Carcassonne seems to have special events every week.  This week was la Fête du Pain (the Bread Festival) sponsored by a local professional baking college, Saint Honoré Academy.  (Saint Honoré is the patron saint of bakers.)  All the events in Carcassonne reminds us of all the special event we used to experience in Reno, Nevada.  French people really do take fresh baked bread seriously and we have found that in France, “Bread is king.”

The school set up both wood-fired and electric ovens in event tents on the perimeter of Square Gambetta We could smell freshly baked bread and hear the DJ’s music as we walked the block from our apartment to the Square.  A dozen artisan bakers and apprentices were busy baking baguettes, breads, croissants, cakes, bread sculptures, and pies for exhibition and sale to the public.  Many of the breads were created using the French twice-baked technique that makes that especially crusty bread that France is well-known for serving.

Tracy and I tried the pain au chocolat (chocolate croissant), a favorite of ours, and watched the bakers perform for the crowds.  There was an area for children to decorate cookies and an inflatable “bounce house” with multiple food and craft vendors along the Square to visit as well.

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