of the Holidays and the Friday after the Day of the Most Holy Blood. However, since 2024 they have also been reduced to only one entry, which is the first Saturday.
In 2024,Therefore, there will only be one entry through the streets, which will be on Saturday, July 6 at 19:00 p.m.
Check the complete program of Dénia Festivals this year at this link.
Where are they celebrated?
The Bous to the Sea take place in a semicircular square in the port of Dénia, next to the fish market. The enclosure is installed on purpose for the occasion and has the particularity of its location, located as if the water of the port itself were part of the activity, serving as a refuge for those who flee from the bulls that run through the arena. In fact, its translation from Valencian is "Toros al mar".
How much does it cost?
The price of the ticket to access the venue and witness the show depends on the year and the time. The cheapest option is always the one in the morning, when the ticket usually costs about 1 €. On the other hand, in the afternoon access costs between 3 and 5 € because it is the time when more people want to participate in the party. Tickets are purchased at the square's box office, which opens one hour before the start.
In 2023 the prices are as follows:
- General admission (afternoon): 5 €
- Reduced late ticket (children and retirees): 3 €
- Morning entrance: 1 €
History
It is one of the oldest celebrations that are preserved today in the celebrations of the city. However, its relevance has gradually faded into the background over time, despite having the recognition of Festival of National Tourist Interest since 1993.
First bulls in Dénia
According to the work of historian Roc Chabàs, the origin of bulls in the capital of the Marina Alta It dates back to October 1749, despite the fact that there is documentation from the XNUMXth century that proves that bullfights already existed then. Now, it seems that these were held within the municipality and far from the sea.
Origin of the party
Despite this, it was not until the port dock was built that it was decided to open the square and incorporate water as a differentiating element of the festival. There is a record of their celebration since the second decade of the XNUMXth century, when they were part of the celebrations of the Sant Pere festivities.
A century of bullfighting
Almost a century has passed and the Bous a la Mar have changed very little in their essence. However, they have grown to become National Tourist Interest that brings together hundreds of people in the square.
Controversy
Like all bullfighting celebrations, the Bous a la Mar are not exempt from controversy and there are many voices calling for them to be suppressed for making the animal suffer. Although unlike other events of this type the objective is not to injure or kill the bull, the majority of participating animals end up in the water of the port, which has caused several drownings throughout the history of the celebration.
Every year anti-bullfighting demonstrations are held in the streets of Dénia coinciding with the start of bullfighting events.
El drowning of a bull in 2023, whose images They went around the world generating a lot of debate about this celebration, caused the City Council to decide to reduce the programming by half, completely eliminating the midday entries to, supposedly, prevent the animals from being exposed to the hottest hours.
Institutional
Photos
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Cow in front of the lower area of the stands
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Cow during els Bous a la Mar
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Bull in the square of Bous a la Mar de Dénia
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Everyone flees from the animal in els Bous a la Mar
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Participants trimming the animal on the shore of the port
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Participants hiding from the cow
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The cow prepared to charge in Dénia
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The cow forces people to jump into the harbor
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The cow in front of the sea
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The cow in front of the runners
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The cow with its head out of the water
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The square fills during the Bous a la Mar of 2019 in Dénia
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Half of the Bous a la Mar square is water
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People jump into the water so that the cow does not catch them
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The rescue boat picks up the bull after falling into the water
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Spectators in the water
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Els Bous to the Sea of Dénia
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The bull jumps into the water
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The bull in Bous a la Mar
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The bull falls into the water chasing a runner
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The animal observes how people flee swimming
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Tasks to mount the Bous square to the sea in Dénia
PERVERS wie alle andern Tierquälereien in Spanien!!!!!!
Ongeloofelijk overal staat een groot standbeeld van een mooie stier, hoe kun je wat je adoreert zo mishandelen #wreedheden #triest #misselijkmakend
Dierenmishandeling is not funest!
I don't believe the Saints you are celebrating would approve of ridicule and torture of animals.
Your primitive behavior tells me who you are!
Scared little boys trying to simulate a false idea of manhood. .
Seek therapy…please
Why don't you shoot your mother, this is inconceivable to shoot you sons of bitches
The bullfighting act is the ridiculousness of the people, a city that vulgui be considered an example of the hauria of abolishing costumes past d'época, bullfighting only pleases the ignorant pallets that do not advance mentally
I don't know what Vicente's redneck says
Well, it's a shame that you have so many prejudices towards Valencian while you go very loose choosing different languages in the translator.
