Carpentras Strawberry Festival

The Carpentras Strawberry, Treasure of the Comtat Venaissin

In the fertile plain of the Comtat Venaissin, at the foot of Mont Ventoux, Carpentras has been cultivating an exceptional strawberry for centuries. The sandy, sunny soils of the plain, irrigated by the clear waters of the Comtat, offer ideal conditions for strawberry cultivation. The emblematic varieties — the tangy and fruity Gariguette, the raspberry-noted Ciflorette, or the sweet and fragrant Charlotte — have long made the reputation of local producers in the largest markets in France.

The Carpentras Strawberry Festival was born from the desire of farmers and residents to celebrate this emblematic product together, the pride of market gardening agriculture rooted in the identity of the Vaucluse. Every April, it brings together producers, artisans, gourmet brotherhoods, and families in the good cheer of an authentic local festival.

The Strawberry Market: The Heart of the Festival

The event is organized around a large strawberry market where Comtat producers offer their freshly picked punnets at preferential prices, in a lively Provençal market atmosphere. Visitors can taste, compare, and leave with arms full of sun-drenched strawberries, perfect for eating plain or for making jams, coulis, and desserts.

Free tastings are organized throughout the day: plain strawberries, strawberries with cream, strawberries with sugar, but also more elaborate preparations — tarts, smoothies, sorbets — made on the spot by local artisans and regional restaurateurs. The Confrérie de la Fraise du Comtat Venaissin (Brotherhood of the Comtat Venaissin Strawberry) is present, in traditional attire, to liven up ceremonies and induct new members with gaiety.

Family and Cultural Entertainment

The Strawberry Festival is a true village festival, joyful and open to all. Musical entertainment punctuates the day, with Provençal and Occitan music groups, choirs, and local orchestras performing on stage. Children enjoy a dedicated area with inflatable games, face painting, creative workshops around strawberries, and tasting contests.

Transformation workshops allow the curious to learn how to prepare strawberry jams, coulis, and sorbets with passionate producers and artisans. A "most beautiful strawberry" contest and a contest for the best strawberry-based recipe liven up the festival in a good-natured atmosphere. Local producers and artisans — market gardeners, beekeepers, wine producers, cheesemakers — complete the market stalls to offer a true Comtat regional products fair.

Carpentras, a Comtat City Steeped in History

The Strawberry Festival is also an opportunity to discover or rediscover Carpentras, the former capital of the Comtat Venaissin, a papal territory enclosed within the Vaucluse for several centuries. The city preserves remarkable heritage: the southern Gothic Saint-Siffrein Cathedral with its famous "rat ball", the Roman Triumphal Arch (1st century AD), the Carpentras Synagogue (1367), the oldest synagogue in France still in operation, and the medieval belfry. On Friday mornings, the legendary Carpentras market spreads through all the streets of the city center, one of the largest and liveliest in the Vaucluse.

A Free and Friendly Festival for the Whole Family

Admission and participation in the Strawberry Festival are completely free. The event takes place outdoors, in the heart of the historic city center of Carpentras, in the area of the avenues and the main square. Local catering is available on site for lunch on the terrace with a view of the Comtat city. Access is facilitated for people with reduced mobility. Pets are allowed on a leash.