Fête de la Saint-Hubert d'Arc-en-Barrois

Arc-en-Barrois, capital of Saint-Hubert

Nestled in the heart of one of France's largest forest massifs, the village of Arc-en-Barrois has maintained an inseparable link with hunting and the forest for centuries. It is in this exceptional natural setting, at the foot of the château overlooking the Aujon valley, that the Fête de la Saint-Hubert is held each year, having become over the editions the emblematic event of the commune and one of the most important hunting gatherings in the Grand Est.

A market of local produce and hunting

From Saturday afternoon, a vast market of local produce and hunting sets up around the château and under heated marquees. Visitors can discover about sixty exhibitors offering regional products: game, wild boar and deer charcuterie, Langres and Époisses cheeses, honey from the Haute-Marne forests, champagne, and local wines. Cutlers, hunting clothing manufacturers, animal painters, and wood sculptors complete this rich and varied offering, providing a comprehensive panorama of the world of hunting and nature.

Game in the spotlight

The sale of fresh game is one of the market's highlights. Roe deer, wild boar, and pheasants from local hunts are offered for direct sale. On Friday evening, a large game auction under a heated marquee opens the festivities, attracting amateurs and professionals from all over the region.

Hunting horn calls, the soul of Saint-Hubert

Hunting horn players are omnipresent throughout the weekend. Several horn groups, including the Rallye Trompes Moselle Sarre and other regional ensembles, take turns performing the great calls of French hunting traditions: the Bien-Aller, the Vue, the Hallali sur pied, the Hallali par terre, and the Curée. These powerful and moving calls resonate through the village streets and the church vaults, creating a unique atmosphere.

The solemn Mass of Saint-Hubert

On Saturday late afternoon, the Mass of Saint-Hubert is celebrated in the Saint-Martin church of Arc-en-Barrois, decorated for the occasion with autumn colors: foliage, deer antlers, wheat sheaves, and floral arrangements. Several hundred faithful and visitors attend this ceremony punctuated by horn calls, a moment of reflection and communion with nature. Before the mass, the game display — a solemn presentation of game harvested from the surrounding forests — is exhibited in front of the château.

Festivities and conviviality

The festival would not be complete without its moments of popular conviviality. On Saturday evening, after the mass, fireworks light up the sky of Arc-en-Barrois, followed by a grand ball under a heated marquee that brings together several hundred dancers. On Sunday, the entertainment continues with hunting dog demonstrations, workshops for children, and carriage rides. Visitors can enjoy the food stalls offering game-based specialties: wild boar stew, deer terrine, and other forest dishes.

Exceptional forest and hunting heritage

Arc-en-Barrois is located in the heart of the Arc-Châteauvillain state forest, one of the largest deciduous forests in France with its 11,000 hectares. This forest is home to remarkable wildlife — deer, roe deer, wild boar, foxes — making this territory one of the prime locations for big game hunting in France. The Fête de la Saint-Hubert is part of this age-old tradition and helps to pass on to new generations the values of respect for nature, sustainable wildlife management, and the preservation of rural heritage.