The Aquitaine Asparagus Festival takes place 25 – 26 April 2020 in the village of  Etauliers (33 Gironde, Nouvelle Aquitaine)  – Fête de l’Asperge

Highlights of the Asparagus Festival include cookery demonstrations by some of the best chefs in the region showing dishes with asparagus, free music including a concert on the Saturday night and amusements for the children.

The local Asperges du Blayais has been cultivated since the 15th Century and legend has it that the Marquis de Vauban (who built the Citadelle in Blaye) introduced the vegetable to the court of Louis XIV.

There are 2 varieties – the white and the violet. Both are protected as an IGP (Indication Geographique Protegée) protected geographical indication which ensures that asparagus labelled as Asperges du Blayais is grown in the area and meets certain technical requirements.

Etauliers is about 10 miles northeast of Blaye

for more info on the Asparagus Festival see www.lafetedelasperge.com/

In Blaye there is a hotel in the heart of Vauban’s  citadelle – Logis Hotel de la Citadelle

By train/TGV from London, Paris to Bordeaux with Rail Europe