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Foire aux harengs et à la coquille Saint-Jacques

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Giada Connestari

NovemberHerring and scallops: the kings of the party!
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Herring and Scallop Festival

It’s an amazing experience! With the Foire aux Harengs et à la Coquille Saint-Jacques held every third weekend in November, Dieppe celebrates its ancestral link with the sea and the fishing trades.

> The next edition on November 15 & 16, 2025 <

Herring or scallop?

Marinated, grilled or fresh, this fish from the north, which has just arrived on the Channel coast, can be enjoyed with no pretensions to gastronomy, but with real gourmet pleasure. The nec plus ultra is to taste it fresh off the grill, accompanied by a potato cooked in the embers and then sliced open, with a dab of melting salted butter drizzled over it. Or try a skewer of scallops, accompanied by a small glass of white wine.

By Saturday morning, every restaurant, brasserie and bar is gearing up for the midday bonfire, as no one can fail to enjoy the tradition of steaming grills in front of their establishments.

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Foire Aux Harengs Giada Connestari 19

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Giada Connestari

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Foire Aux Harengs Marie Joubert 24

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Marie Joubert

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Foire Aux Harengs Giada Connestari 17

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Marie Joubert

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Foire Aux Harengs Marie Joubert 21

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Giada Connestari

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Foire Aux Harengs Giada Connestari 2

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Giada Connestari

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Foire Aux Harengs Giada Connestari 3

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Giada Connestari

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Giada Connestari

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Foire Aux Harengs Giada Connestari 21

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Giada Connestari

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Foire Aux Harengs Giada Connestari 24

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Giada Connestari

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Foire Aux Harengs Marie Joubert 3

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Marie Joubert

Edition 2024

All practical information

November 16 & 17
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Poster Herring Fair 2024 Brigitte Pope

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Brigitte Pope

A break on the terrace

But no fair is complete without a solemn inauguration. Beforehand, the members of the Confrérie du Hareng et de la Coquille Saint-Jacques (Brotherhood of Herring and Scallops) march past. Dressed as aldermen, they renew their annual pledge to promote the noble shellfish and the king fish.

At the stroke of midday, the terraces invite you to take a short break. Then it’s time to pause for a moment before the slightly surreal image of an improvised cook, wearing ski goggles to protect himself from the fumes, hard at work in front of a grill on the sidewalk of a neighborhood bistro. Crackling and roasting, a few silhouettes linger in the delicious, appetizing cloud before sitting down to dinner.

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Foire Aux Harengs Marie Joubert 14

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Marie Joubert

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Foire Aux Harengs Giada Connestari 6

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Giada Connestari

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Foire Aux Harengs Marie Joubert 1

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Marie Joubert

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Marie Joubert

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Foire Aux Harengs Giada Connestari 10

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Giada Connestari

Stroll through Bout du Quai

Traditionally peaceful, the streets of Bout du Quai, one of Dieppe’s two historic fishermen’s quarters, come alive with the “braderie des habitants”. Satiated strollers stroll through a fragrant veil that never lets them go. Street entertainment, children’s games and attractions, stalls and markets selling local and international produce– there’s plenty to keep you entertained and tempted.

A little history

Dieppe’s history is intimately linked to the sea, and this celebration of herring and shellfish around the fishing industry bears witness to this. Smoked, salted or eaten fresh, herring was a lifeline for Dieppe residents during the long winters of the Middle Ages, and often saved them from starvation. At that time, the first fisheries and saltworks were established, and most of the herring sold on the stalls of Paris or Rouen came from Dieppe, thanks to the chasse-marée (tide boats) that provided a rapid link between the sea and the capital. As for the shell,the “white gold” of Dieppe’s sailors, it is fished during the winter season and graces the most refined tables.

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