Foire au Jambon de Troyes

A Living Medieval Tradition

The Foire au Jambon de Troyes, formerly known as the "lard and ham fair," is a tradition dating back to the Middle Ages. Every year, on Maundy Thursday—the Thursday before Easter—the city of Troyes perpetuates this custom that celebrates the end of Lent, a period of fasting and abstinence during which meat consumption was forbidden. The fair thus marked the return of pork to the stalls, in an atmosphere of popular rejoicing. This centuries-old tradition makes the Foire au Jambon one of the oldest and most deeply rooted events in the identity of Troyes.

Pork Products and Regional Specialties

Set up around and inside the covered Halles market, an emblematic monument of Troyes' city center built of iron and glass, the fair brings together dozens of exhibitors from Brittany, the Southwest, the East, and all over France each year. You can find hams of all kinds—raw, cooked, smoked—sausages, pâtés, andouillettes de Troyes (the local specialty par excellence), rillettes, and other artisanal pork products. The merchants of the Halles market also join in the celebration, creating a gourmet and friendly atmosphere that attracts thousands of visitors from 8 a.m.

Flea Market and Antiques on Place Saint-Rémy

Alongside the gastronomic aspect, Place Saint-Rémy, located a stone's throw from the Halles market, hosts a flea market and a market of antique dealers, second-hand booksellers, and painters. Under the glass roof of the square, bargain hunters and strollers browse among the stalls in search of finds and collector's items. This dual dimension—gastronomy and flea market—makes the Foire au Jambon a full-day event, where the pleasures of the palate combine with those of discovery and curiosity.

A Popular Event in the Heart of Troyes' Heritage

The Foire au Jambon de Troyes is more than just a market: it is a rite of passage between winter and spring, a moment of conviviality where locals and visitors gather in the picturesque streets of the historic center, between half-timbered houses and Gothic churches. The event is free and outdoors, accessible to all, and is part of the city of Troyes' intangible heritage, alongside other traditions such as the Champagne fairs that made the city famous in the Middle Ages.