Beaucroissant Agricultural Fair
The oldest fair in France, since 1219
2026
About Beaucroissant Fair
Beaucroissant Fair — edition 2026
The 805th Beaucroissant Fair takes place from Friday, September 11th to Sunday, September 13th, 2026, with livestock featured on Friday the 11th. Spanning 30 hectares and 15 km of aisles, the event hosts around 1,000 exhibitors, including 220 in agricultural machinery and public works, over 700 market vendors, 700 head of livestock, a funfair with about 70 attractions, and 80 bars and restaurants. The fairgrounds are open from 8:00 AM to 7:00 PM; admission is free, while parking is paid.
805th Autumn Fair, September 11th to 13th, 2026
The 805th edition will be held from Friday, September 11th to Sunday, September 13th, 2026, at the Beaucroissant fairgrounds in Isère. The official program highlights livestock on Friday the 11th and confirms that admission is free for everyone.
Approximately 1,000 exhibitors will set up across the 30-hectare site: 220 professionals in agricultural machinery and public works in covered exhibition areas, over 700 market traders, around 50 poultry and small animal exhibitors on the hillside overlooking the fairgrounds, about 20 dog breeders, and nearly 50 stands dedicated to home, leisure, automotive, and tools located in aisles 3, 4, and 5.
The South-East Charolais Breeders' Union will host its regional competition throughout the fair, with its restaurant open all three days. The Isère Sheep Breeders' Union will bring together around 30 breeders and organize animal presentations featuring sheepdog demonstrations. The official 2026 map indicates that horses, sheep, and goats will only be present on Friday.
The fairgrounds are open from 8:00 AM to 7:00 PM each day, with vehicle traffic prohibited during these hours. Bars and restaurants serve from 8:30 AM to 11:00 PM, and the funfair operates from 10:00 AM until midnight.
Highlights Beaucroissant Fair 2026
- 805th Autumn Fair, the oldest fair in France, dating back to 1219.
- Friday, September 11th: Livestock Day.
- 30 hectares of fairgrounds and 15 km of aisles.
- Approximately 1,000 exhibitors, including 220 in agricultural machinery and public works.
- Over 700 market vendors.
- 700 head of livestock and 1 km of tie-rails.
- Regional Charolais competition by the South-East Charolais Union, held over three days.
- Sheepdog demonstrations by the Isère Sheep Breeders' Union.
- Dog, poultry, and small animal fair every day.
- Funfair with about 70 attractions on one hectare, open until midnight.
- 80 bars and restaurants on-site.
- Free admission; paid parking ranging from €2 to €20 depending on the vehicle.
- Special SNCF train stop at Beaucroissant station, just steps from the fairgrounds.
Programme Beaucroissant Fair 2026
Daily Schedule
- 8:00 AM - 7:00 PM — Fairgrounds open to the public. Vehicle traffic is prohibited on-site during these hours.
- 8:30 AM - 11:00 PM — Bars, refreshment stalls, and restaurants
- 10:00 AM - Midnight — Funfair
Friday, September 11th, 2026 — Livestock Day
- All day — Livestock fair. According to the official 2026 map, horses, sheep, and goats are present only on this day.
- 8:00 AM - 11:30 AM — Local post office open, located next to the town hall secretariat along the village street.
- From 3:00 PM — Only livestock trailers transporting animals are permitted to leave the fairgrounds before 7:00 PM.
Saturday, September 12th and Sunday, September 13th, 2026
- 8:00 AM - 7:00 PM — All sectors open: market, agricultural machinery, home and leisure, poultry, dogs, and attractions.
- 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM — Peak attendance period noted by organizers. Pedestrians arriving via the Pont de Champ should follow on-site signage and police instructions.
Sectors open throughout the three days
- Livestock Fair — 700 head of livestock and 1 km of tie-rails. The South-East Charolais Breeders' Union is present for the duration of the fair, organizing its regional competition with numerous prizes. Health checks at the entrance are managed by sanitary veterinarians: bovine herds must be IBR-free with blood tests taken at least 21 days prior, and equines must be microchipped.
- Sheep, Goats, and Pigs — Isère Sheep Breeders' Union, with nearly 30 breeders expected: animal presentations and sheepdog demonstrations. Dedicated area facing the cattle exhibition, between the RD 519 and the railway line.
