Did you think
village festivals were a thing of the past? Think again! On the
weekend of September 20-21, 2025, the town of
Montesson in the
Yvelines (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, with 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, gave 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.
