Treigny Convent Ceramics Festival

The Treigny Convent Ceramics Festival: a unique event in Puisaye

In the heart of Puisaye, this region of Burgundy whose generous clays have attracted potters since the Middle Ages, the village of Treigny (Yonne, 89520) hosts one of Burgundy's most important ceramic events each year. The Treigny Convent Ceramics Festival, commonly known as the Treigny Potters Market, takes place on the second weekend of August in the exceptional setting of the Convent, a 15th-century building renovated by the municipality.

A tradition rooted in the history of the Association of Puisaye Ceramic Creators

It all began in 1982, with the creation of the Association of Puisaye Ceramic Creators (APCP), whose mission is to promote contemporary artisanal pottery and ceramics. For years, the association animated the Maison du Chanoine in the hamlet of Chaîneau, organizing exhibitions and potters' markets in the historic spaces with the typical regional kilns. In 2006, the APCP moved to the Convent, a superb building rehabilitated by the commune, and established its cultural and artistic activities there permanently.

The Ceramics Festival officially began in its current form in 2012, with the first annual potters' market. Since then, it has grown each summer, attracting more exhibitors and visitors, and has become an essential event in the cultural calendar of the Yonne department.

The potters' market in the Convent orchard

The heart of the event is its potters' market: about forty professional ceramists from all over France set up their stalls in the Convent orchard. Stoneware, porcelain, earthenware, raku, terra sigillata, glazed ceramics... each exhibitor presents a unique universe, reflecting the richness and diversity of contemporary French ceramics.

Visitors can find everyday objects – mugs, bowls, salad bowls, carafes – as well as true works of art: animal sculptures, architectural forms, jewelry, decorative pieces. The ceramists are present at their stands throughout the weekend, available to discuss their techniques, inspirations, and relationship with clay.

A wide variety of ceramic techniques

• Stoneware: pieces fired at high temperatures (1200-1300°C), robust and waterproof, with natural tones and characteristic textures.
• Porcelain: fine and translucent creations, from art tableware to delicate decorative objects.
• Raku: a Japanese-inspired technique producing unique pieces with cracked glazes and metallic surfaces, resulting from rapid firing and smoking.
• Earthenware: colorful and decorative pieces, heirs to a long Mediterranean and French artisanal tradition.
• Wood firing: an ancestral method highlighting the natural effects of fire on glazes and clays.

A rich program over two days

The Festival is more than just a market: a full program surrounds the potters' stands to make this weekend a true celebration of ceramics.

Wood firing and unloading

One of the most anticipated moments is the wood firing, which takes place throughout Saturday. A traditional wood-fired kiln is loaded with ceramic pieces, then lit and brought to temperature by experienced potters. On Sunday afternoon, starting at 5 p.m., the unloading takes place: the reveal of the fired pieces, with their glazes and unpredictable flame effects. A moment of shared magic and emotion, perfectly illustrating the relationship between the artisan, the material, and the fire.

Free modeling workshops

Throughout the weekend, free modeling workshops are offered to the public, children and adults, to introduce them to the art of ceramics. These participatory workshops allow everyone to touch the clay, learn basic gestures, and leave with a small piece shaped by their own hands. An educational and fun way to engage with this ancient art.

Conferences and meetings

Each edition features one or more conferences led by ceramics experts, art historians, or renowned artists. These discussions deepen the understanding of techniques, artistic movements, or emblematic figures in the ceramic world.

Indoor exhibition at the Convent

Alongside the market in the orchard, a themed exhibition is presented inside the Convent. Each year, a different theme brings together works by APCP members and invited artists. Access to the exhibition is included in the festival visit.

Saturday evening concert

Saturday evening concludes with a free concert offered to visitors and exhibitors. Jazz, world music, or French chanson: each edition surprises with musical programming in line with the festival's spirit.

On-site catering

The association offers local catering prepared on-site: composed plates, sweet and savory crepes, homemade cakes, as well as a drinks bar. Enough to spend the whole day on site in a friendly atmosphere.

Puisaye, the historic cradle of French pottery

Treigny is located in the heart of Puisaye, a vast natural area straddling the Yonne and Nièvre departments, whose clay-stone subsoils have earned it a worldwide reputation for pottery since the Middle Ages. This Puisaye clay, rich in iron and silica, is particularly suitable for making stoneware: a dense, non-porous ceramic that has long been used for making jars, salt cellars, bottles, and storage containers.

Treigny is also close to the medieval construction site of Guédelon, just a few kilometers away, where the construction of a castle using 13th-century techniques attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors each year. This strong heritage context enhances the commune's tourist appeal and the relevance of the festival as a cultural event rooted in an exceptional territory.

Today, the APCP brings together about twenty ceramists whose main base is in Yonne and Nièvre. The association's reputation extends far beyond national borders, with exchanges and exhibitions in Belgium, Great Britain, Germany, Spain, Italy, the Netherlands, Australia, Japan, and North Africa.

A family-friendly and convivial festival, with free admission

The Treigny Convent Ceramics Festival is completely free. Admission to the festival, the potters' market, and the modeling workshops is open to all. This deliberate choice by the APCP reflects its primary mission: to make ceramics accessible to all audiences, from discerning collectors to families discovering this art for the first time. The event welcomes several thousand visitors each edition, coming from all over Burgundy and beyond.