Grande Foire Annuelle de Laissac

The Grande Foire de Laissac, an unmissable event in Aveyron

Every second Sunday in May, the town of Laissac-Sévérac-l'Église hosts its Grande Foire Annuelle, one of the most important commercial events in the Aveyron department. More than 250 exhibitors — nursery owners, flea market vendors, artisans, local producers, tool and agricultural equipment sellers — take over the streets, squares, and vast esplanades of the fairgrounds for a day of discovery, exchange, and conviviality. Around 8,000 visitors flock each year from all over southern Aveyron and neighboring departments.

A rich program across several areas

The fair is spread across several sectors that reflect the diversity of offerings:

• Town center: plants, flowers, shrubs, and floral arrangements offered by regional nursery owners and horticulturists.
• Cattle fairground: numerous stands for tools, agricultural machinery, gardening equipment, and agricultural supplies are set up on the large fairground esplanade, where the famous livestock market is usually held.
• Sheep hall: regional products and local crafts under the covered building, featuring Aveyron specialties: aligot, fouace, sheep cheeses, cured meats, honey, and Marcillac wines.

The village shops open their doors, restaurants offer daily menus, and local associations provide on-site catering with Aveyron specialties. A funfair operates throughout the weekend for families to enjoy.

Laissac, the French capital of livestock markets

Laissac is world-renowned for hosting France's leading livestock market. Every Tuesday morning, over 1,000 animals — cattle and sheep — are traded on the fairgrounds, a vast covered area of 11,000 m² including an 8,000 m² cattle hall and a 3,000 m² sheep hall. Each year, over 70,000 animals pass through Laissac, including approximately 50,000 cattle and 20,000 sheep, making this market the largest in France ahead of Châteaubriant (44) and Moulins-Engilbert (58). The tradition of the « Pache » — an ancestral transaction sealed with a handshake — perpetuates a centuries-old mode of commerce. Created in 1422, the Laissac fairs have adapted over the centuries, with the modern fairgrounds being covered between 1979 and 1984.

A dynamic town between Lévézou and causse

Laissac-Sévérac-l'Église (12310) is a commune in Aveyron located 25 km east of Rodez, at the crossroads of the Aveyron valley, the Lévézou plateaus, and the causses. A new commune formed in 2016 by the merger of Laissac and Sévérac-l'Église, it has about 2,000 inhabitants and maintains a dynamic commercial and agricultural life. In addition to its livestock market, Laissac is known for its weekly markets, seasonal fairs, and gastronomy, located halfway between Rodez and Millau on the route to the Gorges du Tarn.

Visitor Information

The Grande Foire Annuelle is held from 9 AM to 6 PM on the second Sunday in May. Entry is free. Several parking lots are available for visitors, including one with over 1,000 spaces on the fairground esplanade. Catering is provided on-site by village restaurants and association stands. The fair is entirely outdoors; leashed pets are allowed.