Biennial gastronomic festival of the eel in the Somme marshes
The Festival of the Eel is a biennial gastronomic festival held every two years in July, on even-numbered years, in the small village of Éclusier-Vaux, in the heart of the marshes of the Somme Valley. Since 1986, this hamlet of 140 inhabitants has welcomed over 7,000 visitors to taste eel in all its forms — smoked, grilled, in matelote, in terrine — and to celebrate this emblematic fish of the Picardy wetlands. Driven by the Éclusier-Vaux festival committee, this popular festival also offers street performances, an artisan market, water activities, and entertainment for the whole family.
Every two years, the tiny village of Éclusier-Vaux, nestled in the heart of the marshes of the Somme Valley, between Péronne and Amiens, transforms into the capital of the eel. The Festival of the Eel, created in 1986, celebrates this mysterious and flavorful fish that has populated the rivers, ponds, and marshes of the Somme for millennia.
The eel is inseparable from the identity of the Picardy wetlands. The Somme Valley, with its ponds, peat bogs, and marshes, is one of the last major natural habitats for the European eel (Anguilla anguilla) in France. This fish, with its extraordinary life cycle — it is born in the Sargasso Sea, crosses the Atlantic, and travels up European rivers to grow before returning to reproduce in the ocean — has been fished and consumed in the Somme since the Middle Ages.
In Éclusier-Vaux, eel fishing is an ancestral tradition. The village itself derives its name from the locks that once regulated water levels in the marshes, facilitating the capture of this elusive fish. The Festival of the Eel was born from the desire to preserve and promote this culinary and natural heritage threatened by the scarcity of the species.
The heart of the festival is, of course, the tasting. Eel is prepared and served in all its forms: artisanal smoking, wood-fired grilling, cooked in matelote (traditional wine stew), in terrine, in soup, or in rillettes. Free tastings allow newcomers to discover this little-known product, while connoisseurs can enjoy the preparations of local restaurateurs and producers.
The gastronomy is not limited to eel: a market of producers and artisans offers specialties from the Picardy region — cheeses, honeys, cured meats, craft beers, jams — in a gourmet and friendly fair atmosphere.
The Festival of the Eel is much more than just a gastronomic event. The village of Éclusier-Vaux, with only 140 inhabitants, puts in a remarkable effort to welcome over 7,000 visitors for a weekend. Street performances liven up the alleys, an artisan market showcases the know-how of local creators, and artistic exhibitions take over barns and farmyards.
Water activities are another highlight of the festival: boat trips on the marshes, canoe-kayak excursions, and guided tours of the ponds of Haute-Somme allow visitors to immerse themselves in the aquatic landscape that gave birth to this culinary tradition. Archery, traditional games, and children's entertainment complete the program.
The Festival of the Eel embodies the vitality of a rural and wetland territory too often overlooked. The marshes of Haute-Somme, designated a Ramsar site (a wetland of international importance), are a natural heritage of exceptional richness. By attracting thousands of visitors to this discreet area, the festival helps to raise awareness and promote a fragile ecosystem and unique culinary know-how.
20th anniversary edition of the Festival of the Eel in Éclusier-Vaux. Biennial gastronomic festival in the heart of the Somme marshes. Eel tastings, producers' market, shows, water activities. 40 years of tradition.
In 2026, the Festival of the Eel celebrates a double exceptional anniversary: its 20th edition and its 40 years of existence. Since 1986, this biennial event has continued to grow and shine, making the tiny village of Éclusier-Vaux a gourmet convergence point for lovers of gastronomy and natural heritage.
For this anniversary edition on July 11 and 12, 2026, eel will once again be celebrated in all its forms: artisanally smoked, wood-fired grilled, cooked in traditional matelote, and in terrine. The market of producers and artisans, street performances, boat trips, canoe-kayak, and children's entertainment will liven up this festive weekend in the heart of the Haute-Somme marshes.
By car: Éclusier-Vaux is located in the Haute-Somme valley, between Péronne (15 km) and Albert (20 km), about 40 km east of Amiens. From the A1 or A29, take Péronne then follow the D1 towards Albert.
Village of Éclusier-Vaux (80340), in the heart of the Haute-Somme marshes.
A weekend in July, on even-numbered years (next edition in 2026). The festival historically takes place in mid-July.
Free admission. Free tastings offered. Paid catering on site.
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Village d'Éclusier-Vaux
Centre du village, 80340 Éclusier-Vaux