My husband and I have an opportunity to spend two days in Provence in April. My hobby is making quilts as gifts, and I would like to shop for fabrics. Do any of you have tips on which city, shops, or markets might have the best selection? Thank you.

Any market in Provence will be absolutely inundated with fabrics - heck, the markets in the Dordogne now have acres of provençal fabrics. You'll be tripping over them - no need to make it a quest.

If you say where in Provence (it's a large area) you're headed, I'm sure we can tell you what markets are held on which days.

There are markets in Arles on Wednesday and Saturday and a shop on the Blvd. des Lices that sells table cloths and mats and has bolts of material.I can't remember the name but it's near the Souleado shop.

Les Olivades, similar to Souleaido (Pierre Deux in US), used to have a small outlet in Fontvielle (still there, anyone?); they are beautiful cottons, which are not cheap, but they launder wonderfully-hardly have to touch up with an iron.

Les Olivades are, by far, the best Provencal fabrics. The market fabrics are very poor cousins and do not wash well. They also lack the intensity of colour of L>O.

I am sure you would find a shop in St Remy as that is where they are manufactured.

You will find a list of their shops throughout France on the website:

www.lesolivades.com

Another vote for Olivades. The colors keep there clarity and wash well.
You pay more but they last longer.

Thanks to StCirq, Luisah, grandmere, EmBee, and cigalechanta! We appreciate the tips and look forward to checking out the Les Olivades fabrics. Kitty

bumping for future reference

The outlet shop is still there - but a bit difficult to find.

It's not really that hard to find. Take the D99 from St Rémy in the direction of Tarascon. In the village of St-Etienne du Grès, at the third traffic circle, go three quarters of the way around and follow the signs for "Camping" - Les Olivades is just past the entrance to the campgrounds.