Saint-Luc Fair of Bray-sur-Somme

The Saint-Luc Fair: a Picard tradition rooted in the Somme valley

Every autumn, Bray-sur-Somme revives a centuries-old tradition by organizing its great Saint-Luc Fair, an emblematic event of the local calendar. This event, which combines a commercial fair, a flea market and a réderie, takes over the streets of this riverside town for a day of bargain hunting and strolling. Saint-Luc, traditionally celebrated on October 18, has long marked in the Picard countryside the transition to winter and the time of the great agricultural fairs.

An autumn réderie in the heart of the town

The Saint-Luc Fair has kept the scale of a great fair: on the sidewalks and squares of the center, stalls of individuals emptying their attics stand alongside those of traveling merchants, street vendors and craftsmen. This mix makes all the charm of the event, which allows one to find a porcelain teapot, a late-season coat, a lot of comics and some Picard produce in a single morning. The use of the word réderie, typical of the Somme department, recalls the regional roots of this type of event.

What to find in Bray-sur-Somme

Bargain hunters will find all the bric-à-brac characteristic of large Picard réderies: antique crockery, household linen, books, childhood toys, tools, trinkets, paintings, vinyl records and vintage clothing. Lovers of rural objects will particularly appreciate the farm tools, stoneware pots and bistro furniture that bear witness to the agricultural past of the Somme valley.

Bray-sur-Somme, a Somme valley escape

Bray-sur-Somme is an endearing little town, stretched along the river that gives it its name and located on the edge of the Somme battlefields. Beyond the fair, a visit reveals the church of Saint-Nicolas, the surrounding ponds favored by fishermen and the typical landscapes of the Santerre region. The town is about thirty kilometers east of Amiens, close to Albert and the Remembrance Circuit.

A fair atmosphere from times past

What sets the Saint-Luc Fair apart from more urban flea markets is the persistence of an old-fashioned fair atmosphere, where exhibitors take the time to chat, where visitors meet among neighbors and where children enjoy the few fairground rides installed for the occasion. The refreshment bar and street food complete this picture of village conviviality.