I tested for you: the festive market of Ayen country producers

Published on July 28, 2019 by Marie-Laure

Today, we spend the day in the town of Ayen, located on a limestone plateau about twenty minutes from Brive-la-Gaillarde.

Hiking in Ayen

Ayen offers magnificent panoramas on'Yssandonnais and many hiking trails. Also, we decide to start our afternoon with a “small” hike (Wash houses, castles and Puys hike) through the purple trail which made us discover, in just 5 kilometers, the springs and secrets of Ayen throughout a half-shaded, half-sunny route... It's the right distance, because I'm not a keen hiker and we weren't very equipped. Of course, it goes up and down but the views were definitely worth the trip!

The Ayen Country Producers Market

We head to the heart of the village where one of the most important and above all one of the oldest Producers' Markets in the country takes place. It was at 18 p.m. sharp that we were there, as the regulars of the “event” had advised us.

Little girl at the Pays d'Ayen market in summer

We discover, in the shade of the plane trees which cover the “fairground”, around twenty stalls presenting a wide diversity of products. We work together and organize ourselves to compose our menu according to everyone's desires... It will be grilled trout, beef skewers and duck sausages for some! For others, it will be melon, duck rillettes, country pâté spread on a crispy pie. All accompanied by delicious fries and a good bottle of chilled rosé. You will have understood, it is a gargantuan meal guaranteed 100% local products that awaits us!

The friendly atmosphere of the country markets

We are among vacationers and curiously, there are many locals who are also taking advantage of this moment. Relaxed and warm, you really feel like you're from the village.

Head to the barbecue, where one of us will entrust our precious food to the smiling volunteers, responsible for the cooking.

English people living in the village as well as a 4-generation family returning to the “country” for the holidays are settling in alongside us. Discussions start easily, we forgot our cutlery! In front of our little faces, everyone is mobilizing to make us a second-hand housewife. The tone is set: conviviality, warm welcome and deliciousness, Ayen is an unmissable event during the summer season!

We are feasting our taste buds, and the laughter is going well! Our stomachs full, it is with pleasure that we enjoy the first musical notes of the group of the evening. Nothing like a few dance steps to aid digestion. The big and the old, the shy and the less shy, the young and the old: everyone finds themselves spinning around the track, carried away by the rhythm and the infectious good humor of the singer!

It's almost midnight, it's a summer evening to remember, Ayen you'll see us again!

Advice from a Gaillardia

Remember to arrive early if you want to eat there. There are a lot of regulars and the tables are quickly reserved.
Don't be like us and remember to bring your cutlery.
Bring some extra cash to stay late at night!

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