Melon en Fête

Melon Festival: Cavaillon's Melon Fair, the world capital of melon

Cavaillon is famous worldwide for its PGI melon, a sweet and fragrant fruit with orange flesh that has grown in the Luberon plain since the 16th century. Every summer, the city celebrates its flagship product during the Melon Fair, which has become over the years one of the most anticipated gastronomic and festive events in Vaucluse.

The Cavaillon melon, a treasure of the Luberon

The history of melon in Cavaillon dates back to Pope Clement VII who, in the 16th century, had the first melons brought from Italy planted in the city's gardens. Since then, the light and sunny lands of the Luberon plain have proven ideal for cultivating this delicate fruit. Since February 2025, the Cavaillon melon has benefited from a Protected Geographical Indication (PGI), guaranteeing its origin and the quality of its production in a precise geographical area around Cavaillon, in Vaucluse.

Alexandre Dumas himself had a consuming passion for Cavaillon melon: in exchange for a hundred melons a year, he offered the city's library all of his works, 194 volumes! This delightful anecdote has become one of Cavaillon's legends.

The great market of melon and local producers

The heart of the Fair is the large gourmet market that sets up in Place du Clos and in the pedestrian streets of Cavaillon. Market gardeners from the Luberon plain offer their freshly harvested melons, available in all their varieties: classic Charentais, smooth Charentais, embroidered… Visitors can taste, compare, and leave with the most beautiful specimens.

Alongside melon producers, food artisans and farmers from Vaucluse offer their specialties: heirloom tomatoes, zucchini, eggplants and peppers from Provence, Luberon goat cheeses, lavender honey, artisanal jams, tapenades, and melon-based products — candied, sorbets, coulis, juices, and brandies.

Entertainment, competitions, and shows

The festival is not limited to the market alone. A program of festive and fun activities is offered throughout the two days: inaugural parade of the Melon Brotherhood, giant open-air banquet, Roussataïo (release of wild Camargue horses in the city center streets), grand Melon Festival parade starting from Place du Clos, giant treasure hunt and wooden games, mini-farm, and educational exhibition “The melon from plant to plate”.

Culinary demonstrations are performed by regional chefs who highlight the melon in both sweet and savory preparations: melon gazpacho, melon carpaccio with Bayonne ham, cold melon-mint soup, roasted melon with lavender honey… The diversity of culinary uses of this fruit often surprises visitors who do not imagine melon beyond its simple natural tasting.

Musicians and street artists animate the squares and alleys of the city center, creating a warm and relaxed festive atmosphere. Musical strolls, Provençal dances, and shows are integrated into the program, making this event a true popular festival open to all. A grand closing concert usually punctuates the evening of the second day.

A family-friendly and free event

The Melon Fair is designed as a free and accessible event for all. Families are particularly welcome: entertainment areas for children, workshops to discover seasonal vegetables and fruits, and games are offered throughout the weekend. It's an opportunity for the youngest to understand the link between the soil, the sun, and the flavors of a unique terroir.

Cavaillon, between Luberon and Alpilles

Beyond the festival, Cavaillon is worth discovering. Ideally located between the Luberon and the Alpilles, halfway between Avignon and Aix-en-Provence, the city retains a charming old center with the Saint-Véran Cathedral, an 18th-century synagogue — one of the most beautiful in France — and a Roman triumphal arch. The Sunday market, one of Provence's most renowned, is a must for lovers of good regional products.