Did you think
village festivals were a thing of the past? Think again! On the
weekend of September 14-15, 2024, the town of
Montesson, in the
Yvelines region
(78), is pulling out all the stops with a new edition of the
Fête du Pâté à la Carmen. A tradition going back more than 150 years, it features glittering, offbeat floats and, of course, pâté galore!
But why "Carmen"? There are two theories: Kermann, an Alsatian chef who took refuge in Montesson after the 1870 war, is said to have given his name to his creation, the famous pâté, which became "Carmen" through alteration. Or perhaps, around 1900, the Bavarian wife of the local pork butcher, with her lilting accent, distorted the "pâté à la carne" (meat) into "Carmen". Whatever the version, it's become the region's not-to-be-missed back-to-school event!
What's on the menu? A parade of floats, a shower of confetti, a funfair, dancing and, to top it all off, fireworks to light up Montesson.
