Cheese and Gastronomy Fair

Cheese and Gastronomy Fair of Sainte-Maure-de-Touraine

The Cheese and Gastronomy Fair of Sainte-Maure-de-Touraine is one of the largest gastronomic events in Touraine. Every first weekend of June, the town welcomes between 15,000 and 20,000 visitors to celebrate the famous Sainte-Maure de Touraine goat cheese, a jewel of French cheese heritage.

The Sainte-Maure de Touraine AOP

Sainte-Maure de Touraine is a raw milk goat cheese, with a soft paste and a natural ash rind, recognizable by its log shape pierced by a rye straw. It has benefited from a Protected Designation of Origin (AOP) since 1996, guaranteeing its origin, its production according to traditional methods, and the quality of its aging. The fair is an opportunity to discover this emblematic cheese in all its forms and to meet the producers who perpetuate this ancestral know-how.

Cheese Competitions

The fair hosts three cheese competitions which are one of the highlights of the event: a young judges' competition on Saturday afternoon, accompanied by an educational tasting activity, as well as an interregional competition on Sunday morning. These competitions bring together producers from all over France and contribute to the influence of the goat sector.

Gourmet Market and Entertainment

The fair extends over the Place du Maréchal Leclerc and through the town's streets with a vast gourmet market offering cheeses from all over France, charcuterie, Touraine wines, honeys, jams, and many regional specialties. Folk and musical entertainment punctuate the weekend, while local craft exhibitions complete the offerings.

The Cheese Brotherhood

The Commanderie du Fromage de Sainte-Maure de Touraine plays a central role in the organization and animation of the fair. This gastronomic brotherhood, guardian of cheese traditions, participates in the inductions and ceremonies that mark the event. Each year, an invited region comes to present its specialties, adding a dimension of discovery to the fair. In 2025, Brittany was in the spotlight.