Foire de la Sainte-Catherine

The Foire de la Sainte-Catherine: nearly eight centuries of tradition in Yenne

With its 774th edition in 2025, the Foire de la Sainte-Catherine de Yenne is a living monument of Savoyard and French intangible heritage. Since the 13th century, every year around November 25th - the feast day of Saint Catherine of Alexandria - the town of Yenne has hosted this traditional fair which has passed through the centuries without interruption, surviving wars, epidemics, and historical upheavals.

This exceptional longevity makes it one of the oldest fairs in France, and probably the oldest event still in operation in Savoie. It testifies to the historical importance of Yenne as a commercial crossroads between Savoie, Bugey, and Dauphiné, on the banks of the Rhône.

A lively fair in the heart of a charming town

Each year, the streets and squares of Yenne, classified as a Petite Cité de Caractère (Small Town of Character), are transformed into a vast open-air market. The fair brings together:

• Traveling merchants offering clothing, accessories, household items, and various objects
• Local producers from the Avant-Pays savoyard: cheeses, cured meats, honey, jams, wine from the Jongieux hillsides
• Artisans showcasing their skills: cutlery, basketry, pottery, woodcraft
• Fairground operators with rides and attractions for children
• Refreshment stands and food stalls offering regional specialties

An identity-defining event for an entire region

The Foire de la Sainte-Catherine goes beyond simple commerce: it is an identity-defining event for the inhabitants of Yenne and the entire Avant-Pays savoyard. Families gather generation after generation, old-timers meet newcomers, and the fair crystallizes a sense of belonging to a territory and a shared history. It is also an opportunity for those from Yenne living elsewhere to return home and reconnect with their roots.

Living intangible heritage

The Foire de la Sainte-Catherine de Yenne perfectly illustrates the concept of intangible cultural heritage promoted by UNESCO: a living social practice, passed down from generation to generation, which continues to evolve while retaining its essence. Over the centuries, the fair has adapted to economic and social transformations, incorporating new products and new activities, but its spirit - commerce, meeting, conviviality - remains unchanged.

In a world where accelerating trade and globalization tend to standardize commercial practices, the longevity of this centuries-old fair is a precious testament to the vitality of Savoyard popular traditions.