In Châteauneuf Miravail, 350 people gathered in the town for Ascension. Since 2010, the festival committee has organized a celebration with spit-roasted piglets.
“They are beautiful pigs!” In front of the spits, the numerous guests at the meal at Chateauneuf Miravail (Alpes-de-Haute-Provence) admire the cooking of six piglets, this Thursday, May 9.
Since 6 a.m., the Châteauneuf Miravail festival committee has been keeping an eye on the meal. Gilbert is predisposed to the stove. “We add sauce every 10 minutes or so, we don’t want it to dry out,” he says.
At his side, Raphaël, another member of the festival committee, explains the secrets of cooking to us. “We see it by the color when we get used to it, and then we know it based on the aperitif when it’s time to send off the meal,” he explains with a laugh.
A local meal
The festive meal is intended to be local above all, but it attracts well beyond the Jabron valley. Jean-Marc comes from a small village near Vaison la Romaine, in Vaucluse, and he is a regular.
“The people are so nice and pleasant here that we can’t miss the opportunity to come, we need more village festivals like this,” he confides.
If this day is beautiful, it is above all because the festival committee has members on whom it can count. There is a core of around six who make the decisions, but around thirty additional members are present on the days of the festivities. An element that has not escaped anyone.
“I find that young people are very involved and that’s very good,” explains Mireille, a resident of the village. “I am amazed at the organization and I say thank you,” declares Lionel, who came from Gap. “It’s phenomenal that everyone is participating,” exclaims Jean-Pierre de Séderon.
An event that attracts a crowd
The festival committee is invested in this event which is gaining popularity without even talking about it. “It’s to bring together all the people of the village and it’s a pleasure to bring together all the people of the village,” says Gilbert André, the president of the Châteauneuf Miravail festival committee.
In 2010, during the first edition, there were barely a hundred people participating in this event, but since then they have even had to refuse people to maintain perfect organization.
This year, there are 350 guests sharing the meal and it is precisely to the applause that the pins arrive in front of the barnums installed for the occasion.
With speed and precision, the members of the festival committee work to cut the pieces so that everyone can enjoy them. A simple and festive day that will leave no one hungry.
Laurie Charrie with Mélanie Hennebique
