Fête du Bleu d'Auvergne
The great festival of Bleu d'Auvergne AOP cheese in Riom-ès-Montagnes
About Fête du Bleu
Bleu d'Auvergne AOP: An Exceptional Cheese Born in Cantal
Bleu d'Auvergne is a cow's milk blue cheese, born in the mid-19th century in the Auvergne mountains. Its history is intimately linked to the ingenuity of Antoine Roussel, an Auvergne pharmacist who, in 1845, systematized the appearance of blue veins by seeding the curd with blue mold from rye bread and piercing the cheese with knitting needles to encourage the development of Penicillium roqueforti. This revolutionary piercing technique gave birth to a unique cheese, recognized by a Controlled Designation of Origin (AOC) in 1975 and then by a Protected Designation of Origin (AOP) in 1996.
Bleu d'Auvergne is made exclusively with cow's milk collected in an area covering Cantal, Puy-de-Dôme, and a few neighboring communes. Its creamy and melting texture, streaked with blue-green veins, offers powerful aromas and a flavor that is both bold and balanced, milder than that of Roquefort. It comes in two sizes: a small one of about 1 kg and a large one of 2 to 3 kg.
The Fête du Bleu d'Auvergne: A Gourmet Gathering Since 1998
It was in Riom-ès-Montagnes, a small town in northern Cantal perched at 840 meters altitude and considered the birthplace of Bleu d'Auvergne, that the Fête du Bleu d'Auvergne was born in 1998. Driven by the association Festi'Bleu and SIRBA (Syndicat Interprofessionnel Régional du Bleu d'Auvergne), this event has established itself over the years as one of the largest cheese and regional product events in the Massif Central.
Every year, on the 3rd weekend of August, the Place du Monument and the streets of the town center transform into a vast open-air market bringing together over 100 exhibitors: farmer producers, ripeners, artisans, and winemakers from all over Auvergne and beyond. More than 20,000 visitors flock to discover, taste, and buy the best products from the Cantal region.
A Rich and Varied Program
The Fête du Bleu d'Auvergne offers a dense program over two days. The demonstrations of Bleu d'Auvergne production allow visitors to follow all the stages of making this exceptional cheese live, from seeding the milk to piercing the cheeses. Cooking workshops led by local chefs reveal the many ways to cook with Bleu d'Auvergne, in tarts, sauces, verrines, or desserts.
There are plenty of activities: demonstrations of Salers cow milking, traditional flour making, exhibition of old agricultural equipment, assembly of artisanal knives, and fresh milk tastings immerse visitors in the Auvergne pastoral world. Children enjoy dedicated activities, including a 80 m² remote-controlled miniature car circuit.
The festivities are punctuated by parades of musical and folk groups that parade through the town's streets all day long. On Saturday evening, a dinner-concert served under a marquee and gourmet rides on the Gentiane Express — the tourist train connecting Riom-ès-Montagnes to the Barajol viaduct — offer a unique gastronomic and railway experience. The evening continues with a live concert followed by a DJ set until the early hours of the morning.
A Popular and Unifying Event
Free and open to all, the Fête du Bleu d'Auvergne embodies the conviviality and generosity of Cantal. It promotes the know-how of local producers, raises public awareness of the richness of Auvergne's AOP cheeses, and contributes to the tourist appeal of Riom-ès-Montagnes and Haut-Cantal. By celebrating this emblematic cheese in its region of origin, it perpetuates a living link between gastronomic heritage, pastoral tradition, and popular celebration.
Fête du Bleu — edition 2026
28th edition of the Bleu d'Auvergne Festival in Riom-ès-Montagnes (Cantal), on Saturday, August 22 and Sunday, August 23, 2026. An anniversary edition that coincides with the 50th anniversary of the AOP Bleu d'Auvergne. Two days of free festivities centered around the famous cheese: a large market of local products and crafts, manufacturing demonstrations, tastings, folk parades, brotherhoods, entertainment for the whole family, and gourmet rides on the Gentiane Express.
