French Game Fair

Is this the one at Rambouillet or at Chambord? Are you driving or using public transport? If driving an going through Paris and some other cities AND TO USE, I BELIEVE, THE BOULEVARD PERIPHERIQUE, you'll need one of these. The good news is it is less than 5 Euros, available for UK registered vehicles and is for the life of the car.

 
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A feature of the Crit'Air that becomes a benefit is it must be displayed in France on the side of your windscreen nearest their pavements. So a useful "visual reminder" to drive on the right when on the continent.
 
Most if not all peage on the Autoroutes are card only. No longer a man or woman in a booth to take coins. You'll need a "gilet jaune" (hi-vis vest) within reachable distance of the driver when he/she is driving. These can be found at car boot sales for 50p or on eBay. No need for the overpriced ones at the Chunnel Terminal or Dover Quay. Also a breathalyser kit. And a spare set of bulbs plus triangle.
 
And unlike the American couple I met in the car park in central Chinon when filling up be aware that GASOIL (GAZOLE) is diesel! It is not "gasoline"! When then they asked why their hire car wouldn't start after they'd filled it up five minutes earlier with "gas". Petrol is ESSENCE!
 
There is a station at Lamotte that connects with the Eurostar. We have been a few times. Fantastic area. Lots of nice self catering. Game Fair was superb, although I think it was bigger and better at Chambord.

It is worth seeing the hound parade and trompes, even if you aren't in to hunting.

Last time we went there was a good cattle show in the same area a few days later. It is a great area for a holiday in any case. We went to see some hunt kennels and lots of Chateaux at the same time.

I was really struck by how friendly and good humoured everyone was. We went in a group of about 12, some of whom were fluent French speakers which helped. We didn't see any other British people there, but a few Irish people. Fantastic experience though.
 
Hi

Been a few times pre-Covid and always enjoyed. Usually get a 3day pass and split it over 2days, with a cheap hotel nearby; enroute to Friends place in Villamblard

L
 
U.K. game fairs are on the whole a bit predictable, would be nice to see something a bit different.
Don’t attend many now , same faces , game fair deals( not) and double glazing.
Is the French game fair it something than can be comfortably done in one day or does it justify a couple of days?
 
U.K. game fairs are on the whole a bit predictable, would be nice to see something a bit different.
Don’t attend many now , same faces , game fair deals( not) and double glazing.
Is the French game fair it something than can be comfortably done in one day or does it justify a couple of days?
Chambord needed two days, but the new game Fair at Lamotte was much smaller when I last went, in about 2015, but it might be different now.
 
Rambouillet is mostly stands selling African hunting in Senegal. But outside of the exhibition hall did get to try on a running boar a Sauer 100 and Sauer 400 with those reduced range cartridges.
 
Rambouillet is mostly stands selling African hunting in Senegal. But outside of the exhibition hall did get to try on a running boar a Sauer 100 and Sauer 400 with those reduced range cartridges.
That is great. I had a go with a 9.3mm double rifle on the running boar.
 
Been a couple of times, really enjoyed it. None of the tat which you get at game fairs over here. Very much about fieldsports in a very French way, they don't worry about what non hunters think. When you order lunch watch out for the andouillette sausage which is a tripe sausage! I like it but some find it too "strong"
 
Planning to go to French game fair next year.
Any info experiences/info gratefully received.
Thanks in advance.
In addition to what Enfieldspares has listed you will need to fit beam deflectors on your headlights to prevent dazzling those foreign johnnies who drive on the wrong side of the road - if a modern car you can adjust the headlights without the deflectors (which can be bought on the ferry).
Bon voyage!
🦊🦊
 
My last trip in my then new' car through the euro, Was to fit some deflectors bought' at the terminal, only later to discover the vehicles head lamp system can be altered in the on board menu.

BC
 
Is this the one at Rambouillet or at Chambord? Are you driving or using public transport? If driving an going through Paris and some other cities AND TO USE, I BELIEVE, THE BOULEVARD PERIPHERIQUE, you'll need one of these. The good news is it is less than 5 Euros, available for UK registered vehicles and is for the life of the car.

Enfield as you say the Salon de Chasse at Rambouillet (just outside Paris) is an entirely different event to the game fair that used to be held at Chambord but moved to the national equestrian centre at Lamotte-Beuvron (south of Orleans) some years ago.
The salon du chasse is a mainly indoor event exhibiting Gucci goods and held around March if I remember correctly. An interesting event but not quite like the real French game fair that is held at the end of June and is very much based outdoors. I actually think that the new site is larger than when it was held in Chambord but unfortunately doesn't have quite the same character. Perhaps this is due to the setting? I've been to both Chambord and Lamotte-Beuvron and have thoroughly enjoyed both. I was intending to go again this year but unfortunately various things conspired against me and I was extremely disappointed that I couldn't go.

A three day ticket to the game fair costs 25Euros, an absolute bargain. :thumb: At that price you come and go as you feel and don't feel obligated to make every effort to get your money's worth out of the entry fees.
Something that I noticed previously is that they seem to have pop up stands. You see something that you like and say to yourself that you will pop back later to buy it only to be unable to find the stand again or that they have simply gone. Note to self if I see something that I want buy it there and then.

