In Bas-en-Basset, the donkey had the spotlight stolen by the trade fair. This Monday, November 11, the latter was once again crowded with people.
Every 40 or 50 meters, sock sellers display lots and offer amazing promotions. As winter approaches, the barge is spoiled for choice. After “Berthe aux grands pieds”, specialized in large sizes, Damien’s stand is sober. A customer returns the “pure wool” socks, pointing out to the showman. “The competition is tough today, isn’t it?” » Response from the merchant: “Yes, that’s for sure, but we have a different product.” The woman smells the smooth talker, feigns astonishment: “Oh? “. Without losing his serious demeanor, the person said: “Yes, we only sell straight feet.” The merchant does not lack repartee!Stands of all colors, like this sock seller.
Not far from there, Hervé Boulanger is also a regular at fairs and markets, notably that of Yssingeaux in the summer. It is not uncommon to still meet him at the entrance to the Geoffroy-Guichard stadium to offer his AS Saint-Étienne jerseys, scarves and bathrobes. Official collections from past years. He takes advantage of stock clearances. Hervé is a fervent supporter of the Greens. For him, the night was short. He attended the derby the day before at the Groupama Stadium in Lyon. “But last night, I didn’t unpack!” » he adds, laughing.Hervé Boulanger, fan of the Greens, offers his jerseys, scarves and accessories in the colors of AS Saint-Étienne.
For more than 2 km along the road
The day promises to be good-natured and lively, with the morning scent of andouillette and fried onions, while the noisy troop of young schoolboys from the town never stops pushing through the crowd to sell their donuts. Bas-en-Basset has become an XXL hawker fair. The donkeys that made its reputation can now be counted on the fingers of one hand. Yveline Ruel from Mazet-Saint-Voy, an animal lover, brought four pretty donkeys which she had to part with with regret, her livestock having become too large. A handful of hobby horses wait patiently around the trailers. A merchant seems disappointed: “There are a lot of curious people, few buyers.”The donkey fair continues to attract… donkeys.
Receive our leisure newsletter by email and find ideas for outings and activities in your region.
The annual fair is the largest in Haute-Loire, with more than 500 stands lined up as far as the eye can see. Over more than 2 km along the departmental road on the edge of the Loire, in the heart of the city, not to mention the gastronomy area, located inside the gymnasium, with wine, local whiskey, snails, products derived from chestnuts or even a unique producer of Tanche olive oil, the AOP of Nyons. Florent Giraud lets visitors taste last year's vintage, the 2024 harvest not being expected before mid-December. The producer from Mirabel in Baronnies rails against the presence a few meters away of resellers offering, according to him, “fake tapenade”.Young people are also present.
Bas is the biggest fair, probably also the oldest. It has existed since 1265. This Monday, November 11, the good plan was to come very early to have a chance of getting as close as possible by car. Or to be patient later in the morning when there was a traffic jam from the entrance to Monistrol-sur-Loire on the RN 88!
Philippe Suc
