Car boot sale of the Pirou Whelk Fair

Car Boot Sale of the Pirou Whelk Fair

The Pirou Whelk Fair (50770) is a gastronomic and festive event that has established itself as an original and popular festival on the Manche coast. The whelk — a shellfish from the Buccinidae family, also called sea snail or trumpet shell — is one of the emblematic shellfish of Normandy, fished in the cool waters of the English Channel.

At the heart of this gastronomic fair, the car boot sale with approximately 50 exhibitors adds an extra festive dimension, transforming the day into a true popular celebration. Visitors who come for the whelks stay to hunt for treasures, and treasure hunters take the opportunity to enjoy fresh shellfish by the Manche coast. This combination of gastronomy and flea market is a winning formula that retains the public year after year.

The 50 exhibitors at the car boot sale offer various items: home furniture, clothing and accessories, books and magazines, toys and games, tableware and table art, trinkets and curiosities, tools and garden equipment. The proximity to the sea is sometimes reflected in the items offered: fishing gear, beach equipment, marine books, marine decorative objects.

The Whelk Fair itself is an opportunity to taste Normandy whelks prepared according to traditional recipes: boiled in seawater with spices, served with mayonnaise or lemon butter. Local producers and fishmongers offer their finest catches, and activities related to fishing and the sea complete the day's program.

Pirou and the Côte des Havres

Pirou (50770) is a village on the Côte des Havres, on the western coast of the Cotentin peninsula, renowned for its medieval castle — one of the oldest in Normandy — and its beaches. Pirou Castle, built on a site fortified since the Viking era, is a major historical monument in the Manche department, testifying to the strategic importance of this coastal site in the Middle Ages.

The Côte des Havres in Pirou is characterized by its large fine sandy beaches, dunes, and the Havre de Pirou, a protected natural area that is home to many species of migratory birds. This preserved coastline is one of the commune's major assets, attracting a significant number of family tourists each summer.