The Foires Gras in Brive-la-Gaillarde

The Foires Gras in Brive herald the end-of-year festivities and attract gourmets looking for quality products: fattened ducks, fattened geese and capons abound on the Brassens market stalls. Some 30 producers from the region are as eager as ever to display their best palm oil products for the specialists to judge, with the best mularde and Barbary duck livers, the best goose livers and the tastiest capons. After deliberation, the judges proudly present the prizes to the producers who are rewarded for their remarkable work.

5 good reasons to go to Foires Grasses

Quality guaranteed! The products offered are local and comply with a quality charter.
Meet and talk to producers
Take advantage of the Foire des Rois to have your foie gras preserved!
The Tables Gaillardes are happy to offer you a friendly and tasty tasting.
Don't leave without a truffle. They add even more flavour to your preserves or dishes!

Foires Grasse 2024-2025 calendar

23 November 2024: Foire Grasse
7 December 2024: prize-winning goose and duck fair
14 December 2024: fair for capons
11 January 2025: Foire des rois (free preparation and canning of livers)
1 February 2025: goose, duck and foie gras fair
1 March 2025: closing foie gras fair

Practical information

Where do the Foires Grasses take place?

At the Halle Georges Brassens, 12 quai Tourny, Brive-la-Gaillarde.

At what times?

The Foires Grasses take place at the same time as the market, throughout the morning (mornings only).

Where can I park for the Foires Grasses?

Underground parking with direct access to the market square for 1 euro on Saturdays!
Above-ground parking: 2 hours free every day!

Entertainment at the Foires Gras

Shows organised by the chefs of Tables Gaillardes

For each award-winning foires, the chefs of Tables Gaillardes come to put on a show. Supplied directly from the market, the 2 or 3 chefs take charge of the kitchens set up every Saturday for these very special occasions and invite you to follow their advice on cooking, preserving and tasting. Temptation guaranteed!

The origins of the Foires Gras

Brive's fairs are as old as the city itself: a market was held on Fridays as early as 1218.

In the late 18th century, the number of annual fairs in Brive increased. A "Brive fair catalogue" from 1795 lists 20 of them. In 1970, the winter markets became the Foires Grasses.

The Foires Gras in figures

Up to 2,500 ducks and geese sold and traded every week from November to March.
30 producers present at the Brive market. They come from around Brive: Lower Corrèze and neighbouring cantons in Dordogne and Lot.
80 recognised producers in Corrèze.
80,000 ducks and geese sold directly.
Production: 99% duck.

Geese, ducks and capons subject to a quality charter

To preserve the reputation of these fairs and reassure consumers, the city of Brive, the Chambers of Agriculture of Corrèze, Lot and Dordogne, the veterinary services and the producers' associations have drawn up a QUALITY CHARTER that guarantees the traceability of the products, the traditional force-feeding with grain maize and other requirements that you will find in most fat producers on the market.

The January Fair

The January Fair is an exceptional event. Buyers get the chance to can their foie gras for free.

Purchases may be made from producers only on this day. Registration for canning closes at 10.30am. A maximum of 2kg of foie gras per person is allowed. To maintain the quality of the final product, only duck liver weighing between 350 and 550g and goose liver weighing between 450 and 900g will be canned, and these will be carefully selected by the producers.

The controlled truffle market

The black diamond of the Périgord also has a place of honour during the fair season.

Calendar of controlled truffle markets

controlled truffle market from Saturday 7 December 2024 to Saturday 22 February 2025.
award-winning truffle market: 11 January

A controlled market for the retail sale of fresh melanosporum truffles starts at 8.15am at the Salle Brassens.

All truffles are checked one by one before going on sale from 7am. This is an additional guarantee of quality, carried out by inspectors recognised by the Departmental Federation of Truffle Growers of Corrèze.

The controlled market opens at 9am in a special room at the Salle Brassens.

The Confrérie Mycogastronomique gaillarde and the Confrérie du diamant noir usually participate in this winter event.

A man checks the quality of a truffle while visitors look on

Tip Gourmet pleasures of a Grasse Fair

Foie gras preserves at the Brive King's Fair

A Saturday between Advent and early March. There is a big crowd at the Georges Brassens market hall in Brive-la-Gaillarde. You are there too, strolling among the stalls full of capons, geese, ducks all duly plucked, jars of foie gras, confits, truffles.... Luckily, you brought your own basket, so you won't go home empty-handed. Note: during the King's Market, held in early January, you have the privilege of leaving with your free preserves.

Foire grasse,
19100 BRIVE
05 55 24 08 80 (Brive conurbation tourist office)
For more information