The truffle is one of the jewels of gastronomy, highly prized for its subtle and fragrant taste. There are several varieties: black truffle (Tuber Melanosporum), summer or St. John's truffle (Tuber Aestivum), Burgundy truffle (Tuber var Uncinatum) and white Alba truffle (Tuber Magnatum Pico) . Lovers of the most refined dishes snap up them every year at the truffle markets.
Truffle markets
Throughout the season, truffle producers offer their products on markets. These festivals are a major hub of activity and tourism for the regions, and a concentration of gastronomy lovers, traders and even sellers in specialized stores.
The truffle fair is an annual event which takes place in different parts of France. They are often lively, presenting stalls filled with fresh truffles but also cooking demonstrations and cultural events. These are THE meeting places for truffle consumers, because many of them come from far away to obtain quality truffles at a competitive price.
From Provence with the market of Richerenches and Carpentras to the Lot with the market of Lalbenque via the Dordogne valley and its market of Saint-Alvère or Sarlat. Let us take you to the most crowded regions of France.
Markets in Provence
The South-East of France, particularly Provence, is one of the most important truffle producing areas in France. The recognized and emblematic market presence of this precious tuber is therefore inevitable. You can indeed find them in particular in the Vaucluse department where high quality truffles are present. This department offers two famous markets, the Carpentras truffle market and that of Richerenches.
Carpentras
Carpentras, a commune in Vaucluse, hosts every Friday morning from mid-November to the end of March, the winter truffle market or fair which highlights the truffle cavers of Vaucluse, and invites traders and individuals to let themselves be intoxicated by the smell of Périgord black truffle. The latter serves as a reference for all other fairs in the region.
On site, the quantity of mushroom present is cleaned and canifed before being selected by amateurs. All transactions are done in cash, and sales are by weight and not by quantity, after tough competition to obtain the finest products.
For more information or opinions, do not hesitate to contact the city of Carpentras.
Richerenches
The Richerenches market is not far behind its neighbor, it is held from mid-November to mid-March, but private sales are not authorized before December. Why this rule? At the start of the season, the truffles are generally not very mature and the market therefore offers derived products reserved for professionals.
This is the largest truffle market in Europe , it is held on the Cours du Mistral for professionals and on Avenue de la Rabasse and in the historic center of the village for individuals.
This year, to celebrate 100 years, the market will be held at the start of the weekend, from December 2, 2023 to March 9, 2024 between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. There, the key word is the Périgord black truffle and the objective of achieving the best transaction. Truffles are sold wholesale and retail and derived products remain available all season. Richerenches represents half of the quantity contributed to the fairs in the south-east, and a third of French production.
Markets in Périgord and Dordogne
Périgord and Dordogne, emblematic regions of the southwest, are renowned for their tourism and their picturesque landscapes, their history, and of course, for their exceptional truffles . At the heart of this fertile land, the truffle fair stands as an unmissable event, revealing the culinary and cultural soul of these regions.
Sarlat
Sarlat, medieval jewel of the Dordogne valley, nestled in the heart of Périgord, celebrates black truffles every week. Indeed, every weekend, on Saturday mornings, the town of Sarlat comes alive with local truffle growers, professionals and even the curious on the Place de la Liberté.
From dawn, the stalls are adorned with white tablecloths and baskets overflowing with this magnificent black diamond, carefully harvested. Truffle growers, lovers of this underground treasure, do not hesitate to share their opinion, their ancestral know-how, revealing the subtleties of the harvest and the secrets of the truffle .
Beyond the commercial issue, the Sarlat truffle market is a real celebration, a place for tourism and cultural exchange. Come and discover this truffle festival, every weekend, Saturdays from December to February.
Lalbenque
Lalbenque, a small village in Quercy, transforms every week into a place steeped in black truffles . The truffle market offers an authentic experience in the heart of the Lot.
Every Tuesday from December to the end of February, from 2 p.m., the retail truffle market takes place in the town hall. In addition, it is possible to attend numerous activities. Among these numerous activities, you can notably find the setting up of an ephemeral truffle farm allowing visitors to experience the harvest of this black diamond, guided by local producers.
Lovers of this product can also have access to detailed exhibitions, information and in-depth reviews on this exceptional dish . Experts share their knowledge, revealing the subtleties of the black truffle, its unique terroir and the different varieties that characterize this region.
Saint-Alvère
Saint-Alvère, a small village in the Dordogne valley, is home to a 35-year-old truffle market. The latter owes its fame to the extremely rigorous control that the truffles sold there by truffle growers undergo.
This very strict control, from 8 a.m., will make it possible to offer the gourmets present a high quality product . These will be classified into different distinct categories to guide consumers in choosing their exceptional product . The key word of the market is transparency.
It is also interesting to know that it is possible to order from the mayor's website. For any further information, you can contact the town hall.
High places of tourism
These winter festivals represent essential tourist destinations for gastronomy lovers looking for a unique sensory experience. These meetings, scattered across the truffle regions of Provence, Périgord and the Dordogne valley, offer much more than a simple purchasing opportunity: they are an immersive dive into the fascinating world of truffles. .
We recommend to all lovers of this exceptional product to take a trip to a fair and make contact with experts in this mysterious world. They will happily reveal their experiences, opinions and other information available to them.
If you wish to buy fresh truffles or any other derived products, it is also possible to turn to selection houses such as Maison Henras and our bicentennial know-how. Find our fresh truffles , delivered to your home within 48 hours.