Vence rediscovers traditional crafts: the Fête du Haut et Moyen Pays returns on October 17

Vence between tradition and territory: a day dedicated to the hinterland

On Saturday, October 17, Vence will once again celebrate the deep historical connection between the town and the valleys of the hinterland of Nice. From 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., the historic centre will host the Fête du Haut et Moyen Pays, an event dedicated to traditional crafts, local products, shepherding and rural traditions.

For an entire day, the town’s streets and squares will become a journey through a heritage shaped by ancient gestures, skills passed down from generation to generation and local production.

This will not simply be a historical re-enactment. Producers, farmers, craftspeople, associations and museums will take centre stage, highlighting a living heritage that continues to preserve an important part of the culture of the High and Middle Country.

From pastures to workshops: traditional crafts in the historic centre

The relationship between Vence and its hinterland goes back centuries. For generations, the town has been a meeting point between the Mediterranean coast and the Alpine valleys, encouraging commercial and cultural exchanges connected with agriculture, shepherding and the processing of local products.

This historical connection will be at the heart of the event.

Local producers and craftspeople will be present along avenue Marcellin-Maurel and throughout the town centre. At esplanade Fernand Moutet, visitors will be able to watch woodworking demonstrations and discover the activities of the Regional Natural Park and the League for the Protection of Birds.

Lavender, one of Provence’s best-known symbols, will also have a starring role. Visitors will be able to watch traditional lavender spindle-making, while the Lou Ferouil village museum will display tools, objects and testimonies connected with everyday life in the past.

Local flavours and Provençal craftsmanship

The journey through the traditions of the hinterland will continue at place du Peyra, where food and local production will take centre stage.

La Saumonée Vençoise will present specialities based on trout, while the farmers’ market will offer visitors the opportunity to discover local products and meet the people who produce them.

Craftsmanship will also be represented. A lace-maker and a santon maker will demonstrate techniques deeply rooted in Provençal culture, offering visitors a close-up look at traditional skills that are becoming increasingly rare.

Wool, honey, candles and dry-stone walls: the memory of rural crafts

At place Clémenceau and along passage Cahours, visitors will discover traditional occupations that once played an essential role in rural communities.

Demonstrations will include wool weaving, beekeeping, candle making and natural dyeing, together with traditional dry-stone wall construction.

Food traditions will also feature, with tapenade preparation, while other demonstrations will focus on distillation and the work of the blacksmith.

Together, these activities illustrate how, in the past, local materials and natural resources were transformed and put to use in everyday life.

Shepherding and rural heritage brought to life by museums

The event will also place a strong emphasis on rural heritage and historical memory.

The Musée de la Roudoule will offer insights into life in the hinterland, focusing on shepherding, distillation and the role of women in the communities of the High Country.

An exhibition will also explore the history of food and local production, highlighting the people and products that have helped shape the region’s gastronomic identity.

The presence of farm animals will make this immersion into rural culture even more tangible. At place Godeau, visitors will meet animals from the Ferme de Coursegoules and the Biquetterie de la Sine, including rams, sheep, goats, hens, rabbits and ducks.

For the occasion, visitors will also be able to taste crêpes made with goat’s milk, bringing together farming traditions and local gastronomy.

Provençal music and family activities

The Fête du Haut et Moyen Pays will be much more than a showcase of traditional crafts. Throughout the day, the atmosphere will be enlivened by Provençal music performed by Lo Cepon, as well as barrel organs, accordion music and street criers.

Children will also be able to enjoy pony rides.

Two events, at 11.30 a.m. and 3.30 p.m. at the Fontaine du Peyra, will explore the world of washerwomen and shepherding through an animated storytelling performance.

At 4 p.m., a themed guided tour will offer a closer look at the historical relationship between Vence and its hinterland.

A window onto the mountains in the heart of Vence

The Fête du Haut et Moyen Pays offers an opportunity to rediscover a heritage that continues to live through the people who grow, produce, raise animals and preserve traditional skills.

For one day, Vence’s historic centre will become a window onto the mountains of the Nice hinterland: a place to meet farmers and producers, taste local specialities, watch traditional crafts and discover stories connected with Provençal culture.

An event that serves as a reminder that behind local products, recipes and traditions lies not only a rich past, but also an enduring relationship between Vence, Provence and the valleys of the hinterland.