Discovering France’s Mushroom Festivals in October 2025

As autumn descends upon France, a unique gastronomic adventure unfolds, beckoning food lovers and nature enthusiasts alike: the country’s vibrant mushroom festivals. From guided foraging expeditions to bustling markets brimming with fresh fungi, these celebrations offer a deep dive into France’s rich mycological heritage and culinary traditions. This article will guide you through the heart of these autumnal delights, exploring key regions, educational workshops, bustling markets, and delectable culinary experiences, drawing from detailed research reports.

Regions of Abundance: Auvergne, Périgord, and Beyond

France boasts several regions particularly renowned for their abundant mushroom harvests and the festivals that celebrate them. Périgord, often called the “land of chestnuts and ceps,” is a prime example. Towns like Villefranche-du-Périgord host annual Chestnut and Cep Festivals at the end of October, offering a chance to savor mushroom-based delicacies and sometimes even join foraging tours. Throughout late summer and autumn, specialized cep markets spring up in locales such as Monpazier, Mussidan, Saint-Saud Lacoussière, Brive, Périgueux, and Sarlat. Chancelade, also in Périgord, hosts a “Salon du champignon” in November, featuring exhibitions of hundreds of mushroom species, expert mycologists for identification, and hands-on culinary workshops.

Further east, the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region is another hotspot. Saint-Bonnet-le-Froid in Haute-Loire hosts a prominent mushroom fair annually the weekend after All Saints’ Day (November 8-9, 2025). This extensive event features a dried mushroom market, local producers, a mycological exhibition, and cooking demonstrations by regional chefs. The Toquicimes food festival in Megève, also in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, occurs every October, celebrating autumn dishes, including mushrooms. Other notable festivals can be found in Villefranche-de-Conflent (Pyrénées-Orientales) in early October, Mende (Lozère) with its Mushroom and Bee Feast, and Eguisheim (Alsace) on the last weekend of October, bringing together mycologists and enthusiasts.

Guided Foraging and Expert Identification

For those eager to venture into the woods, France offers numerous opportunities for guided mushroom foraging. In Provence, near Avignon and in the Luberon or Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, guided tours take participants to find varieties like chanterelles, cèpes (porcini), and black trumpets. These typically include essential equipment, identification lessons, and often a delightful country breakfast. The Vosges region also offers multi-day wild food trips, while “Chemin de la Nature” organizes urban foraging walks in Paris’s green spaces.

Mushroom identification is a critical aspect of safe foraging, and French festivals and societies provide invaluable resources. Mycological societies, such as the Société Mycologique de France and the Mycological Society of Alès (Gard), offer identification meetings, seminars, and field trips. Uniquely, French pharmacists are traditionally trained to assist with mushroom identification, serving as a local resource for foragers, especially in rural areas. Dedicated workshops, like the “Mushroom Identification Workshop” at Tucker House, provide hands-on learning with bilingual mycologists.

Bustling Markets and Culinary Delights

A core element of France’s mushroom festivals is the opportunity to explore vibrant local markets. Here, visitors can discover an impressive array of fresh, wild fungi, from readily available ceps in the Dordogne Valley to more unique varieties found at specialized stalls in Carcassonne. Beyond the festivals, dedicated suppliers like Champiland in Landes de Gascogne, Paris Saveurs at the Rungis International Market, Les Champignons du Brionnais, and Champignonnière de La Marianne near Paris ensure a year-round supply of both cultivated and wild mushrooms, from oyster and shiitake to morels and truffles.

The gastronomic journey continues with abundant culinary demonstrations and tastings. Festivals like Saint-Bonnet-le-Froid, Mende, and Chancelade feature regional chefs showcasing how to best prepare mushrooms, from hearty soups to traditional omelettes and innovative dishes. Many local restaurants in festival host towns also create special mushroom-themed menus during these events. For a truly immersive experience, gastronomic tours focused on truffles and mushrooms are available in regions like Périgord and Provence, allowing visitors to savor these prized fungi in the context of local cuisine and fine wines.

France’s mushroom festivals offer a captivating blend of nature, education, and gastronomy. They invite you to taste the earthy bounty of the forests and to immerse yourself in a ancient cultural tradition, making for an unforgettable autumnal French adventure.