The Bayonne Ham Festival brings together all ham lovers. At the heart of these festivities with ancestral roots, it is tasted and celebrated.
The festival has showcased the craftsmanship of Basque artisans since 1462 and plays a key role in the identity and traditions of Bayonne. Bayonne Ham is a major component of the city's intangible heritage, making it both an economic and cultural asset.
According to legend, Gaston Phoebus was the originator of Bayonne Ham. He allegedly shot a wild boar that fell into the salty waters of Salies-de-Béarn and was later found in perfect preservation the following season. Since then, the mineral-rich Adour brine (saltwater) has given Bayonne Ham its exceptional taste, delighting even the most famous palates, including French King Henry IV, who had it sent to Paris.
Originally, the festival was held along the Adour docks, where all the hams were exported, giving rise to the name "Bayonne Ham." Over the years, it moved to Les Halles and the Roquebert dock, where it was rooted for many years. In 2014, it had to relocate because the site had become too small to accommodate new visitors. It then settled around the Nive River and its docks.
Since 2021, the festival has been held on the Roland-Barthes esplanade. The reason for its many relocations is its growing popularity, attracting more and more ham enthusiasts. However, it remains a moment of conviviality where the traditional values of the city are celebrated.
For this occasion, the association Les Amis des Enfants du Monde invites you to play the weighing game online on this site until April 30 inclusive.
The entirety of the money collected will be donated to the association at the end of the game.
The game is simple. You will be shown several photographs of the same ham from different angles. Then, you must estimate its weight in kilograms, rounded to the nearest gram (e.g., 8.7 kg). You must also estimate the size of the ham in centimeters, rounded to the nearest millimeter (e.g., 25.4 cm). On April 30, the player who provides the closest weight estimate will win the ham. In case of a tie, the person who gives the closest size estimate will win. If the tie persists, the player who participated first will be declared the winner.