28th Bleu d'Auvergne Festival — 2026 Edition
The 28th edition of the Bleu d'Auvergne Festival will take place on Saturday, August 22 and Sunday, August 23, 2026 in Riom-ès-Montagnes, on Place du Monument and in the town center. This edition is special: it also celebrates the 50th anniversary of the AOP Bleu d'Auvergne. Organized by the Festi'Bleu Association, this essential event of the Cantal region gathers more than 20,000 visitors each year around the Bleu d'Auvergne AOP cheese.
The program revolves around a large market of local products and crafts bringing together more than 100 exhibitors (Auvergne wines, charcuterie, lentils, honey, gentian liqueurs, artisanal ice creams…). There will be demonstrations of Bleu d'Auvergne cheese making, Salers cow milking, flour flower making, old agricultural equipment, knife assembly, tastings of dairy products, and numerous activities for the whole family.
Parades of musical and folk groups, as well as the participation of brotherhoods, will animate the streets of the town center throughout the weekend. On Saturday evening, the festivities continue into the night with musical entertainment. Gourmet rides on the Gentiane Express allow visitors to discover the local railway heritage while tasting the famous blue cheese.
Programme Fête du Bleu 2026
Saturday, August 22, 2026
- 9:00 AM — Site opening
- 10:00 AM — Opening of the large market of local products and crafts (over 100 exhibitors)
- All Day — Demonstrations of Bleu d'Auvergne cheese making, Salers cow milking, flour flower making, old agricultural equipment, knife assembly, dairy product tastings
- All Day — Parades of musical and folk groups, participation of brotherhoods
- All Day — Gourmet rides on the Gentiane Express
- All Day — Children's entertainment
- Evening — Musical entertainment (the festival continues into the evening on Saturday)
Sunday, August 23, 2026
- 9:00 AM — Site opening
- 10:00 AM — Opening of the large market of local products and crafts
- All Day — Demonstrations, tastings, entertainment around dairy products
- All Day — Parades of musical and folk groups, brotherhoods
- All Day — Gourmet rides on the Gentiane Express
- 7:00 PM — Closing
Highlights Fête du Bleu 2026
- Anniversary edition: 50 years of AOP Bleu d'Auvergne
- Large market with over 100 exhibitors of local products and crafts
- Demonstrations of Bleu d'Auvergne cheese making and Salers cow milking
- Folk parades and participation of brotherhoods
- Gourmet rides on the Gentiane Express
- Free admission, entertainment for the whole family
Prices Fête du Bleu 2026
Practical information — Fête du Bleu
Practical Information
Access
Riom-ès-Montagnes is located in northern Cantal (15), about 90 km north of Aurillac and 100 km southwest of Clermont-Ferrand. From the A75, take exit 23 (Massiac) then follow the D678 towards Murat and Riom-ès-Montagnes. From Bort-les-Orgues, follow the D922.
Location
The festival takes place in the very center of Riom-ès-Montagnes, around the Place du Monument and in the adjacent streets. The producers' market and activities take over the entire town center.
Opening Hours
Saturday from 9 AM to 1 AM. Sunday from 9 AM to 7 PM. Festivities and market open at 10 AM each day.
Prices
Admission is completely free. Saturday evening dinner-concert is paid (under marquee, reservation required). Gourmet rides on the Gentiane Express are paid (departures every hour from 10 AM to 12 PM and from 2 PM to 6 PM, 50-minute trip with tasting included).
Food & Drink
Over 100 exhibitors offer tastings and direct sales of local products: AOP cheeses, charcuterie, artisanal breads, honey, wines, and local beers. Numerous food stalls allow for lunch on site.
Tips
- Come early in the morning to enjoy the market in the best conditions.
- Book your accommodation in advance, as accommodation capacity is limited.
- Bring appropriate clothing: at 840 m altitude, the weather can be changeable even in August.
- The event is very family-friendly with activities for all ages.
- The Gentiane Express offers special gourmet rides during the festival: remember to book.
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Where does it take place — Fête du Bleu
Place du Monument, centre-bourg de Riom-ès-Montagnes
Place du Monument, 15400 Riom-ès-Montagnes, 15400 Riom-ès-Montagnes