Foire de Béré

Nearly a thousand years of history in the heart of the Châteaubriant region

The Foire de Béré dates back well before the year 1000, likely to the Merovingian period, during which numerous agro-pastoral activities generated commercial exchanges around the small town of Béré. The first official mention dates back to 1050, when the knight Brient granted the Saint-Sauveur priory of Béré to the Touraine abbey of Marmoutier, along with the revenues from a fair. This donation was confirmed the same year by Airard, bishop of Nantes. From the 13th century onwards, the fair was dedicated to the Holy Cross, celebrated on September 14th, and held on the Champ Saint-Père, on the slope overlooking the Saint-Jean-Baptiste church of Béré.

A fair labeled "Foire de France"

After the Second World War, the Foire de Béré underwent profound changes: the creation of an organizing committee, the acquisition of land by the town of Châteaubriant, and the implementation of exporamas (themed exhibition halls). Today, labeled "Foire de France", it has become an unmissable event in the calendar of Châteaubriant and the entire region. Every year, on the second weekend of September, it welcomes around 50,000 visitors over four days.

A multifaceted event

The Foire de Béré takes place at the Parc des Expositions de Béré and offers a wide variety of areas:

• Commercial area: over 450 exhibitors presenting agricultural equipment, cars, outdoor equipment, gardens, housing, and local crafts.
• Livestock and equestrian area: animal competitions, equestrian demonstrations, and presentations of regional breeds.
• Exporama: a themed hall renewed each year with workshops, demonstrations, and tastings related to the edition's theme.
• Funfair: one of the largest in the West, with over 770 fairground workers offering rides and attractions for all ages.
• Activities: parades, brass bands, street shows, fireworks on Sunday evening, gastronomic guilds, and sports awards ceremonies.

An economic driver for the region

A true regional economic showcase, the Foire de Béré has an impact on the entire Châteaubriant-Derval intercommunal area (26 municipalities) and beyond. Since January 1st, 2025, it has been organized by a Public Industrial and Commercial Establishment (EPIC) chaired by Jean-Luc Marsollier, bringing together municipal elected officials and volunteers from the Foire Committee. Local sports associations actively contribute to the event by managing restaurants and bars on site.