Les Moutonnades de la Saint-Barthélemy

ℹ️ Festival discontinued. After 20 editions, the Moutonnades de la Saint-Barthélemy has ceased: the organizing association announced at the end of 2022 that it would put an end to the event due to an insufficient number of volunteers (last edition in 2022). The Saint-Barthélemy weekend continues to be celebrated in Bénévent-l'Abbaye thanks to the Bénév'en Fête association, created in 2023 to take over the torch on the same August weekend.

A Centuries-Old Sheep-Farming Tradition

The Moutonnades de la Saint-Barthélemy perpetuated an ancient tradition in Bénévent-l'Abbaye, a small town of character nestled in the heart of Creuse. The commune had long celebrated Saint-Barthélemy on August 24th, centered around a historic fair that once took place near the abbey. Created in 2003 by local enthusiasts, the Moutonnades revived this tradition by honoring sheep and sheep farming, pillars of the local economy for centuries.

Bénévent Lamb, a Culinary Heritage

Since the 19th century, butchers in Bénévent-l'Abbaye had specialized in the slaughter and marketing of lamb. In the 1930s, the Bénévent abattoirs supplied Parisian markets with nearly 30,000 lambs per year. The Moutonnades celebrated this heritage through lamb tastings and Bénéventine specialties — including the famous «frivolités bénéventines» — allowing visitors to rediscover authentic flavors of the Creuse region.

A Weekend of Celebration and Heritage

The Moutonnades program offered a full weekend of activities: a flea market, concerts, exhibitions on pastoral heritage, workshops on ancient know-how related to sheep farming, trail running, and hikes in the surrounding countryside. Saturday evening fireworks lit up the sky of this small town of character, while the Sunday producers' market brought together local artisans. In its best years, the festival attracted up to 5,000 visitors over three days.