Foire du Trône
March 31st - May 28th
The Foire du Trône, a huge temporary funfair located on the outskirts of Paris, is one of the biggest events on the French calendar, and one certainly worth stopping for. Although the venue is a 10-hectare display of fast-food stalls and adrenaline-filled rides, this fair actually has an interesting essence of history, with roots dating back as far as the 10th century.
The fair is said to have been founded in 957 by King Lothaire of Lorraine, with the purpose of providing a place for merchants to trade rice and grain. The first actual Foire (as it is better known today) took place in 1131, and from then on it became famous for its pig-shaped spice bread, giving it the name of Foire aux pains d'epices ("spice bread fair").
The fair traditionally began at around Easter from 1861 onwards, lasting 15 days with the possibility of a further eight. It developed to such an extent that by 1800 more than 2500 forains (stallholders) came with their fairground rides and stalls. This led to new legislation in terms of ownership and land rights, which in turn led to a decline in visitor numbers.
Nowadays, 1000 years and one French Revolution later, the fair is one of the most popular events in France, offering more than 350 attractions and shows. It is a unique opportunity to see the fun-loving, flamboyant side of Paris, far away from the city's romantic clichés.
Read more about Paris.
Foire du Trône official site
The fair is said to have been founded in 957 by King Lothaire of Lorraine, with the purpose of providing a place for merchants to trade rice and grain. The first actual Foire (as it is better known today) took place in 1131, and from then on it became famous for its pig-shaped spice bread, giving it the name of Foire aux pains d'epices ("spice bread fair").
The fair traditionally began at around Easter from 1861 onwards, lasting 15 days with the possibility of a further eight. It developed to such an extent that by 1800 more than 2500 forains (stallholders) came with their fairground rides and stalls. This led to new legislation in terms of ownership and land rights, which in turn led to a decline in visitor numbers.
Nowadays, 1000 years and one French Revolution later, the fair is one of the most popular events in France, offering more than 350 attractions and shows. It is a unique opportunity to see the fun-loving, flamboyant side of Paris, far away from the city's romantic clichés.
Read more about Paris.
Foire du Trône official site