Barnabé Festival Flea Market in Coutières

The Barnabé Festival: A Living Tradition in the Gâtine

The Barnabé festival is one of the most eagerly awaited events in the village of Coutières, nestled in the hedgerow countryside of the Gâtine Poitevine. Each year in early June, the village comes alive for a full day of festive activities, with the flea market as one of the highlights. The festival takes its name from Saint Barnabas' Day, celebrated on 11 June, and perpetuates a deeply rooted village tradition.

An Early-Morning Flea Market in the Village Centre

From 7am, sellers set up their stalls in the village centre of Coutières, offering visitors a wide range of second-hand items: clothing, toys, books, crockery, ornaments, garden tools and countryside curiosities. The rural setting and human scale of the village give this flea market an intimate and authentic atmosphere.

A Full Day of Festivities

Beyond the flea market, the Barnabé festival offers a rich programme: pétanque competition, children's games, local producers' market, nature exhibitions organised by the CPIE, a country lunch (mechoui) and mussels and chips in the evening. The day traditionally concludes with the Saint-Barnabé bonfire.

Coutières and the Gâtine: A Preserved Territory

Coutières is a former village of the Gâtine Poitevine, integrated since 2019 into the commune of Les Châteliers. This territory of hedgerows, forests and hills offers an exceptional living environment between hiking trails, preserved nature and rural heritage.