"FrenchFestivals" news and stories

Just half an hour from the Spanish border, right down in the middle of Basque country in France lies Bayonne. It's main claim in the food world is being the home of the Bayonne Ham.

Since 1942, the town celebrates with a Ham Festival during Holy week (13-15 April 2006). Local farmers gather along the River Nive and sell their air-dried hams. Now I have never been to the town - but I know a man you has. He (being John of French Duck) describes the area as a mix of "strange and wonderful contrasts". You have the Basque influence on architecture, food and on the language too. Combining the scenery of the mountains with a food fair sounds just the sort of break I need right now.

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Down Aquitaine Way, the town of Bazas continues a festival first mentioned in 1283 - Fete des Boeufs Cras, the Festival of the Fatted Calf.

During the reign of Edward I, when Aquitaine was under the English crown, locals were required to provide the local Archbishop with an impressive oxen. Today, the festival (this year occurring on the 23rd of February) is more of a beauty pageant for cows. There is a parade, bands, plenty of local wine and vast amounts of beef to consume. There is also a brotherhood - La Confrerie Basadaise du Boeuf - who perform obscure beef-related rituals while dressed in 'silly costumes'.

[via French Duck - an excellent blog about all things France]

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