Toques et Clochers is an annual gastronomy festival in AudeFrance dedicated to the celebration of Chardonnay production in the Limoux wine area, sponsored by the Sieur d'Arques wine cooperative.
It has taken place each year since 1991 during the weekend of Palm Sunday in the area of Limoux and Saint-Hilaire. A group of local wine producers and a famous chef organize a sale or auction of wine. The money raised is used to restore the church in the village that organizes the festival.
In 2008, the auction of wines raised 537,750 euros.
The event's name refers to the tall hats worn by chefs (toques) and bell towers or steeples (clochers), since the money raised from the auctions is given to churches to restore their belltowers.
References
Toques et Clochers Wikipedia(Text) CC BY-SA