Fête de la Truffe de Lalbenque
The essential meeting for the black diamond of Quercy
About Fête de la Truffe
Every year, on the last weekend of January, Lalbenque, the capital of black truffle, celebrates the black diamond of Quercy during a three-day gastronomic festival. Classified as a Remarkable Site of Taste and inscribed as intangible cultural heritage of France since 2021, this festival brings together truffle growers, starred chefs, and enthusiasts around gastronomic meals, truffle markets, truffle hunting demonstrations, conferences, and activities for all audiences.
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Lalbenque, undisputed capital of black truffle
Nestled in the heart of the Causses du Quercy in the Lot department, the commune of Lalbenque is recognized as the capital of black truffle (Tuber melanosporum). Its famous truffle market, institutionalized in 1962 after the creation of the Truffle Growers' Syndicate in 1961, is the most important in southwestern France. Every Tuesday from December to March, the Rue du Marché aux Truffes comes alive according to a codified ceremony that has forged the village's reputation far beyond the borders of the Lot.
The Truffle Festival: three days of gastronomic celebration
Organized every year on the last weekend of January, the Fête de la Truffe de Lalbenque is the highlight of the truffle season. For three days, the village transforms into a temple of truffle gastronomy, offering a rich and varied program accessible to all audiences. From gastronomic meals prepared by renowned chefs to controlled retail truffle markets, including truffle hunting demonstrations with truffle dogs, each moment is an invitation to discover the truffle in all its forms.
A program rich in flavors and discoveries
The festival opens on Friday with the official welcome of the season's godparents and a walking dinner in the restaurants of Rue du Marché aux Truffes, combining truffles and fine wines. Saturday features culinary demonstrations, amphitheater truffle hunting workshops, a retail truffle market, and a discovery meal in the Salle des fêtes. Sunday is marked by the traditional truffle growers' mass at the Saint-Quirin church, followed by the blessing of the truffle dogs, and then by exceptional gastronomic meals prepared by starred chefs.
Living heritage recognized nationally
The Lalbenque truffle market obtained the prestigious Remarkable Site of Taste label in 1994, a distinction that testifies to the excellence of this gastronomic heritage. In 2021, truffle cultivation in Lalbenque was classified as intangible cultural heritage of France, a first step towards UNESCO recognition. The Remarkable Site of Taste marquee, set up on Place du Sol, hosts producers from all over France during the festival and offers on-site catering with the famous truffle scrambled eggs.
Collective organization serving the terroir
The Truffle Festival is driven by the Lalbenque Truffle Steering Committee, chaired by the municipality of Lalbenque in partnership with the Cahors - Vallée du Lot Tourist Office, the association of truffle growers of the Lalbenque canton and Causses du Quercy, the Remarkable Site of Taste, and the Causses du Quercy Regional Natural Park. This unifying event mobilizes all stakeholders in the Lot truffle sector and contributes to Lalbenque's reputation as an exceptional gastronomic destination.
Fête de la Truffe — edition 2026
The Fête de la Truffe de Lalbenque 2026 will be held from January 23 to 25, 2026, sponsored by Henri Leconte, former tennis champion and gastronomy enthusiast. Three days of festivities around the black diamond with truffle markets, gastronomic meals, truffle hunting demonstrations, and free activities.
Truffle Festival 2026: Henri Leconte, exceptional patron
The 2026 edition of the Fête de la Truffe de Lalbenque will welcome a renowned patron from January 23 to 25: Henri Leconte, former world number 5 in tennis and Davis Cup winner, passionate about gastronomy and truffles. He will participate in the festivities on Saturday, January 24, and will be available for a public meeting on Sunday, January 25 at 11 AM at the Hôtel La Tissandière.
The program promises three days rich in discoveries: truffle hunting demonstrations, geological presentations, truffle field walks, photographic exhibitions, and truffle markets from Friday to Sunday. On Saturday evening, a truffle discovery meal will be offered in the Salle des fêtes for €45 with musical entertainment. On Sunday, chef Pascal Bardet of Le Gindreau will offer an exceptional gastronomic brunch for €155, and a gastronomic meal will be served for €90.
Free activities include truffle hunting demonstrations, geological presentations, truffle field walks, and photographic exhibitions. Ticketing for meals is open online and at the Lalbenque and Cahors tourist offices.
Programme Fête de la Truffe 2026
Program of the Fête de la Truffe 2026
Friday, January 23
- Afternoon: Official opening, welcome of patron Henri Leconte
- Evening: Truffle markets and evening activities
Saturday, January 24
- All day: Truffle hunting demonstrations, geological presentations, truffle field walks
- 11 AM: Retail truffle market
- All day: Photographic exhibitions, artisan market, SRG marquee
- 7:30 PM: Truffle discovery meal in the Salle des fêtes with musical entertainment — €45
Sunday, January 25
- 11 AM: Truffle growers' mass and blessing of the truffle dogs (Saint-Quirin church)
- 11 AM: Public meeting with Henri Leconte at Hôtel La Tissandière
- 11:15 AM: Gastronomic brunch by chef Pascal Bardet (Le Gindreau) — €155
- 12:30 PM: Gastronomic meal in the Salle des fêtes — €90
- All day: Truffle market, exhibitions, activities
Highlights Fête de la Truffe 2026
What awaits you in 2026
- Prestigious patron: Henri Leconte, former world number 5 in tennis and Davis Cup winner
- Exceptional brunch by chef Pascal Bardet (Le Gindreau) at €155
- Free activities: truffle hunting demonstrations, truffle field walks, exhibitions
- Retail truffle markets from Friday to Sunday
- Remarkable Site of Taste marquee with truffle catering
- Truffle growers' mass and blessing of the truffle dogs
Prices Fête de la Truffe 2026
Practical information — Fête de la Truffe
Access
Lalbenque is located 20 km south of Cahors, on the Causses du Quercy. The festival takes place in several locations in the town center: Place du Sol, Salle des fêtes, Halle de la Mairie, Maison de la Truffe (67 Rue du Marché aux Truffes), and Saint-Quirin church.
- By car: From Cahors (20 min), follow the D6 towards Lalbenque. From Toulouse (1h30), take the A62 motorway then the D820 towards Cahors.
- Parking: Free signposted parking lots on the outskirts of the village.
Opening Hours
The festival runs from Friday evening to Sunday late afternoon. Daytime markets and activities are accessible from 10 am to 6 pm.
Prices
Outdoor activities, truffle hunting demonstrations, and markets: free access. Meals by reservation: discovery meal around €45, gastronomic meal around €90, exceptional brunch around €155.
Reservations
Online ticketing: billetterie.festik.net or at the Lalbenque and Cahors tourist offices.
Contact
- Phone: 05 65 31 50 08
- Website: capitaledelatruffe.lalbenque.fr
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Travel to this festival
Book your train or bus to reach Fête de la Truffe at the best price.
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Where does it take place — Fête de la Truffe
Centre-bourg de Lalbenque
Place du Sol, Lalbenque, 46230 Lalbenque