Beaucroissant combines two fairs with a regular Friday market and cultural and historical features connected to Parménie. The fairs have different annual calendar reference points, while the market in the town centre follows a weekly schedule. There is also a marked trail from Chemin des Étangs in Beaucroissant to Domaine de Parménie.
Fairs with different dates
The Foire de septembre (Sainte Croix) is regularly held over three days: Friday, Saturday and Sunday on the weekend closest to 14 September. The livestock fair takes place on Friday. The fair brings together almost 800,000 visitors, 2,000 exhibitors and 1,500 head of livestock; these figures may vary from one edition to another. As the exact weekend changes each year, check the dates for the edition you wish to attend before travelling.
The Foire d’avril (Saint-Georges) is held on the weekend closest to Saint George’s Day. It was established on 8 May 1836 by an ordinance of King Louis-Philippe and revived in 1970. On Saturday, it welcomes almost 1,000 exhibitors and 1,500 head of livestock; these figures may also vary from one edition to another. The two fairs therefore have different calendar reference points. If one of them is the reason for your trip, plan around its respective date.
Getting there during the fair
During the Foire de Beaucroissant, SNCF runs trains that stop in Beaucroissant on the Lyon–Grenoble route. The station is very close to the fair centre. Check the connections for the edition you plan to attend before deciding how to travel: train services are event-specific information.
Friday market in the town centre
The Marché de Beaucroissant is held regularly on Fridays from 4:00 to 7:30 p.m. in the town centre. Market hours may change, so check the date before your visit. Unlike the two fairs, the market is a recurring weekly event and can be the main focus of a Friday afternoon in its own right.
The market offers cheese from “Loulou Fromages” in Sillans, bread and organic biscuits, charcuterie and pork, as well as Sicilian catering from “Cassandra”. Fruit and vegetables come from “Les Jardins du Phoenix” in Colombe; there is also fish from “Faure”, honey from Richard and “Malakoff” chocolate. The offerings also include the “La régalade des Gourmands” food truck and, seasonally, snails. Vendors may change, and snails are not available year-round.
Parménie: history and trail
The history of Parménie goes back to the mid-13th century, when Parménie became a Carthusian monastery for nuns. Another historical point of reference is Jean-Baptiste de La Salle, who retreated there in 1714. The Centre Notre-Dame de Parménie is an important site in the Lasallian tradition. The monastery and La Salle’s retreat mark two different periods in this history.
The Centre Notre-Dame de Parménie welcomes individuals, families and organised groups for a day, a week or longer. If you are considering staying there, contact the Centre in advance to check availability.
For a walking excursion, an easy-to-follow, marked trail leads from Chemin des Étangs in Beaucroissant to Domaine de Parménie. Alongside the fairs with set dates and the Friday market, this provides an outing with a named starting point and destination. When planning, check the dates of the events and, if you are considering a stay at the Centre, its availability.
Discover more destinations: Saint-Bernard, Hières-sur-Amby, Poliénas, Colombe, Jarcieu, Paladru, Miribel-Les-Échelles, Bourgoin
For the broader travel overview: Isere.
