Markets of Provence – Slow Travel Tours

The markets of Provence form a magical triangle in southern France that continue to enchant. The French passion for food is celebrated in its open-air village markets where seasonal foods are the mainstays of daily living. This sun-kissed corner of the map offers such a bounty of genuinely fresh fruits and vegetables, tantalizing delicacies, irresistible scents of lavender, rosemary and thyme, you can almost taste its beauty. It is a splendid, multi-faceted mosaic of unhurried daily rhythms, sunshine and serenity.

Since the love of good food and community is at the heart of French village life, there is no better way to step into the flow of a country day than through the markets where locals gather to shop and share stories. Even though most people come for food, glorious food, there’s almost nothing you can’t purchase on market day from olive wood bowls and rich aromatic spices, to colorful baskets and fanciful clothes. This thriving, centuries old tradition continues in every kind of weather, every day of the week.

For anyone traveling to Provence its markets are central to the region’s way of life, preserving a deep connection to the land. The list below covers Haut Vaucluse, Combat Venaissin, Mont Ventoux, Luberon, Bouche-du-Rhône and the Gard. Most markets start are 8 a.m. and end at 12 and 1 in the afternoon. Some markets are in the evening, so check on the village website for details. Some markets are larger than others and are marked with a star. And some markets have specialties as noted below.

Monday – *Bédoin, Cadenet, Fontvielle, Forqualquier, Bédarides, *Bollene, *Cavaillon, Goult, Lauris,
Mazan, Nimes, *St. Didier, Saint Saturnin-les-Avignon, St. Ètienne-du-Grès.

Tuesday – *Avignon, Gordes, La Tour D’Aigues, Aix-en-Provence, Beaumes-de-Venise, Caromb, Curcuron,Lacoste, Fontaine-de-Vaucluse, Grignan, Marguerittes, Tarascon, *Vaison-la-Romaine,
*Tarascon.

Wednesday – St. Remy de Provence, Aigues Mortes, Malaucene, Roussillon, Sault, Salon, Valréas,
Velleron, Violès, Arles, *Mouries, Orgon, *Bagnols-sur-Cèze, Digne-les-Bains, Gap.

Thursday – Les Baux-de-Provence, Aix-en-Provence, Ansouis, Aubignan, Beaucaire, Nyons
Oppede-‘les-Vieux, Orange, Le Pontet, Villeneuve-les-Avignon, Ménerbes, Vacqueyras, *St. Gilles.

Friday – Eygalières, Aix-en-Provence, Bonnieux, *Carpentras, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, *Courtézon
Eyguières, Lourmarin, *Pertuis, Stes. Maries-de-la-Mer, *St. Martin-de-Crau, Remoulins, St. Quentin-la-Poterie.

Saturday – *Avignon, Apt, Aix-en-Provence, Cheval Blanc, Crillon-le-Brave, Oppede, *Pernes-les-Fontaines, *St. Cécile-les-Vignes, Sommières, Uzès,*Manosque, Sisteron, Cadenet,

Sunday – L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, *Avignon, Aigues-Mortes, Beaucaire, *Châteaurenard, Jonquières, *Sorgues, Ansouis

Daily Markets – Aix-en-Provence.

Flower Market– Aix-en-Provence, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, Nimes on Monday.

Truffle Markets – November – March, Friday in Carpentras, Saturday in Apt and Uzès, Wednesday in Valréas, Tuesday in Vaison-la-Romaine, Tuesday in Grignan,Thursday in Nyons.

Floating Market – L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, 1st Sunday in August.

Sue Aran lives in the Gers department of southwest France. She is the owner of French Country Adventures, which provides private, personally-guided, small-group, slow travel tours into Gascony, the Pays Basque, Provence and beyond. She writes a monthly blog about her life in France and is a contributor to Bonjour Paris and France Today magazines.

Slow Travel Tours is an affiliation of small-group tour operators who offer personalized trips in Italy, France, England and other European countries.