Festival of the Eel

The Festival of the Eel: a gastronomic treasure in the heart of the Somme marshes

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.

Eel: a gastronomic and natural heritage

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.

A feast of eel in all its forms

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.

A village in celebration

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.

An identity event for the territory

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.