Pumpkins and rare vegetables

This original fair occurs every year on the 2nd Sunday of October. It is one of the most original fairs in Central France. There you can find not only the most rare pumpkins but also other rare and beautiful vegetables.

The fair happens in Tranzault, a small village in Central France. Usually the weather at this time of the year is warm and dry resulting in a beautifully sunny autumn day. The fair burst with colours, forms and flavours. Pumpkins of all sizes and shapes. This year the biggest pumpkin weighed 390 Kg.

In Tranzault you can see vegetables which you did not even know existed.

It is a relatively small fair, but you can spend all day tasting flavours unknown to your palate. This year I fell for the chutneys. and pickled vegetables and fruits. Close your eyes and imagine flavours as strange as figs, raisins and ginger all mixed in a lovely textured sauce spread over crusty bread. Or a puree of tomatoes, apples and raisins on a bed of "fromage frais". Follow these with artesanal cider or freshly pressed apple juice, or even with pumpkin soup!

I also tried the white pudding with pumpkins and a delicious crusty onion and pumpkin bread. Honeys of all colours and textures, quiches filled with pumpkin and even pumpkin "french fries" and little white pumpkins filled-up with chocolate.

The village rurality is also seen through their dresses, music and dances. It is a fair that also celebrates harvest and the autumn. There were people playing ancient Berrichone music and dancing happily along the streets in their traditional dresses.

There were also stalls to cater for the children, like free face painting; drawing stalls, where children could make their own masks with paper plates and vegetable cuttings. Carousels, cotton candy and dances.

It was a great day out enjoyed by the whole family. We were there last year and we are already looking forward to coming back next year!!