The fruit of rapid reflection, the idea strikes common sense: taking advantage of a corner of paradise to celebrate the quince by thus discovering the treasures of a fruit, a heritage and a little-known terroir. It’s been almost two decades since enterprising volunteers came up with this project to have a quince party in the majestic setting of Argy Castle.
Volunteers from the Friends of Argy Quince association (AACA) put the quince to music on the piano.
© (Photo NR, LL)
The quince leads a castle life for a festive and friendly Sunday
The concept has made its way well beyond this pretty little corner of Berry. “There are people who travel 100 km to come to the party, rejoices the president of the Friends of Argy Quince association, Françoise Bonnin, who is still expecting thousands of visitors for this event, which is always very popular with local residents too. Everyone here is very attached to the castle. The kids played there when it was abandoned. » Attachment to this sumptuous building of 12e et 15e centuries is at the origin of the festival. “At the time, we said to ourselves, something should be done around this monument.
Claude Sionneau and Françoise Bonnin, secretary and president of the ACCA at Château d’Arcy.
© (Photo NR, LL)
After consultation, we settled on the kitchen. Chestnuts and tomatoes had their festivals. We remembered our grandparents’ quince trees. We chose this fruit which is only eaten cooked, which is hard to peel but which represented something in our land. »
A madeleine by Proust
Under the leadership of Claude Sionneau, the association’s secretary, a conservatory orchard was even created in parallel to cultivate these childhood memories. Proust’s madeleine effect was immediate in the castle now loaned free of charge by the owners Alexia and Thomas Henry-Gufflet.
Facilitated by Michel Denisot, the arrival of Cyril Lignac in 2012 created a new dynamic.
© (Photo Nr d’archives)
The dynamic will accelerate in 2012 when a couple of famous neighbors will get their hands dirty. “Michel Denisot and his wife Martine are loyal supporters of the association and the event. It’s thanks to them that Cyril Lignac came in 2012. We had a crazy crowd, up to 8,000 visitors during the day. Since then, this popular success has not been denied. » The unfortunate parenthesis of the Covid crisis is forgotten. Put to sleep for two years, the quince festival has awakened with fanfare. Last year, there were 5,000 visitors.
During a festive and friendly Sunday, the quince leads a castle life in all its forms: jams, pastes, juices, liqueurs, culinary preparations. The 30 food industry exhibitors are required to offer a quince product.
Chef Christophe Marchais in demonstration
Some of the 80 volunteers are at the piano to concoct the 450 meals which will be on sale to the public this Sunday. On the menu after the quince PPDA (candy apple sparkling): quince pâté, quince sausage rougail, cheese and apple and quince tart.
The organizers have found the right recipe by mixing local products and haute cuisine. For this fifteenth edition, it is the Castelroussin chef of the Jeux restaurant 2 Tastes that will magnify quince by associating it with game. He will also present a recipe for duck breast pudding, foie gras breaded with buckwheat and quince chutney. It will be distributed on Sunday to the expected large public under the returning sun.
15e quince festival and market, Sunday October 13 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Château d’Argy. Free entry. Reservation and purchase of train tickets directly online at traintouristiquedubasberry.com. For meals (€16 adults, €10 children), reservations and payment only on site at the castle on the day of the party. Musical entertainment: Banda de Pellevoisin.
