2011-09-30
Salt Festival
Inspired by finding a wild boar preserved by salt in the Pyrenean foothills, two 11th-century huntsmen founded Salies-de-Béarn. The Salt Festival (Fête du Sel), which commemorates the town's heritage, is its biggest annual event.
The truth, though more prosaic, is nonetheless remarkable from a
scientific point of view. In the centre of the town is a spring, from
which gushes forth water that is eight or nine times saltier than
seawater. This source generated huge wealth throughout the Middle Ages,
when all meat had to be preserved in salt, and the town itself has some
charming antiquities.
At the festival you can take in dramatic
reconstructions of ancient myths and tuck into the tastiest local
produce, as well as learning everything there is to know about salt, if
you're interested.
When: Sep 2011
Where: Salies-de-Béarn, France
From: whatsonwhen.com
last modification: 2011-08-22