- Dog Fair — About 20 breeders, located in aisle R (from RD 519 A to the agricultural machinery sector) and aisle G, parallel to aisle F.
- Poultry and Small Animals — Over 50 exhibitors on the hillside overlooking the fairgrounds: chickens, geese, guinea fowl, ducks, ornamental birds, rabbits, and rodents.
- Agricultural Machinery and Public Works — Over 220 professionals in covered exhibition areas: national manufacturers and regional dealers.
- Market — Over 700 vendors: large catering services, regional products, wine producers, garlic, nurseries, knitwear, clothing, footwear, leather goods, crafts, and live demonstrations.
- Home, Leisure, Automotive, and Tools — Nearly 50 exhibitors in aisles 3, 4, and 5: household appliances, furniture, locksmithing, insulation, heating, fireplaces, kitchens, bedding, timber construction, wood treatment, garden equipment, tools, cars, quads, and motorcycles.
- Multi-purpose Hall Exhibition — 1,000 m² of covered space in the gymnasium, featuring about 20 professionals in home improvement, furniture, kitchens, and bedding, plus a restaurant. Free entry, accessible via aisles 3 and 4.
- Old Trades Exhibition — Marked on the official 2026 map, at the entrance to the agricultural machinery sector near aisles B and B bis.
- Funfair — About 70 attractions covering one hectare: shakers, break dance, booster, caterpillars, merry-go-rounds, lotteries, shooting galleries, funhouses, and children's rides.
- Dining — Over 60 establishments, including 20 large restaurants: calf's head, paella, sauerkraut, couscous, Charolais rib steak, mussels and fries, and numerous fast-food stands. The Charolais restaurant is open all three days.
- Radio Foire Beaucroissant 94.8 FM — Safety and traffic information broadcast live from the stands, relayed by 500 loudspeakers across the fairgrounds.
Partner stands, based on the official 2026 map
- Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Region — Tasting and discovery of regional products, aisle RUE.
- Isère Departmental Council — Aisle E.
- Crédit Agricole Centre Est and Sud Rhône-Alpes — Aisle C.
- Boules OBUT — Aisle 1bis.
- Grenoble Alpes Isère Airport — Aisle RUE.
- Agrivillage and agricultural professional organizations — Under the South-East Charolais exhibition stand, with the Charolais restaurant.
The organizer does not publish a specific timetable for competitions and animal presentations: the times above are those announced on the official website as of mid-August 2026.
Prices Beaucroissant Fair 2026
Practical information — Beaucroissant Fair
Access
The fairgrounds are located in Beaucroissant (38140), Isère, at the crossroads of major highways. Distances provided by the organizer: Voiron 10 km, Grenoble 30 km, Grenoble-Isère Airport in Saint-Geoirs 10 km, Chambéry 50 km, Lyon 80 km, Valence 80 km.
- From Lyon, Grenoble, or Chambéry: A48 motorway, take the Rives toll exit, follow signs for the fair; or take the RD 1085 from Lyon and Grenoble.
- From Annonay or Beaurepaire: RD 519.
- From Valence: RD 1092, or A7 motorway, take the Tullins exit, then the RD 45 from Tullins to Rives.
- Fairground entrance: via the Pont de Champ (RD 1085) and the RD 519. Livestock trucks must enter only via the RD 519 coming from Izeaux.
- By train (September fair only): The Beaucroissant station is just a few steps from the center of the fair on the Lyon-Grenoble line. Some trains from stations in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, including Mâcon and Geneva, make an exceptional stop at Beaucroissant. Trains slow down to 40 km/h when passing through the village, including TGVs. With the "illico PROMO SAMEDI" fare, TER journeys in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes are 40% off for groups of 2 or more on Saturdays and free for children under 12. Check dates, schedules, and fares on the SNCF TER Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes website.
The two level crossings in the town (PN 69 and 70) are closed to traffic in both directions during the fair.
Parking
25 parking lots managed by Beaucroissant associations are open in September. Each lot has a visible number at the entrance with its rates displayed. Daily rates: motorcycle €2, car €4, camper van €8, livestock truck €10, bus €20.
- Buses: lots 10, 11, and 50
- Camper vans: lots 10, 11, 12, 15, 18, and 50
- Disabled parking (PMR): lots 11 and 20
Keep your parking ticket: it displays the lot number to help you find your vehicle. Parking is prohibited on security routes; vehicles may be towed.
