Cattle shows, numerous impromptu restaurants, markets and unpacking of all kinds, and a funfair. The Foire de Crête has been held since 1477, and is immutably set for the first Thursday in September.
The Foire de Crête is one of the most important fairs in our region. This traditional event invites you to experience the old-fashioned atmosphere of a giant market with numerous exhibitors selling traditional products, not forgetting the livestock competition and the funfair.
The traditional Foire de Crête will be held on Thursday, 5 September 2024, with the opening of the funfair from 31 August to 8 September 2024.
The 546th edition of Thonon's most renowned fair
Unmissable culinary specialities, its funfair and its dairy cow competition hosted by the farmers of Haute-Savoie. Visitors will be able to navigate between Place de Crête, the heart of the fair, and Place des Arts. A must-attend event in the town of Thonon, it has been held here for over 5 centuries!
The history of The Foire de Crête
Savoy fairs began to develop in the mid-13th century. At that time, the Count of Savoy granted franchises to each town, allowing country folk to come and sell their vegetables. In 1265, Philippe I granted Thonon two fairs: one on the Thursday following Saint-Martin's Day and the other, lasting three consecutive days, after Ascension Day.
The town of Thonon-les-Bains hosts the dairy cow competition, in collaboration with young farmers from the cantons of Douvaine, Plateau de Gavot and Vallée d'Abondance.
The Crête fair was not established until much later, in 1514, by an edict of Charles III, known as le Bon, dated 8 August. On 12 November 1598, Charles-Emmanuel granted the establishment of four annual fairs, each lasting fifteen days, of which only the Crête (September) and Saint-André (December) fairs remain today.
On 7 July 1866, the Thonon town fairgrounds were transferred from the Place du Château and the Place des Arts to the Place de Crête.
Since then, this popular event has never ceased to keep pace with the agricultural and craft life of the entire Chablais region, and with the ups and downs of history, promoting exchanges both within and outside the region. Today, the Foire de Crête is one of the most profitable in France.
The Fair has lost some of its agricultural character, but it still retains an endearing atmosphere of yesteryear, palpable in the encounters, the paths unchanged for generations, and the permanence of the meeting places. And this year, the essence of agriculture is back in the spotlight!
Funicular
Exceptionally, for the duration of the event, the funicular will be accessible free of charge to facilitate your travel between the port and the city center.
Take the CGN boats
Take the N2 Lausanne-Thonon line that takes you directly to the port of Thonon in just 50 minutes. Check out this link to see the schedules for the CGN boats from Lausanne-Ouchy.
LA FOIRE DE CRÊTE
Thursday, 5 September 2024
7h-23h
Thonon-les-Bains, France
