La Bresse Welcome Fair

The Welcome Fair: a showcase of the Hautes Vosges terroir

Every summer, the town of La Bresse, the largest mountain resort in Eastern France, opens its doors wide to holidaymakers and lovers of the Vosges region during the Welcome Fair. This festive and friendly event takes place at the Halle des Congrès, in the heart of the village, and brings together local producers, craftspeople, and tourism professionals for a day of discovery and sharing.

A market of producers and artisans from the Vosges mountains

The fair brings together around thirty exhibitors from all over the Vosges massif. Visitors can find the finest of the Vosges terroir: farm-made Munster cheese aged in the cellars of the Moselotte valley, mountain honey harvested from the high pastures, wild blueberry and raspberry jams, beechwood-smoked cured meats, Vosges pies, wild bilberries, and artisanal schnapps and brandies. Artisans showcase their creations inspired by the mountain heritage: wood carving, marquetry, pottery, Vosges stone jewelry, and traditional textiles perpetuating a know-how inherited from the Bresse manufactories.

The welcome drink: a tradition of mountain hospitality

A highlight of the event, the welcome drink embodies the legendary spirit of hospitality of the Bressauds, summed up by their historic motto "Rather poor than a servant". Around a free tasting of local products offered by the Tourist Office and the Municipality, tourism professionals present visitors with the summer activities program: hikes on the Vosges ridges, mountain biking excursions, visits to farm inns, discovery of mountain lakes and waterfalls, water activities, and adventure courses. It is a special moment for exchange between locals and holidaymakers.

Entertainment and shows for all audiences

The Welcome Fair offers a varied program of entertainment throughout the day: traditional Vosges music with accordion and hurdy-gurdy, artisanal candy-making workshops, old-fashioned wood carving demonstrations, Vosges tales and legends for children, and giant wooden games. Photographic exhibitions highlight the magnificent landscapes of the Ballons des Vosges Regional Natural Park and the massif's wildlife, from the black grouse to the Eurasian lynx.

La Bresse, tourist capital of the Hautes Vosges

Nestled at an altitude of 636 meters in the upper Moselotte valley, La Bresse is a commune of nearly 4,500 inhabitants whose history dates back to the 7th century. Destroyed by 80% during World War II, it was completely rebuilt thanks to the tenacity of its inhabitants. Today, it is the leading winter sports resort in the Grand Est region, and it also shines in the summer thanks to its exceptional natural setting, its hiking trails to Hohneck and the Route des Crêtes, and its festive events that perpetuate mountain traditions.