Le Printemps des Rillettes — Gastronomic Festival of Sarthe
The festival celebrating rillettes all over Sarthe and the world
About Le Printemps des Rillettes
Created in 2018, Le Printemps des Rillettes is the gastronomic festival of Sarthe dedicated to celebrating the flagship product of the Sarthe terroir: rillettes. For ten days each March, over seventy events are organized at artisan charcutiers and in the communes of the department. Recipe contests in Connerré — the historic cradle of rillettes —, gastronomic car rally, university conferences, guided tours of Vieux Mans, and the Trompe-Goule World Cup in Place des Jacobins make up a festive, popular, and gourmet program that attracts over 40,000 visitors.
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Rillettes have had their festival since 2018
In 2018, several professional organizations, companies, consular chambers, and Sarthe communities joined forces to create the first festival entirely dedicated to rillettes, this emblematic product of Sarthe gastronomy. The first edition, organized from March 18 to 25, 2018, immediately met with considerable popular success with over 200 events spread throughout Sarthe.
Since then, Le Printemps des Rillettes has become an unmissable annual event that celebrates Sarthe's artisanal know-how and brings together producers, restaurateurs, merchants, and food lovers around this emblematic dish.
Connerré, historic cradle of rillettes
The festival is deeply rooted in the history of Connerré, a commune in Sarthe considered the cradle of French industrial rillettes. It is in the former Prunier factory in Connerré that the traditional recipe contests that open each edition take place. The Confrérie des Chevaliers des Rillettes sarthoises (Brotherhood of Knights of Sarthe Rillettes) ensures the quality and tradition of this local product.
A rich and festive program
Le Printemps des Rillettes is based on three pillars: daily events at charcutier artisans throughout Sarthe to taste rillettes in all their forms, flagship events (recipe contests, rillettes rally, university conferences, guided tours of Vieux Mans), and fun competitions like the now-famous Coupe du Monde du Trompe-Goule (Trompe-Goule World Cup), a spectacular and humorous contest that closes the festival in Place des Jacobins in Le Mans.
Reach beyond Sarthe
With over 40,000 visitors and one million press and internet contacts during the 2025 edition, Le Printemps des Rillettes has gained national recognition. The festival claims to be "everywhere in Sarthe and the World," reflecting the ambition of its organizers to make rillettes a gastronomic ambassador for Sarthe far beyond its borders.
Le Printemps des Rillettes — edition 2026
9th edition of Le Printemps des Rillettes in Sarthe, from March 20 to 29, 2026. 72 events at 66 artisan charcutiers and in several communes. First Rillettes Rally starting from Connerré, university conferences, guided tours of Vieux Mans, and the 3rd Trompe-Goule World Cup.
9th Edition — From Car Rally to World Cup
The 9th edition of Le Printemps des Rillettes will be held from March 20 to 29, 2026, with 72 events scheduled at 66 artisan charcutiers and in several communes of Sarthe.
A major new feature of this edition: the First Rillettes Rally, on Saturday, March 21. Seventy cars will depart from Connerré, the historic cradle of rillettes, for a gastronomic circuit passing through Beillé, Montfort-le-Gesnois, Soulitré, Le Breil-sur-Mérize, and Nuillé, before a convivial lunch in Beillé.
On Friday, March 20, free university conferences will be held at the University of Le Mans (Véron Duverger de Forbonnais amphitheater) on the history of rillettes and the valorization of local products. On Saturday, March 21, and Sunday, March 29, guided tours of the old shops in Vieux Mans (a 3 km walking tour) will be offered, followed by tastings.
The closing will be held on Sunday, March 29, with the 3rd Trompe-Goule World Cup in Place des Jacobins in Le Mans, with 15 teams of 3 to 4 people and announcement of the results at noon.
Programme Le Printemps des Rillettes 2026
2026 Highlights
- University Conferences — University of Le Mans (Friday, March 20, 2:00 PM-5:30 PM)
- 1st Rillettes Rally — Departure from Connerré, 70 cars (Saturday, March 21, 10:00 AM)
- Recipe Contest — Connerré (Saturday, March 21)
- Guided Tours of Vieux Mans — Old shops, 3 km route (March 21 and 29)
- 72 Events at 66 Artisans' Shops — Tastings throughout Sarthe
- 3rd Trompe-Goule World Cup — Place des Jacobins, Le Mans (Sunday, March 29)
Highlights Le Printemps des Rillettes 2026
- 9th edition of Le Printemps des Rillettes
- 72 events at 66 artisan charcutiers
- Creation of the 1st Rillettes Rally (70 cars departing from Connerré)
- University conferences on the history of rillettes
- 3rd Trompe-Goule World Cup to close the festival
- Guided tours of Vieux Mans with tastings
Prices Le Printemps des Rillettes 2026
Practical information — Le Printemps des Rillettes
Practical Information
Locations
The festival takes place throughout Sarthe: at artisan charcutiers, in partner communes, at the University of Le Mans, in Vieux Mans, and in Place des Jacobins in Le Mans. Specific locations are announced in the program for each edition.
Prices
Most events are free. Some events (rally, meals) may require registration or payment.
Period
Every year in March, for about ten days.
Contact
- Website: printempsdesrillettes.fr
- Facebook: Printemps Rillettes
- Instagram: @printempsdesrillettes
- Twitter: @printempsdesril
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Travel to this festival
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Where does it take place — Le Printemps des Rillettes
Itinérant — Toute la Sarthe
Partout en Sarthe, 72000 Le Mans