^{This page is part of © FOTW Flags Of The World website}

Commune libre du Bouffay (Nantes, France)

Flag of Commune Libre du Bouffay - Image by Olivier Touzeau, 7 October 2025

Presentation of Commune libre du Bouffay
Flag of Commune libre du Bouffay
- Variant flags

See also:

Presentation of Commune libre du Bouffay

The Commune Libre du Bouffay was created in 1974 in the city of Nantes, and modeled on the one in Montmartre. The aim of this association is to revive the spirit that reigned in the Bouffay district of the 1930s. Its motto "Humour, Kindness, Joy" perfectly reflects the spirit that presides over the philanthropic events and actions intended to enliven the Bouffay district, the cradle of the City of Nantes. When it was twinned with Montmartre in 1976, the Bouffay association received a gift of Melon de Bourgogne plants, a Muscadet grape variety. The vineyard covers 35 square meters on Rue du Vieil-Hôpital, opposite the Free Community's town hall. The Free Community's grape harvest has become a tradition in Bouffay.

Every year, during the second weekend of September, volunteers and residents gather to attend the event. Accompanied by a large program, these annual festivities attract large crowds and are now firmly rooted in the Bouffay heritage. The event begins with an official parade, dressed in traditional blue and green costumes, to the vineyard. Designated Bouffay residents pick the grapes in a few minutes and press them to extract the juice. The grapes are then destemmed in the mechanical press. However, due to their small size, the Bouffay grapes only fill a few pitchers, which are immediately shared with the public. Only one or two bottles are
set aside to make wine.

Then, the procession heads back to the town hall to present Bouffay grapes to the mayor of Nantes. Each year, a new harvest king and queen are elected from among volunteers from the association, local merchants, and other Nantes residents. Since 1976, the grape harvest has been punctuated by traditional festivities. After the costumed parade and marching bands, it's time for games: waiter races in the 1970s and 1980s, and today, wooden board games for young and old.

The coat of arms is blazoned:
Party per pale Azure and Vert, a tower counterchanged flanked by three ermin spots Argent, at dexter, in base and at senester, and charged with a mullet of the same.

Sources: Nantes Métropole official website, Nantes Patrimonia official website

Olivier Touzeau, 7 October 2025

Flag of Commune libre du Bouffay

The official ceremonial flag is a tricolore Blue/White/Green flag, with a blue and green tower in the center adorned by a white star surmounting the date of creation of the Commune libre (1974) in gold. The blue and the green stripes have each four white ermine spot. The name and the motto of the Commune libre are written gold letters.
See: photo (2014), photo (2023), video (2023), photo (2024)

Olivier Touzeau, 7 October 2025

Variant flags

Variant flags of Commune Libre du Bouffay - Image by Olivier Touzeau, 7 October 2025

Plain tricolore flags can also be observed: photo (2023), photo (2024).
There is also a plain ermine flag, with the coat of arms in the center, has also been observed: photo (2011).

Olivier Touzeau, 7 October 2025