Hours
- Fairgrounds: 8:00 AM to 7:00 PM (vehicle traffic prohibited on-site during these hours)
- Livestock: Friday
- Restaurants and refreshment stalls: 8:30 AM to 11:00 PM
- Funfair: 10:00 AM to midnight
Rates
Free admission for all visitors, including the covered exhibition in the multi-purpose hall. Only parking is subject to a fee.
On-site services
- Public reception at the fair office
- SMUR and Red Cross first aid station in the nursery school premises
- Fire department station opposite the town hall
- Gendarmerie station in the town hall's wedding hall
- Crédit Agricole Sud Rhône-Alpes ATM, next to the gendarmerie, open 24/7
- Communal postal agency open on the Friday of the fair, from 8:00 AM to 11:30 AM, next to the town hall secretariat
- Free toilets and paid toilets with disabled access located throughout the site
- Radio Foire Beaucroissant 94.8 FM: safety and traffic information, broadcast via 500 loudspeakers on the fairgrounds
Getting around
The fair map is available in paper format at the fair office in the town hall, online on the official website, via QR code displayed in every guarded toilet, and on large maps installed at several points on the site. The organizer recommends writing your mobile number on children's arms.
During peak hours, especially on Saturday and Sunday between 2:00 PM and 4:00 PM, pedestrians arriving via the Pont de Champ should follow the on-site signage and instructions from the gendarmerie.
Contact
- Organizer: Fair office, Beaucroissant Town Hall
- Address: 120 rue Louis Durand, 38140 Beaucroissant
- Phone: 04 76 65 34 97
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.foirebeaucroissant.fr
Eight centuries of history in Isère
The origins of the Beaucroissant Fair officially date back to 1219, making it the oldest fair in France still in operation. Its history is rooted in a tragic event: on the night of September 14, 1219, a natural lake in Saint-Laurent, held back by a landslide in the Infernet gorges, suddenly burst. The resulting wave submerged Grenoble, causing thousands of deaths. The following year, on September 14, 1220, led by the Bishop of Grenoble, survivors commemorated the disaster by making a pilgrimage to Parménie, the bishops' residence perched at an altitude of 749 meters. The gathering attracted such a crowd that a village formed to accommodate them, and merchants soon followed: the Beaucroissant Fair was born.
Origins that may be even older
Medieval chroniclers mention gatherings prior to 1219, dating back to the construction of the Parménie chapel in 877. The market known as "la Vaude" is documented in various sources as early as the 9th or 10th century, when the Bishop of Grenoble would come annually to celebrate the Feast of the Holy Cross. In 1836, an ordinance by King Louis-Philippe I authorized a second fair in the spring, establishing the dual tradition of April and September.
A national-scale agricultural event
The September fair is the larger of the two annual editions. It covers more than 30 hectares, featuring 15 kilometers of walkways. Around 1,000 exhibitors set up shop, including 220 professionals in agricultural machinery and public works gathered in a covered exhibition area: tractors, harvesting machines, livestock tools, and forestry equipment. The market brings together over 700 vendors selling food, crafts, tools, home goods, furniture, and automobiles.
Livestock
The fair hosts nearly 700 head of livestock on Friday, a day dedicated to breeders, along 1 km of tie-rails. Cattle, horses, sheep, and goats are presented by breeders from the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region. The Southeast Charolais Breeders' Union holds its regional competition there, and the Isère Sheep Breeders' Union organizes animal presentations with sheepdog demonstrations.
Dog, poultry, and small animal fair
The dog fair brings together about twenty breeders. The poultry and small animal sector, located on the hillside overlooking the fairgrounds, gathers over 50 exhibitors: chickens, geese, guinea fowl, ducks, ornamental birds, rabbits, and rodents.
Funfair and dining
The funfair features about 70 attractions (rides, games, stalls) spread over one hectare and runs from 10:00 AM to midnight. The 80 bars and restaurants on-site serve from 8:30 AM to 11:00 PM, offering dishes like calf's head, paella, sauerkraut, couscous, Charolais steak, and mussels and fries, alongside numerous fast-food stands.
Where does it take place — Beaucroissant Fair
Beaucroissant Fair in brief
History of Beaucroissant Fair
Edition 2025 Sep 2025Other festivals near Beaucroissant
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