LA FOIRE SAINT-MARTIN

An unmissable ritual for the whole Pyrénées-Orientales department and beyond for over 160 years, the Foire Saint-Martin, which covers 4.5 hectares and hosts 150 fairground vendors, is one of the 5 biggest fairs in France. We can't get enough of the dazzling lights, the merry hustle and bustle, the sweet smell of cotton candy, chouchous, the warm, sweet scent of crêpes, waffles, churros and those alluring candy apples. We all dream of leaving with a huge stuffed toy in our arms, or even a smartphone, a remote-controlled helicopter or a drone. It's also great to be able to sit down on one of the many terraces and enjoy a paella, a hearty sandwich, a hot dog or a tray of delicious pommes-frites, with a choice of hot or cold drink. A good break before setting off again to new attractions. The atmosphere is always good-natured, thanks to a top-notch security service that keeps a discreet but efficient watch over the site, and of course to the ineffable friendliness of the fairground staff. It's also worth noting that people are pleasantly surprised by the fair's near-exemplary cleanliness, with numerous garbage cans available and mobile toilets in many places. A large number of free parking spaces are available nearby, and the Parc des Expositions is served by a regular bus service from the Perpignan-Méditerranée conurbation. Everything has been planned to optimize our enjoyment, and nothing is left to chance in this organization masterfully led by Jean-Marc Sidrot. It's a month-long celebration, a joyful preamble to the end-of-year festivities that attract over 400,000 visitors, always happy to have spent a few hours in this enchantment that makes us forget time and trouble. And then there's November 11th, which is not only St. Martin's Day and Armistice Day, but also a day dear to the hearts of Catalans, for all day long it's the Camelots fair, also known as the stallholders' fair. Alas, for security reasons, 2016 did not see the 500 camelots who came from all over France, with their inimitable bagout. At the time of going to press, we don't know if it will be maintained in the future.