Rouen Annual "Fete du Ventre" Festival

Rouen – Events – Fete du Ventre – Festival of the Stomach of Rouen

Once a year, mid October, Rouen closes its city centre during a weekend and holds the “Fete du Ventre et de la Gastronomie Normande” festival. The best translation would be “Festival of the Stomach and Normandy Gastronomy“, meaning food, but it’s more than that. It’s also the “stomach” of Rouen, or if you want to put it bluntly, the bowels of Rouen.

The festival is all about food. It’s really that simple. During the weekend, the roads are closed and straw is flung over the cobblestone streets, a bit like in the Middle Ages. And that is because it is supposed to resemble those days.

Rouen Annual "Fete du Ventre" Festival
Rouen Annual “Fete du Ventre” Festival

All the stalls on the roads introduce you to food (not just from Normandy, but from all of France). You walk the straw-filled streets, smelling all sorts of food being prepared and your senses come alive (as will your stomach).

Rouen Annual "Fete du Ventre" Festival
Rouen Annual “Fete du Ventre” Festival

The food can be any type made in France, from fish, or like above scallops, or duck, beef, lamb, sausage and of course all sorts of French breads.

Several type of chickens, amongst some of the life stock on display on the streets
Several type of chickens, amongst some of the life stock on display on the streets

Some streets even have life stock, like piglets or these different kind of chickens.

Rouen Annual "Fete du Ventre" Festival
Rouen Annual “Fete du Ventre” Festival

It gets quite busy that weekend, with some 120,000 visitors coming to Rouen for the occasion.

Dressed up for the Rouen Annual "Fete du Ventre" Festival
Dressed up for the Rouen Annual “Fete du Ventre” Festival

But what makes the festival even more interesting, is that most of the stalls have their staff dressed for their roles. It makes the streets very colourful, and with all the old houses around them, you’d swear you were transported in a time machine.

Dressed up for the Rouen Annual "Fete du Ventre" Festival
Dressed up for the Rouen Annual “Fete du Ventre” Festival

No, they are no Zombies. On many of the street corners, you’ll find entertainers: mimes, music, acrobats, etc. There are also many areas where they will amuse your children.

Music at the Rouen Annual "Fete du Ventre" Festival
Music at the Rouen Annual “Fete du Ventre” Festival
All dressed and nowhere to go
All dressed and nowhere to go

Some folks really go all out, which is very nice to see.

The festival is interesting to go to. You get to discover and eat good food, while taking in the sights.

Many restaurants BBQ little piglets for lunch
Many restaurants BBQ little piglets for lunch

Most restaurants around the market area have special menus for the weekend, many involve BBQ’s suckling pigs.

For more information click here

Related Posts

  • 10000
    Rouen - IntroductionRouen has a lot going for it, and a few things that are not so nice. But after a visit to Rouen, you will leave with two impressions in your mind: the sheer number of churches & cathedrals and Joan of Arc (in French "Jeanne d'Arc"). Because this is the city…
  • 10000
    Rouen - TipsTransport Getting There Air: Rouen has an airport, but it's used mostly for charters. Sometimes, there is a scheduled service to Lyon from where you can change to other international flights. Ferry: Closest ferry is Le Havre, about a 1 hour drive or train ride from Rouen. Within Rouen There is…
  • 10000
    Rouen - Some of the HousesRouen is an old city, one of France's most wealthiest during the Middle Ages. Their houses and buildings were constructed to last, and last they did. Walking around the inner city will enable you to see many of these old houses and the implacable state they still are in. But often…
  • 10000
    Lisieux - IntroductionLisieux, in the lower part of Normandy, is an interesting and different kind of place to visit. It's a very small city (or a very big town) with a population of some 22,000 inhabitants, but despite its relatively small size it contains an enormous basilica AND a big cathedral. Because of that,…
  • 10000
    Rouen - Events - The Armada of Tall Sail ShipsEvery five or six years, Rouen receives world's tall ships, those sail ships with enormous masts often used by different country's navy as training ship. Some 50 ships, not all of them sail ships since there are also a few modern warships, gather at the Rouen harbour and docks.  …
Scroll to Top