The fiestas of San Fermin are celebrated in Pamplona, in the region of Navarra, every year from the 6th to the 14th of July. They have become internationally famous because of the running of the bulls. In south west France in the medieval city of Sarlat they have the running of the geese. This feather fluttering spectacle occurs annually, this year on the 15th and 16th of February, and celebrates the many qualities of this of this fine web-footed fowl.

The festival is supported by several days of activities in the cobbled market square where there were hosts of stalls selling local produce, many of which are goose orientated. On the Saturday evening ‘La Place de la Liberté’ (the market square given it's proper name) is set up into drinking and eating areas under heated tents with fresh cooked goose and other edible delights and a fine selection of excellent local Bergerac wines. To taste these delicacies and sip the wine you need to buy tickets. The celebrations were accompanied by some robust brass & drum music that got the now relaxed crowd joining in.

Talking about wine (were we?) we had the opportunity to do some wine tasting. Using organic methods, Domaine de la Voie Blanche produce a selection of excellent reds, Les Joualles, Barbe Yrolle and Le Petit Manoir and a white – L’Alba. Unusually, they are matured in large terracotta jars rather than the traditional oak barrels. Anyone who has visited an ancient Roman site will know that this method was used by them to both store and mature their wines so it is actually an interesting step back in history.

On Sunday, the market square was again a mass of stalls with many people milling around enjoying the unseasonably warm weather and the excellent selection of goods on sale. The height of this festival is an amazing 15 course luncheon that is held in the city’s theatre with tented extensions to cope with the oversubscribed demand for places. On stage there were live music acts and a fair amount of participation from many of the diners.


Unfortunately, or fortunately for my Cholesterol level, we had to leave this feast after just six courses in order to catch our flight back to London.

While we were in the area and to complete our full exposure to the goose, we visited a farm where the geese are bred and readied for market. Despite being ankle deep in mud, yes it did rain while we were there, we saw for ourselves the free-range geese enjoying a large paddock and the benefits of a straw soft floored shelter for the night time and resting (or is it nesting?). As with all farms that breed animals for meat, we also saw the final fattening process and the, as humane as possible, killing method.

This was a delightful insight to just one of the many quirky, interesting, fun and educational festivals that abound in France over a 12 month period.

For more information about the wonders that await you in Sarlat-la-Canéda please the Tourist Office of Sarlat’s website -
http://www.sarlat-tourisme.com/

GETTING THERE

Brive Airport is just 45 Kilometres (27 miles) from Sarlat-la-Canéda.
Twice weekly service from London City Airport on City-Jet – Friday & Sunday with an additional return flight between 23 July & 31 August. They also fly Amsterdam – Brive. https://www.cityjet.com

Soon London's Stansted Airport to Brive on Ryan Air - Commencing April 2014 Wednesdays & Saturdays. http://www.ryanair.com/

HOP! fly a regular service from Paris Orly to Brive. www.hop.fr

For more information about The Brive Dordogne Valley Airport please click on http://www.aeroport-brive-vallee-dordogne.com/en

Foot Note:

M. Reza Amirinia, the featured photographer on this article, is a freelance writer and journalist who has a passion for Documentary Photography, Street Photography and Photojournalism and wishes to share his journey and inspirations through his visual essays. This is our first of hopefully many co-operations between us. To find out more about this talented photographer please visit his website at www.amirinia.com