Ponte da Barca strengthens ties with the diaspora at the Nanterre Fair: Gazeta Rural

The Municipality of Ponte da Barca reaffirmed its commitment to the emigrant Barquense community by once again being present at the Nanterre Fair, in France. This event, which has now become an annual tradition, serves as an essential meeting point for the vast emigrant community residing in Paris and its surroundings.

Over the years, the participation of the Municipality of Ponte da Barca in the Nanterre Fair has been a vital platform to promote gastronomic products, from wine to sausages, from honey to sweets, and handicrafts.

This is a living testimony to the richness and authenticity of local products, which play a crucial role in connecting emigrants with their roots. The Mayor of Ponte da Barca, Augusto Marinho, described the event as a true “market of nostalgia”, where the Ponte da Barca delegation is “always warmly welcomed and cared for”.

The Barquense mayor did not spare words to express his gratitude and pride for the emigrant community, considering that they are “our ambassadors in the world”.

Augusto Marinho also highlighted the economic and cultural importance of the emigrant community for the municipality of Ponte da Barca and reiterated the municipality’s commitment to maintaining a close and collaborative relationship with emigrants and their associations.

As in the previous year, the municipality organized a snack/get-together for Barquense emigrants, which was an absolute success, providing a moment of closeness and sharing between the community and municipal representatives, namely the mayor Augusto Marinho, and the councillors, Rosa Arezes and Diana Sequeira.

The Nanterre Fair, now in its 19th edition, is organized by the Associação Recreativa e Cultural de Originários de Portugal (ARCOP), and continues to be an emblematic event that brings together several Portuguese municipalities with the aim of promoting the best of each region with the Portuguese and French-speaking community.

The Municipality of Ponte da Barca thanks all the people from Barquão who were present and for the opportunities to strengthen ties with their diaspora and continue to celebrate the cultural heritage that unites Portugal and Portuguese communities around the world.