Vesoul is celebrating this Monday! Like every November 25 for over 700 years, the town hosts the Sainte-Catherine Fair, with its little gingerbread pigs, its Catherinette hat competition, its breeding competitions and its nearly 600 camelots. Traffic, security and highlights… That's everything you need to know about this 728th edition.
The entirely pedestrianized city center of Vesoul
The town center of Vesoul is entirely pedestrian all day. Traffic and parking are prohibited there. To access the Fair, it is possible to park at the Pontarcher esplanade, where free shuttles will take you to the Edwige Feuillère theater, every 20 minutes, between 8:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m.
The Moova public transport networkwhich serves the 20 municipalities of the conurbation, is also free all day.
Vesoul town hall
A Fair under close surveillance
Like last year, the Vigipirate plan is activated. The access routes to the Fair will be controlled by 15 gendarmes, while 95 police officers, soldiers from Operation Sentinel and security agents will patrol the aisles, to ensure the safety of the 25,000 to 40,000 people expected.
Highlights of the Fair
Sainte-Catherine is, among other things, an agricultural fair. Place Pierre-Rénet hosts the livestock fair and butchery animal competitionsorganized by ELVEA Franche-Comté and the Syndicat des Eleveurs de Charolais de Haute-Saône, whose prizes will be awarded from 10:30 a.m. An auction will follow at 11 a.m.
Another highlight of the Fair, the Catherinettes hat competition. Around twenty young women aged 25, unmarried, will participate after having made a green and yellow hat, representing their passions and profession. Each will present their hat on the podium installed at Place de l'Eglise from 2 p.m., with the announcement of the results around 3:30 p.m.
A Sainte-Catherine awaited by Vésulian traders
The Fair also lives to the rhythm of nearly 600 peddlers installed in the streets. A big clearance sale in which Vésulian traders are taking part, who will exceptionally open their doors on a Monday. “It’s a day where you have to be there, have the right products and, above all, the right stock”assures Armelle Samson, of the Mina Rosa boutique. “This is the opportunity to drain all the exteriors also in Vesoul, so that they can discover the store. Last year, it fell on a Saturday, it was ideal, we will see.”
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Chloe Martin
And if visitors come for the low prices, they happily enjoy their chocolate-covered gingerbread pig. “Generally, at 4 p.m./5 p.m., I don’t have any left”notes Solenne Azouz, of the Azouz chocolate factory. “It takes time to do, so that gave us 15 days 7 days a week, but we can't miss out.”
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