Friday is the first day of the French game fair and is usually fairly quiet. Saturday is much busier and there is usually a show and fireworks display held in the evening going on till quite late. Not that this matters as many just seem to camp out in the car park overnight (we did it one year).
On the Sunday morning there is a church service dedicated to St Hubert. There is also a shooter's jumble sale/bring and buy sale on Sunday morning, that can be quite interesting.

We've travelled over by Eurotunnel previously but these days we try to use the overnight Brittany ferry so as to cut down on driving distance and to arrive nice and refreshed the following morning. For us it makes a nice lovely short holiday. We've also bought hotel package deals from Brittany Ferries and these have worked out particularly good for us.

So Covert give it a try mate, you won't regret it. I think you will enjoy/love the experience.
 
Hi Covert

Ref your reply at #9 - a 3day pass means you are not rushing through and can spend time 'loitering' where you have interests!

L
 
Enfield as you say the Salon de Chasse at Rambouillet (just outside Paris) is an entirely different event to the game fair that used to be held at Chambord but moved to the national equestrian centre at Lamotte-Beuvron (south of Orleans) some years ago.
The salon du chasse is a mainly indoor event exhibiting Gucci goods and held around March if I remember correctly. An interesting event but not quite like the real French game fair that is held at the end of June and is very much based outdoors. I actually think that the new site is larger than when it was held in Chambord but unfortunately doesn't have quite the same character. Perhaps this is due to the setting? I've been to both Chambord and Lamotte-Beuvron and have thoroughly enjoyed both. I was intending to go again this year but unfortunately various things conspired against me and I was extremely disappointed that I couldn't go.

A three day ticket to the game fair costs 25Euros, an absolute bargain. :thumb: At that price you come and go as you feel and don't feel obligated to make every effort to get your money's worth out of the entry fees.
Something that I noticed previously is that they seem to have pop up stands. You see something that you like and say to yourself that you will pop back later to buy it only to be unable to find the stand again or that they have simply gone. Note to self if I see something that I want buy it there and then.

Friday is the first day of the French game fair and is usually fairly quiet. Saturday is much busier and there is usually a show and fireworks display held in the evening going on till quite late. Not that this matters as many just seem to camp out in the car park overnight (we did it one year).
On the Sunday morning there is a church service dedicated to St Hubert. There is also a shooter's jumble sale/bring and buy sale on Sunday morning, that can be quite interesting.

We've travelled over by Eurotunnel previously but these days we try to use the overnight Brittany ferry so as to cut down on driving distance and to arrive nice and refreshed the following morning. For us it makes a nice lovely short holiday. We've also bought hotel package deals from Brittany Ferries and these have worked out particularly good for us.

So Covert give it a try mate, you won't regret it. I think you will enjoy/love the experience.
Enfield as you say the Salon de Chasse at Rambouillet (just outside Paris) is an entirely different event to the game fair that used to be held at Chambord but moved to the national equestrian centre at Lamotte-Beuvron (south of Orleans) some years ago.
The salon du chasse is a mainly indoor event exhibiting Gucci goods and held around March if I remember correctly. An interesting event but not quite like the real French game fair that is held at the end of June and is very much based outdoors. I actually think that the new site is larger than when it was held in Chambord but unfortunately doesn't have quite the same character. Perhaps this is due to the setting? I've been to both Chambord and Lamotte-Beuvron and have thoroughly enjoyed both. I was intending to go again this year but unfortunately various things conspired against me and I was extremely disappointed that I couldn't go.

A three day ticket to the game fair costs 25Euros, an absolute bargain. :thumb: At that price you come and go as you feel and don't feel obligated to make every effort to get your money's worth out of the entry fees.
Something that I noticed previously is that they seem to have pop up stands. You see something that you like and say to yourself that you will pop back later to buy it only to be unable to find the stand again or that they have simply gone. Note to self if I see something that I want buy it there and then.

Friday is the first day of the French game fair and is usually fairly quiet. Saturday is much busier and there is usually a show and fireworks display held in the evening going on till quite late. Not that this matters as many just seem to camp out in the car park overnight (we did it one year).
On the Sunday morning there is a church service dedicated to St Hubert. There is also a shooter's jumble sale/bring and buy sale on Sunday morning, that can be quite interesting.

We've travelled over by Eurotunnel previously but these days we try to use the overnight Brittany ferry so as to cut down on driving distance and to arrive nice and refreshed the following morning. For us it makes a nice lovely short holiday. We've also bought hotel package deals from Brittany Ferries and these have worked out particularly good for us.

So Covert give it a try mate, you won't regret it. I think you will enjoy/love the experience.
Thank you for sharing your experiences, the good lady and myself are looking forward to it next year.
 
Apologies for my tardy response, thank you for everyone’s input.
Will start to look at travel and accommodation options now.
Not sure how ready the French are for my O Level Franglais 😂
 
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