Keystone-SDA
Tens of thousands of people will invade the village of Reconvilier on August 31 and September 1 in the Bernese Jura, for the Chaindon fair. The event on the list of intangible heritage of the Confederation is considered one of the largest agricultural fairs in Switzerland.
(Keystone-ATS) The Chaindon Fair defines itself as a living institution that celebrates dialogue between the rural world and the urban world. It wants to be a window of the agricultural world even if over the years its festive side has continued to gain importance.
“The Chaindon fair plays a link between the agricultural world, the economic world and the public,” the president of the Erwin Grünenwald organizing committee told Keystone, detailing the program of the demonstration on Tuesday. Some 50,000 people are expected during the two days in Reconvilier.
The fair will start on Sunday with pig races, the gymkhana tractors competition, the horse’s treading competition or the presentation of Redog rescue dogs combined with civil protection exercises. The day will continue with the folk procession.
Over 550 fairgrounds
As is tradition, cattle merchants and horse breeders will offer their animals for sale on the first Monday in September. They will invest the fairground at 5:30 am. The streets of the village will accommodate some 550 fairgrounds. The public will be able to approach animals that are grouped in a field.
Like other events with animal exhibitions, such as the Saignégier horses’ competition, the Chaindon fair had to take into account the strengthening of veterinary standards and observations emanating from animal protection associations. It meets all the animal welfare requirements.
Long history
The Chaindon fair has no specific date as to its creation. The first traces were dated September 2, 1626. At the start, it was an event for the exchange and sale of cattle. It has acquired its reputation thanks to its horse market.
In 1984, more than 3000 horses and 200 bovids were present on the site. It was the record year, making this event the largest horse market in Europe.
