A legend says that Sainte-Neomaye takes his name from a young a very virtuous woman, Neomaye, who was promised, against her will, to a local ugly lord.

Rather than accepting the wedding, and in order to keep her virtue, she asked that her foot be changed in a goose leg, and was fulfilled after she dived it in a source.

Sainte-Neomaye has been famous for its Donkey Fair (La Foire aux Mules) since the 18th century.

Nowadays, this social event still takes place on the gorgeous central square of the village, but is less about commerce, and more about entertainment.

At this occasion, a race, "Les Chemins du Roy", takes place around the village, through tiny paths used, a long time ago, by donkey merchants.