The Sainte Croix Fair at Lessay was established in the 11th C by the religious community at the Abbaye de Sainte-Trinité, aimed at developing the commercial activity and population of the village.
The monks were responsible for organising the market and ensuring it went without a hitch.
During the fair, the monks collected taxes from the stall holders to cover the rental of space. Originally it lasted just one day, but during the 17th C the fair became very well known and at the request of Léonor de Matignon, abbot of Lessay, King Louis XIV issued an edict increasing it to four days.
Source material: "Lessay et son canton à travers les siècles" by Michel Pinel (on sale at the Tourist Office).
Practical Information :
Sainte Croix Fair takes place every year during the second weekend of September.
It is held on 32-hectares of moorland at Lessay over a period of 3 days.
Each year it attracts 400,000 visitors.
Programme :
Friday - horse fair (horses, ponies and donkeys) Saturday - livestock fair (cattles, sheep and pigs) Sunday - demonstration of carriage driving
For the duration of the three days : exhibition of agricultural equipment, household and garden equipment, cars, 1500 stalls. Dogs, poultry and birds for sale. Food fair, roast meat sellers, fairground, local breeders’ festival, and demonstration of old-fashioned buckwheat threshing.
