Provence Markets: A Different Treat Every Day of the Week

If there is one thing that locals and tourists can agree on, it’s market day. And luckily, nearly every village in Provence has a weekly market with local specialties. Provence markets not only give you the chance to pick up some essentials and keepsakes, but they are also one of the best ways to people watch and mingle with the locals.

A Provencal market presents fresh produce, prepared foods and local delicacies, as well as local goods such as lavender, clothing and pottery. Many places even offer market tours, tackling as many markets in the area as possible. But if you’re choosing to go it alone, here are some of the most popular:

Monday

• Forcalquier

Tuesday

• Lacoste
• Gordes market is offered year-round from 8 AM to noon and is set around the foot of the castle. They specialise in fabrics, soaps, lavender, clothing and lunch foods.

Wednesday

• Sault
• Aix en Provence
• Salon de Provence
• Saint Remy is a popular, chic market starting around 8:30/9 AM to around 1 PM. They offer everything from women’s linen dresses and keepsake souvenirs to Provencal delicacies.

Thursday

• Roussillon
• Goult
• Menerbes market is open every Thursday morning in the centre of the village. Although this market is small, it has plenty of specialised food stalls, summer clothes, home goods and organic fruits and vegetables.

Friday

• Bonnieux market is small, but charming and is open every Friday morning. They offer a variety of goods including tapenades and jams, leather goods, art and fabrics. The food market is the focal point of the square.
• Lourmarin morning market is especially good for art lovers and is more sophisticated in style.
• Carpentras market is considered France’s largest truffle market and is known for attracting authentically local people. It is only open from mid-November to the end of March.

Saturday

• Apt has a large morning market and was voted one of the best in France. They offer more exotic goods from immigrant stall owners, and prices are relatively lower.
• Pernes Les Fontaines

Sunday

• Isle sur la Sorgue market is huge and perfect for antique lovers. This market is normally open later than most morning markets and provides the only chilli stand in the area.
• Coustellet farmers’ market is every Sunday morning until the afternoon from April to December. It is known for being a marché paysan, meaning the produce is sold by the producers.

Provence markets are some of the best in France and are luckily available to browse every day of the week. We have numerous hotels to choose from that suit all tastes and budgets. Click on the links below to browse some of the options:

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