Fête des Airelles-Myrtilles

The Fête des Airelles-Myrtilles: Half a Century of Tradition in Sauvain

Since 1975, the village of Sauvain, nestled in the heart of the Hautes Chaumes du Forez in the Loire region, has paid tribute to bilberries and blueberries, these small purple wild fruits that grow naturally on the high-altitude plateaus of the massif. Every August 14th and 15th, this characterful village — the birthplace of fourme de Montbrison — comes alive for a popular festival that has become one of the unmissable summer events in the Loire department.

The Sauvagnet: A World-Unique Blueberry Fritter

The undisputed star of the festival is the sauvagnet, whose name is a contraction of "Sauvain" and "beignet" (fritter). It is a large, thick pancake tinged purple by the blueberries used in its preparation. The village bakers make this fritter only once a year, exclusively for the Fête des Airelles-Myrtilles, making it an absolutely unique specialty. Tasting a hot sauvagnet in the village streets is to savor a tradition that can be experienced nowhere else.

From Popular Origins to a Recognized Regional Festival

The history of this festivity dates back to 1975, when the village's youth club came up with the original idea of highlighting the bilberries and blueberries that grow on the high pastures of the Hautes Chaumes. While the initiative came from the young people of the time, it was the Festival Committee of Sauvain that took over the organization in 1983, structuring the event and giving it the scale it has today. Since 1998, the Museum of Fourme and Traditions (Maison Sauvagnarde) has been a partner of the festival, enriching the program with exhibitions and demonstrations of ancient know-how.

A Festive Program Combining Terroir, Folklore, and Heritage

The festival begins on the evening of August 14th with a convivial meal and a free open-air cinema for all ages. August 15th, the main day, offers a dense program:

• Local Producers' Market: Cheesemakers, charcutiers, beekeepers, and artisans from Forez and Monts du Forez present their specialties.
• Sale of bilberries and blueberries (subject to availability) and tasting of sauvagnets in the village.
• Folk Groups: Traditional dances and music from Forez and Auvergne animate the village streets.
• Sport Woodcutting Show: Impressive demonstrations of axe and chainsaw woodcutting.
• Museum of Fourme and Traditions: Open from 10 AM to 6:30 PM, it showcases on 800 m² the making of fourme de Montbrison, the operation of the hydraulic reciprocating saw, clog making, and a dozen exhibitions on past life in the Monts du Forez.
• Family Activities: Clown show, dog trainer, exhibition of vintage tractors and cars, BMX.

The lunch on August 15th, served in the countryside area, features blueberry dishes with a menu including beef shoulder in blueberry sauce, potatoes, fourme cheese, and blueberries for dessert.

The Hautes Chaumes: A Natural Setting for Wild Blueberries

The Hautes Chaumes du Forez, vast high-altitude plateaus (1,200 to 1,640 m) located on the border between the Loire and Puy-de-Dôme departments, are the natural habitat of wild blueberries and bilberries. These heather and blueberry moors, swept by the winds, are protected areas with remarkable natural heritage. However, climatic hazards — hail, late frosts, drought — regularly threaten the fresh blueberry harvest, reminding us of the fragility of this wild fruit and the importance of celebrating it.