Marchés aux bestiaux

LE BUISSON on the river Dordogne opens its market square twice a year to the ‘marchés aux bestiaux’.

Cows, horses and donkeys are herded into the village and deals are struck, livestock is sold and a glass of vin chaud is enjoyed.
The market is held on the second Friday of March and October and sees farmers bring an assortment of animals to the village square.
Alongside the farmers’ market stallholders set out their wares, from cheese to bread; vegetables to kitchen ware.
And as you walk around you have a running commentary over the public address system of who is exhibiting and what they are selling.
But it is the animal market that draws the crowds with groups of men chatting, families strolling around and the smaller animals being petted by school children.
Cows quietly chew away on bales of hay as small vans arrive unloading donkeys, then two horses are ridden in before being tied up alongside others.
And of course small bars are full of men warming themselves with a warm coffee or red wine, whilst tucking into a hot baguette.
To see a gallery of photographs, please click here…