11 November Saint-Martin Fair in Duras

The great Saint-Martin fair, a living tradition in Duras

Every November 11th, the town of Duras celebrates the traditional Saint-Martin fair, one of the most anticipated events on the local calendar. More than 200 exhibitors invade the streets and squares of the village to offer a huge popular market combining private car boot sales, peddlers from all over the region, artisans, and local producers. Entry is free for visitors.

A multifaceted fair

The Saint-Martin Fair of Duras stands out for the richness and diversity of its stalls. You'll find car boot sales with many individuals offering their items at free prices, peddlers with their stalls of haberdashery, leather goods, and everyday products, artisan craftsmen presenting jewelry, decoration, and basketry, but also gastronomic producers from the region. Aged cheeses, flower honey, Gascon cured meats, fragrant rotisseries, regional almonds and walnuts, oysters from the Bassin d'Arcachon and Marennes, AOP Côtes de Duras wines, aligot, and cannelés: the list is long for food lovers.

Entertainment, rides, and conviviality

Beyond shopping, the Saint-Martin Fair is a true popular festival. Fairground rides and entertainment for children are set up, while the town's restaurants open their doors with special regional menus. The atmosphere, enlivened by musicians, transforms this public holiday into a collective celebration. The foirail hall hosts exhibitions and sales of crafts, art, and photographs. Cafés and restaurants — Hostellerie des Ducs, Don Camillo, Café de la Paix — offer meals and platters throughout the day.

Duras, a bastide town and vineyard between Gironde and Lot-et-Garonne

Duras (47120) is a medieval bastide town overlooking the Dropt valley, at the gates of Entre-Deux-Mers. Its Château des Ducs de Duras, its cobbled streets, and its renowned vineyard make it a popular tourist destination in Lot-et-Garonne. The Saint-Martin Fair is rooted in the agricultural and commercial history of the town: it perpetuates a tradition of autumn fairs inherited from past centuries, when farmers came to sell their harvests and livestock after the summer.