Place au Canard

Place au Canard: Saint-Sever celebrates its webbed majesty

Place au Canard is the flagship gastronomic event of Saint-Sever, a historic town in the southern Landes region known for its architectural heritage and poultry farming tradition. This end-of-year festival pays tribute to the Landes mulard duck, raised outdoors for 90 days and force-fed whole grain corn for 12 days, producing flavorful meat and foie gras with an incomparable texture.

The return of the foie gras market at the Jacobins cloister

One of the highlights of Place au Canard is the resurrection of the Marché au Gras (Foie Gras Market) at the Jacobins cloister, a historic market that had disappeared for over 45 years. On Saturday mornings, local producers take over this exceptional heritage site to offer fresh foie gras, whole fattened ducks, confit, magret, gizzards, and all the Landes duck specialties for direct sale.

A prestigious patron: Alain Dutournier

The event is sponsored by Alain Dutournier, a Michelin-starred Landes chef and an iconic figure of Southwest gastronomy in Paris. This chef, originally from the Landes region and a true ambassador of Gascon cuisine, presides over the festivities and prepares a 100% duck gastronomic meal served in the town's restaurants, enhancing every part of the duck in exceptional culinary creations.

Cooking competitions and demonstrations

Place au Canard features a technical cooking competition centered around duck foie gras, judged by the patron chef and a panel of professionals. The afternoons are dedicated to culinary demonstrations open to the public: duck cutting, confit preparation, foie gras preparation (terrine, pan-seared, semi-cooked), and traditional preservation techniques. These workshops allow visitors to learn the techniques and secrets of Landes charcuterie artisans.

Jazz tapas and street performances

In the evening, the Jacobins cloister transforms into a stage for a jazz tapas evening where guests enjoy duck-based tapas while listening to live music. On Sunday, after the Gascon mass, a parade of gastronomic brotherhoods, **Landes stilt walkers**, **theatrical performances**, and street entertainment liven up the town.

Saint-Sever, heritage and gastronomy

Saint-Sever is a town with a rich historical heritage, including its Romanesque abbey church, a UNESCO World Heritage site on the Santiago de Compostela pilgrimage route, its Jacobins cloister, and its medieval streets. Place au Canard is part of this tradition of excellence, combining architectural and gastronomic heritage.