Fete de la Pomme de Mirepoix

The apple takes center stage in the bastide town of Mirepoix

Since 1997, the Fete de la Pomme de Mirepoix has celebrated this emblematic fruit of Ariege and the Pyrenean foothills every autumn. On the third weekend of October, the Place Marechal Leclerc and its medieval arcades welcome thousands of visitors to discover the apple in all its forms: fresh apples of old and local varieties, apple juice pressed live, tarts, compotes, jams, cider, cider vinegar, and many other derived products.

Pressing, tastings, and local producers

One of the festival's highlights is the artisanal apple juice pressing, carried out in public with a traditional press. Visitors can bring their own apples to be pressed and take home their fresh juice. Local producers and artisans present their products: apples of old varieties, honey, cheeses, cured meats, and other specialties from the Ariege region. Tastings allow visitors to compare the flavors of different apple varieties.

Entertainment and apple sculptures

The Fete de la Pomme also offers entertainment for the whole family: monumental sculptures made of apples, creative workshops for children, a competition for the most beautiful apple tart, musical entertainment, and street performances. The event takes place in a friendly and warm atmosphere, marking the beginning of autumn in the medieval town.

A unifying autumn event

Organized by the association Mirepoix en Avant, which brings together the town's shopkeepers, the Fete de la Pomme is part of the tradition of local festivals that promote local products and Ariege's know-how. The event attracts visitors from the department and the entire Occitanie region each year, and contributes to the autumn animation of this bastide classified among the Most Beautiful Detours in France.