Fête de la Gentiane

ℹ️ Event discontinued. The Gentian Festival of Riom-ès-Montagnes is no longer held: its last known edition dates back to the early 2020s (2022), and no further events are planned. This page is maintained as an archive to preserve the memory of the Pays Gentiane. For the gentian festival that still takes place in the region, please see the Gentian Festival in Picherande (Puy-de-Dôme), held in mid-August.

Yellow gentian: The iconic plant of the Cantal Massif

The yellow gentian (Gentiana lutea) is a majestic perennial plant that grows on the plateaus and summer pastures of the Massif Central, at altitudes between 800 and 1,800 meters. Recognizable by its large, veined leaves and golden-yellow flowers arranged in tiers, it can grow over a meter tall and live for several decades. Its thick, deep root, traditionally harvested by hand by gentian harvesters using a special fork called a "diable," has been used for centuries for its digestive and tonic properties.

It is in Riom-ès-Montagnes, in the heart of the Pays Gentiane in northern Cantal, that this tradition is most vibrant. The town gave its name to the Pays Gentiane and is home to the production facility for Avèze, the famous gentian-based aperitif created in 1929, which has become one of the most iconic drinks of the Auvergne region.

A popular festival from 1997 to the 2020s

The Gentian Festival was born in 1997, driven by enthusiasts gathered within the Autour de la Gentiane association. Their goal was to introduce the general public to the richness of the region, the traditional skills associated with gentian, the local economic and community fabric, and the natural and historical heritage of the Pays Gentiane. For over twenty years, this free, popular festival brought thousands of visitors to the streets of Riom-ès-Montagnes every mid-July.

A program blending terroir, nature, and tradition

The craft market was the heart of the festival, bringing together dozens of producers and artisans from the Pays Gentiane and Cantal: cheesemakers, butchers, beekeepers, herbalists, distillers, and local creators. Visitors could discover the many products derived from gentian—liqueurs, syrups, candies, cosmetics—as well as other Cantal specialties.

Discovery hikes took participants out onto the plateaus to witness demonstrations of gentian harvesting by the professionals, an ancestral practice that fascinated both young and old. The Gentiane Express, an iconic tourist train running along the old railway line between Riom-ès-Montagnes and the Barajol viaduct, offered special trips with stops on the plateaus for demonstrations and tastings. Concerts of traditional Auvergne music enlivened the streets and squares, featuring folk groups, cabrette players, and hurdy-gurdy musicians.

Exhibitions traced the history of the gentian and its exploitation in the Cantal, and the day would conclude in the evening with a free concert and dance, in the purest tradition of Cantal village festivals. The Gentian Festival remains a symbol of the living heritage of the Pays Gentiane and the warmth of its inhabitants.