Calendar of events

 

March :

• BLACK PUDDING FESTIVAL : Mortagne-au-Perche (Orne)

Those who thought black pudding was a purely Scottish affair need to think again, as the international contest to find the best black pudding takes place next March in the historic French village of Mortagne-au-Perche in the Orne area of Normandy.

 

  

May :

• AOC PRODUCTS FESTIVAL : Cambremer (Calvados)

Anyone with a taste for excellent food and top quality products will be in their element at this two day event celebrating the best that Normandy has on offer. Organized since 1995, the AOC (Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée) takes place in the town of Cambremer in the Calvados area.

 

  

July :

• SEA & MACKEREL FESTIVAL : Trouville-sur-Mer (Calvados)

 

On the last weekend of every July the town pays homage to its fisherman and gives thanks for their catches with a sea festival known locally as the Fête de la Mer et du Maquereau. Trouville-sur-Mer hosts this annual festival devoted to the town's thriving fishing industry and, in particular, the humble mackerel.

  

September :

• WILD MUSHROOM WEEKEND : Bagnoles de l'Orne (Orne)

For years, the resort of Bagnoles de l'Orne, situated in the beautiful forest of Andaines, has often referred to as the "master" of botanical arts. No less then 1,600 varieties of mushrooms grow on the land, which means there are 1,600 good fun, educational and, of course, gastronomic reasons to accept this invitation to attend one of the the famous Bagnoles de l'Orne Mushroom Weekends!

  

October :

• APPLE & CIDER FESTIVALS : Vimoutiers, Le Sap & Ecomuseum Le Perche (Orne)

Normandy honours its apples in October with a whole weekend dedicated to the fruit. The town of Vimoutiers in the heart of the Pays d'Auge, one of France's key gourmet regions, plays host to over 15,000 visitors every year - all drawn to the sweet smelling fruit and the cider. There are other opportunities to attend an apple and ciderfestival in Le Sap or at the Ecomuseum du Perche.

 

• SHRIMP FESTIVAL : Honfleur (Calvados)

Every year Honfleur  celebrates its seafood heritage with a large shrimp festival. Of course, there'll be plenty of the little things available to eat, but who's going to peel them all? The organisers have cunningly arranged a shrimp-peeling competition, so that visitors don't have to get their hands dirty.

 

FOIE GRAS MARKET : Le Neubourg (Eure)

 

Get your fill of the region's best foie gras at the market in Le Neubourg, once a month throughout October, November and December. The Farmers' Association of Bec is made up of 40 Normand foie gras producers offering magrets and foie gras, from ducks and geese raised on the green fields of Normandy.

 

• BELLY FESTIVAL : Rouen (Seine-Maritime)

Literally translated as the "Belly Festival", "La Fête du Ventre et de la Gastronomie Normande" has been an annual event in Rouen since 2000 but dates back to the 30's. These festivities are in honour of a long standing Norman tradition which is to celebrate all things tasty... But updated to the 21^st century!

• SEAFOOD ON A PLATTER FESTIVAL : Granville (La Manche)

During the first weekend of October a very popular event will take place in Granville : the Shell-fishes Festival. The festival is an opportunity for walking around the picturesque fishing harbour and in a 2000 m2 indoor exhibition area to discover seafood products and the different fishing jobs as well as meeting actors of the fishing industries.

 

• FISHING WEEKEND IN THE COTENTIN : Barneville-Carterert (La Manche)

The Cotentin area in the Manche county is well-known for it's beautiful stretches of sandy beaches, which uncover a wealth of treasures when the tides go out. The region's rich and diverse ecosystem is one of its primary assets.

  

November :

• SCALLOP & SEA SHANTY FESTIVAL : Port-en-Bessin (Calvados)

 

Two days of sea-related festivities! As the 1^st port in Calvados (the 3^rd in Normandy), Port-en-Bessin wants to maintain this part of its history, and does so with these celebrations. Sea-shanty festival, samplings of various fish, sailing knots workshops and guided tours by trawler-men; all the displays are based around one thing, the sea.

 

• LIEUREY HERRING FAIR : Lieurey, (Eure)

The history of this fish market dates back to the 100 year war. It is said that a convoy of men had to carry a vast supply of herrings for the soldiers and citizens of the under siege Orléans but a blizzard meant they couldn't go further than Lieurey. To avoid wasting the herrings, they sold the fish at an auction, organised by the townspeople.

• HERRING FESTIVAL : Fécamp (Seine-Maritime)

Traditionally celebrating the return of the fishing fleet from northern waters when much of this town would help unload and prepare the catch - and once all the hard, smelly and cold work was done they would have a feast and celebrate with music and dancing!

• HERRING FESTIVAL : Etretat (Seine-Maritime)

This popular and animated festival will offer fires in long, shallow barbecue grills lit and ready to cook up trays of herring. Men in aprons tied over their warm woolly sweaters work in teams, wearing goggles to tend the smoky grills. Some deftly turn the herring, others shift scallops threaded with pepper slices on brochettes to feed the onslaught of hungry fish lovers.

• HERRING FESTIVAL : Dieppe (Seine-Maritime)

Dieppe pays homage to its fishermen and hosts the annual Herring festival. More than 100 000 visitors gather for this unique and authentic event. Herring, nicknamed the "king fish", has always been a great tradition and has had a huge economic impact on the town up to 1970. Grill it, marinate it, squeeze your fresh lemon over it and match it with a glass of wine, there are just so many ways to savour herring.

Scallops will also be honoured by this festival as Dieppe remains the first French port for scallops!