Totally agreed!
It is true that the city council takes a good collection for this cruelty that some call party, fun, tradition...
If some people like to lose traditions so much, why don't they reinvigorate the return of the fun festivals in Marqués de Campo?, the presentation of the queen of the festivities that attracted so many people? Why not attend the consistory to the processions? Why if the Moors and Christians come? Pure folklore!!! But…some of these acts have disappeared and others have been added. Please, forget already "els bous a la mar" is an act to believe and caveman
The bullfighting act is the ridiculousness of the people, a city that vulgui be considered an example of the hauria of abolishing costumes past d'época, bullfighting only pleases the ignorant pallets that do not advance mentally
Completely!!
I'm glad the traditions are upheld.
Disgusting barbarity!!!
Disgusting practice.. what happens to those poor bulls.. what sick so called entertainment..WHY
Françeska është një traditë feste dhe nëse nuk ju pëlqen, mos dilni nga shtëpia, by respektoni zakonet
Playing with the lives of animals -even at the risk of their death, and of people- if possible, gives money.
Make a bonfire on the night of San Juan, it is not possible, it does not give money.
Summary: Tradition doesn't matter, only money matters.
If they charged tickets on the beach, like in the bullfights, and set up some subsidized beach bar like DNA la nit del foc; from the local government they would promote that party.
The thing about the bulls is an aberration, not because of the time, but because of the values that the municipal corporation is supposed to defend, they are forgotten during the week of the bullfights.
Manual book hypocrisy.
You are some HP throw your family into the sea
Insane animal abusers
Es ist ein Frevel und eine Peinlichkeit sondergleichen, dass tierquälerische Anlässe in einer modernen, zivilisierten Welt mit dermassen viel Problemen bezüglich der Natur und anderen Arten nach wie vor hochgelebt werden. Tiere unter Applaus zu quälen ist nun wahrlich no gebildeten Menschen würdig and zeugt von Empathielosigkeit und rückständischem Denken.
Wenn die typisch spanischen Argumente derjenigen die unbedingt an diesen Tierquälereien festhalten wollen stimmen würden, so hätten wir heute noch Sklavenarbeit und Hexenverfolgung!!
I completely agree with you, it is brutality and torture for the animal. should not be celebrated
Completely agree – it looks just awful for the bulls and shouldn't be a part of present-celebrations.
entièrement d'accord avec vous. what the hell !!!! et combien de manifestations de ce genre dans le monde entier sous pretexte de soi disant «traditions». Il faut évoluer et prendre en compte la souffrance animale!!!
more names of humains are incapable of empathy and compassion envers les animaux
I agree 100%.
Nuntium Hispanice legi video et deinde “paratos” scribere Gallice, Anglice vel Germanice. Cras in Esperanto non minus.
Well you have to see the good part too. We are in February and we are already talking about the bous a la mar and the Dénia festivities.
Good photographic report.
Thank you.
What's good about it?
Let there be talk of the bous a la mar even if it is wrong!!!. it's good:
1st the local holiday is the second Wednesday after Sant Pere. This year it will be on July 15, so the festivities will start on Saturday the 11th.
2° The day of the Santísima Sang SI that there are bous to the sea in the morning and in the afternoon. It is the Saturday afternoon of floats when there are none.
3° Normally there are 3 running of the bulls on Calle Campos and the port of Dénia: Saturday, Monday and Friday.
4th History: «its relevance has been passing into the background over time» IT IS A BIG LIE. WITHOUT ELS BOUS A LA MAR THERE ARE NO PARTIES IN DÉNIA.
This phrase was left over in the report because it is a personal opinion of someone who I doubt understands what els Bous a la Mar are for a neighbor, a resident of Denia.
Thanks for the report.
It may be fun for the spectators, but not for the bull.
God first time that these events scares me but I think it should be fun
Es ist ein Frevel und eine Peinlichkeit sondergleichen, dass tierquälerische Anlässe in einer modernen, zivilisierten Welt mit dermassen viel Problemen bezüglich der Natur und anderen Arten nach wie vor hochgelebt werden. Tiere unter Applaus zu quälen ist nun wahrlich no gebildeten Menschen würdig and zeugt von Empathielosigkeit und rückständischem Denken.
Wenn die typisch spanischen Argumente derjenigen die unbedingt an diesen Tierquälereien festhalten wollen stimmen würden, so hätten wir heute noch Sklavenarbeit und Hexenverfolgung!!