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22/06/2008, 19:43 Normandie Joined on 03/10/2007 St Lo/Coutances Posts 33 County Shows in Normandie? Hello all We've just been to the Middx County Show today which was a good day out - owls/birds of prey/fly ball/classic cars etc etc and was just wondering if there's anything like that (more that a brocante) in 'our' area 50 around 2/3rd August? I've been to the fair at Vire in Sept which is great - is there something like that in the summer?  Otherwise may look to see if there any any Fetes de la Mer on the coast. Thanks in advance for any replies ...   Normandie    Report

22/06/2008, 22:27 chrisb Joined on 14/08/2003 Posts 327 Re: County Shows in Normandie? Also in September is the fair at Lessay which has a heavy emphasis on horses. It's also notable for its "Avenue des rotisiers" - load os different stalls cooking lamb over wood fires - absolutely delicious! Haven't come across any held at the same time as the English early Summer ones. One warning about Lessay fair - it's very popular. It took us nearly 2 hours to drive there from St Lo!    Report

23/06/2008, 15:24 powerdesal Joined on 07/01/2006 ex-Sharjah U.A.E Posts 2,203 Re: County Shows in Normandie? I think   Saint Aubin des Bois, between Villiedieu les Poeles and Vire may be the venue for quite a large fete each year. I have only been once a few years ago but it did strike me as quite big and enjoyable. Cant remember just what month though. Steve Back in the UAE (Fujeirah Emirate) + 50 (in France) ...........................................................................    Report

23/06/2008, 15:37 Dick Smith Joined on 23/08/2004 Surrey and Manche (Pays Mortainais) Posts 8,896 Re: County Shows in Normandie? We always miss it, so it must be either July or September. That isn't a lot of use, is it? Edit - I tell a lie - it is August according to Wikipedia. In which case it must be late on, because we usually come back around the 26th. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint-Aubin-des-Bois,_Calvados Regards Dick Smith Nowhere is there warmth to be found Among those afraid of losing their ground    Report

23/06/2008, 21:20 Normandie Joined on 03/10/2007 St Lo/Coutances Posts 33 Re: County Shows in Normandie? Thank you for your replies. We're missing our local show this year but that's ok we've seen that before but I really want to see the St Lo Haras as they allow visitors on a Thursday afternoon during the summer.  Anyone been there to see the horses? One day I'll take a year out and live chez nous and get to see everything!  It's a bit frustrating but at least there's always something to look forward to 'next time' like being over for the 4th of July one year ... Normandie    Report

24/06/2008, 6:22 Catalpa Joined on 23/08/2004 Southern Manche - 50 Posts 1,531 Re: County Shows in Normandie? Normal 0 Normal 0 I've no idea what the Normal 0 denotes above - I can't see it on my screen and therefore can't remove it. Yes, I’ve been to the Haras Thursday afternoon display and it’s worth going even if you’re not very interested in horses because there are some beauties – and the carriage parade is worth seeing. You can also go around the stables. It’s only a few euros per person (or was). In August, at the equestrian centre (towards the Maison d'Agriculture in St-Lo) there are sometimes Horseball matches. Definitely worth going to. Not sure there are any summer matches in Manche this year but worth checking. There are always matches in February.   The French country / county shows in late summer / autumn don’t have the breadth of displays or represent the interests that you find at an English show. The food (as someone said) is much better. Look for a smokey heat haze in the sky and head for the open barbecues where lambs, sausages etc are being roasted. The lamb is excellent – buy your bread, lamb, frites and usually even desserts (fruit tarts normally) if you want - from the "food alley". Then go into one of the adjacent tents which are set up with ranks of trestle tables and a bar. If you sit down and wait, someone will be over to bring you plate and cutlery (for 1€ per head) and take a drink order. Then you carve your lunch. Yum. It’s not high class dining but lamb like that is a real treat.   Apart from Lessay, there’s Gavray, Etouvy and the big November fair in Saint-Hilaire-du-Harcouët and others. Lessay is probably biggest and most interesting on the Friday because there’s a big horse sale and it’s interesting to wander round, look at the horses – and ponies, donkeys, mules…   A slightly different but very interesting show (providing you’re not anti-) is the hunting and fishing show held in the grounds of the château at Carrouges (probably about 2 hours from St-Lo – though check with www.viamichelin.fr) in Orne at the beginning of August. Amazing display of hounds of all shapes and sizes. This probably fits in with your dates.   http://www.piegeur61.com/fr/carrouges/fete_de_la_chasse_de_carrouges.php3   For an extra payment, you can tour the château.   Two useful books that not all home owners know about are the Almanach de la Manche which (with a lot of other information such as the tides) lists all the major foires and manifestations in Manche but also in adjacent Calvados and Orne and the Calendrier Brocantes (Orne, Manche, Calvados). Both cost about 7€ and the maison de la presse, some supermarkets and bars usually have them for sale. The Almanach is a little yellow book, the Calendrier Brocantes a similarly sized dull-orange book.    Report

24/06/2008, 8:54 La Guerriere Joined on 13/03/2005 Posts 297 Re: County Shows in Normandie? The Carrot Festival at Creances is a most important event and I think that this year it will be Saturday 09 August..... Jim (Oxfordshire and Manche)    Report

24/06/2008, 19:18 Normandie Joined on 03/10/2007 St Lo/Coutances Posts 33 Re: County Shows in Normandie? Thanks Catalpa & La G I'll go to the Haras then as it sounds good and it's local.  We've picked up an old carriage at a brocante so this could be the inspiration to start using it - well - get a horse first!  There seems to be a carriage club in our area which would be great to join one day - I imagine there must be safety in numbers on the roads around our way?! The link for the Chateau is great - much more what i meant.  Is it me? I can't see any details of the programme/prices etc online. The lamb/bring your own cutlery is just how the Vire Autumn fair is - very interesting but as a vegetarian I miss out on the food and just drink!  Still, it is a specatacle full of lots of very interesting characters - I try not to gawp!  It seems to be an annual reunion for lots of families which is lovely. Yes I've seen those books you mentioned - must get another copy for the UK so I can plan my trips better.  Gavray is lovely so must try and get to that one year.  So much to see ... Looking forward to it!  Normandie    Report

24/06/2008, 21:54 Dick Smith Joined on 23/08/2004 Surrey and Manche (Pays Mortainais) Posts 8,896 Re: County Shows in Normandie? Normandie - tell me more about the Vire fair, please. Usually we have to be home by the end of August for the start of term - but not this year! Regards Dick Smith Nowhere is there warmth to be found Among those afraid of losing their ground    Report

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