Monpazier Arts & Crafts Fair

An exceptional fair in an exceptional village

The Monpazier Arts & Crafts Fair is held every year during the Ascension weekend in the bastide of Monpazier, listed among the Most Beautiful Villages of France. This fair has become a must-attend event for lovers of artistic crafts in Dordogne and Nouvelle-Aquitaine. Organized by the Réseau des Métiers d'Art du Grand Bergeracois in partnership with the Communauté de Communes des Bastides Dordogne-Périgord, it highlights the excellence of artisanal know-how.

Forty craftspeople gathered

Each edition brings together more than forty craftspeople and artists, mainly from Nouvelle-Aquitaine and Dordogne, but also from all over France. Visitors stroll through the medieval streets of the bastide to discover a diversity of crafts and materials: ceramics, ironwork, glasswork, woodworking, textiles, jewelry, leatherwork, illumination, and many other disciplines. The permanent shops and temporary stands on the Place des Cornières offer a complete overview of artisanal creation.

Demonstrations, conferences, and workshops

Beyond the exhibition-sale, the fair offers a program of cultural activities. Demonstrations of know-how on the Place des Cornières and within the shops allow visitors to observe the creative process of the artisans. Micro-folie conferences are organized at the media library, as well as virtual reality experiences. Practical workshops for younger audiences—marbling, felting, and other techniques—introduce children to artistic crafts.

The "Les Mains d'Or" exhibition at the Bastideum

In parallel with the fair, the Bastideum, the bastide's interpretation center, hosts a themed exhibition featuring eight selected craftspeople and artists. This exhibition extends the discovery of artistic crafts in a museum setting, offering an in-depth look at the gestures and creations of these exceptional artisans.