In the 17th and 18th centuries, the Madeleine Fair was an international market that attracted merchants from all over Europe to Beaucaire. History and anecdotes.
What is this fair, who is this Madeleine?
The Saint Mary Magdalene Fair is this large international market which has made the city of BeaucaireIt began on the evening of July 21, the eve of the feast of the city's patron saint, and lasted until July 27 or 28 depending on the year.
The beginnings
In 1464, King Louis XI of France confirmed a charter of privileges for the town of Beaucaire, granting its inhabitants the right to organize a free fair and stipulating that "all persons wishing to attend, from wherever they may come, shall not have to pay any toll, fee, or tax..." During the 15th and 16th centuries, the fair developed slowly and attracted only merchants from neighboring provinces.
From the 17th century onwards, it became one of the most important trading and financial centres in Europe. It surpassed all the fairs in the Kingdom in importance and was compared to those of Frankfurt and Leipzig. Trade was conducted directly on the boats, on the fairgrounds in wooden or canvas huts, but also in the town, on the ground floors of houses.
It attracts buyers and traders from all over Europe; it is not uncommon to encounter turbaned Orientals. The stalls flourish, the city is bustling, and its population increases tenfold.
We are talking about 100 visitors a day from all parts of Europe and the Mediterranean basin.
Yes, sir, we have merchants from the other hemisphere, and we certainly need more than just a few inhabitants of the moon...
anecdotes
The great Beaucaire families, if they did not desert Beaucaire during the Fair, would retreat to the second floor or the attic of their house and rent out everything else. Every space from the cellar to the attic was occupied.
In some homes, it's not uncommon to see fireplaces in every room. They can even be found on stairwells!
During the Fair, the crowds were so great that religious buildings became too small to accommodate the faithful passing through Beaucaire; mass was celebrated outdoors on the Pré, at a small chapel built for the occasion. In the 18th century, the town even went so far as to rebuild its Notre-Dame des Pommiers church; it doubled in size!
Witnesses of the Fair are everywhere in the city.
The Madeleine Fair had a significant impact on the urban planning and development of the town of Beaucaire. From this period of prosperity, the private mansions remain, built specifically to accommodate a maximum number of people during the Fair. Don't miss the facades of these magnificent private mansions. Fermineau's Hotel (16th century), the Margaillier Hotel (17th century), the Hôtel de Clausonnette (18th century)…and discover their story by following our guided tours.
Another witness to the Fair are the measuring standards on the facade of the Town Hall.
During your visit to Beaucaire, take a moment to admire the details of the magnificent façade of Beaucaire Town Hall, a building built in the late 17th century. To the left of the entrance, you can see two metal bars embedded in the wall; these are old measuring standards.
Indeed, fabric was the most sold commodity during the Beaucaire Fair. Measurements varied from one country to another, from one region to another, and even from one city to another! It was therefore necessary to have reference measurements.
When the merchants arrived in Beaucaire, they would go to the front of the town hall with their wooden canes and take their measurements.
We measured for you!
- The shortest measures 1m and probably corresponds to the Fathom, a measurement used by Genoese merchants,
- And the longest, measuring 1 meters, is the Montpellier cane, the regional measure. There was also the Arles cane, the Pézenas cane, etc. The royal measure was the ell.
Everyone had to be there!
Today…
In the 19th century, the transport of goods by train supplanted waterways. Similarly, industrialization and factory manufacturing gradually transformed customs. The Saint Mary Magdalene Fair slowly declined until it disappeared completely during this century.
Today, the people of Beaucaire celebrate the Madeleine Festival. Every year, starting on July 21, Madeleine Festivals are an annual event not to be missed, during which the city transforms into a great moment of conviviality and celebration.
The Madeleine celebrations are always held from July 21st and for a variable duration since a Thursday must be followed by a Monday.
On the program: parades in traditional costume, bulls in the streets and a city celebrating with the bullfighting fair and bodegas full of young and old!
So, what do you have planned for July 21st?
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