In Provins, November 11 is not just about Saint Martin’s Day. For several years now, the medieval town has been using this day to celebrate one of its most local specialties: the niflette. The Niflette Festival will return on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, featuring a day of activities open to the public free of charge.
At first glance, the recipe seems quite simple: a small puff pastry base filled with orange blossom-scented pastry cream. But behind this pastry lies a much older tradition. Its origins are said to date back to the Middle Ages and are linked to All Saints’ Day. According to local tradition, these small pastries were once distributed to orphans as they left the cemeteries. Their name is said to come from the Latin expression “Ne flete,” meaning “do not weep.”
The niflette will be the star of Provins for an entire day
For the 2026 edition, Provins announces the return of the workshops, demonstrations, games, activities, and the market that have become a staple of the festival. Admission to the event, as well as to the activities and workshops, will be free.
During previous editions, the city’s bakers and pastry chefs made the niflettes in front of the public, while children could get their hands dirty themselves. In 2025, the event even spilled over from Place Saint-Ayoul to several streets in the city center, with more than a hundred exhibitors. This year, we can expect roughly the same program.
Pastry chefs in Provins traditionally continue to display niflettes in their shop windows around All Saints’ Day and Saint Martin’s Day. The festival therefore offers both the chance to sample this small pastry—which remains closely tied to the town—and to discover Provins outside of its major summer events.
And for a getaway from Paris, it’s easy to find a reason to visit: between the ramparts, the César Tower, and the streets of this UNESCO-listed city, the niflette simply provides yet another reason to come in November.
Location: Provins, 77160 Seine-et-Marne
Hours: Wednesday, November 11, 2026; festival, workshops, and activities open to the public free of charge.