Has anyone any lists of market days/ suggestions for must visit markets in Provence (apart from the antique market in Isle sur la Sorgue?) We are going early September.

There's a nice little book on Provençal markets--I think you can find it at amazon.com.

MONDAY Aix-en-Provence
Bollene
Cavaillon
Fontvieille
TUESDAY Aix-en-Provence
Cavaillon
Gordes 8am-1 pm, Place du Chateau
Vaison la Romaine 8am-noon Ave. Jules-Ferry, Grande-Rue
WEDNESDAY Arles
Barbentane
Salon-de-Provence
St. Remy-de-Provence 6 am-11am. Place de la Mairie, Place de la Republique
THURSDAY Aix-en-Provence
Nyons
Orange
Maussane les Alpilles 8am-12:30 pm Place Laugier-de-Monblan
FRIDAY Bonnieux 8am-noon Place du Terrail
Carpentras 8am-noon Center of Town
Cassis
Fontvieille 7:30-noon Town Hall
Lambesc 8am-noon, Place des Etats-Generaux
SATURDAY Apt 7:00am-12 noon
Arles 7:30am-12:30pm Boulevard des Lices
Avignon
SUNDAY L’Isle sur la Sorgue
Flea Market and jumbo food market, go early
Beaucaire Martigues
Avignon
Saturday and Sunday 8-noon Porte Magnanen ramparts


Flea Market

Aix en Provence T/Th/Sat: 8 am-noon, Place des Precheurs

In addityion to the ones on cigalechanta's list, Bedoin has a very nice market on Monday mornings.

This site has all the markets in France, by department.

http://www.livingfrance.com/lvfra/co...ault.asp?id=15

Stu Dudley

Thanks for this. Could only find a cookery book but I think this will be an addition to my collection!

Having read this thread, I've just e-mailed the hotel de soleil in St. Rem for our october trip. Looks terrific. Has anyone stayed in one of their apartments?

cigalechanta and Stu
Thanks for your input. I now have plenty of markets to choose from!

annhig-- We stayed in one of the Soliel's apartments last May and found it to be very convenient and practical. As you know, the cost difference is minimal and very economical. We had another couple who stayed in another room at the hotel and we met each morning and had breakfast in the apartment and were able to have picnic dinners on the attached patio in the evening. The grounds also have facilities to do the same for those not in the apartment.
The apartment had a bedroom, bathroom, small kitchen with small picnoc style bench and table and rather large living/dining area w/ TV and couch. The decorations were sparse but the kitchen had a nice size fridge, stove and I can't recall a microwave. Utensils were minimal but serviceable and we used the coffee maker but bought filters at the grocery store.
Location was great-a 6/7 minute walk into town and easy, just a couple of minutes from the TI. We enjoyed our stay and would return to the apartment. It was very easy to use with the produce and offerings from the markets.
Have fun, Paul

I loved "Markets of Provence" by Ruthanne Long for the photos, the information and the recipes.

http://www.beyond.fr/a/calmktsday.html

This is a list of over 200 markets in Provence and the Cote d'Azur.

Where are you staying in Provence? That would help us to know which markets to recommend...

I'd suggest visiting one or two of the big markets, but also checking out a smaller market too.

We base in Bonnieux in the Luberon. Our favorites are Apt, Aix, L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, Lourmarin, and Bonnieux. I also like the market at Gordes for gifts.

You might enjoy these market photos:

http://www.slowphotos.com/photo/show...y.php?cat=3423

http://www.slowphotos.com/photo/show...y.php?cat=3878

(I join those who have recommended the book The Markets of Provence!)

kATHY

Kathy
Loved the photos. We are 2 days near La Palud sur Verdun, 7 days near Isle sur la Sorgue, 5 days near Mornas. As this is our 1st trip to Provence all advice gratefully received.

We happened on a small market outside the church in St-Maximin-la-Sainte-Baume that featured mostly fabrics and products made from them--all at very low prices.

Lucky that we decided on italy - the hotel du soleil never replied to my enquiry. I'm still hankering after provence though, maybe next year?

macanimals, just read this post, and saw you stayed at the Hotel du Soleil's apartment! We are staying there for 6 nights in their apartment. I am so glad to hear it had a coffemaker, what type of filters did it use? I was thinking of bringing a few of our own and a day's supply of coffee. Did you have any English speaking stations on the telly? Was there laundry facilities nearby? Sorry to be a pest, but you are the first person I know that satyed in the apartment..and it sounds perfectly lovely!

This is an article I found on the internet and had in my notes:

Outdoor Markets in Provence

Visiting an open air market in Provence is one of life's little pleasures. Market day has been a way of life for Provençals as well as most Europeans for generations. The market serves not only as an oportunity to shop, but also has a social function bringing the community together each week. For the traveler, it allows you a glimpse into everyday life in Provence and allows you to interact with locals.

Typically each town has a market one day a week (a few towns have a small daily market). The markets start very early in the morning (by 8:00) and are usually closed by 1:00PM. A market consists of local farmers and other vendors who sell goods. Many of these vendors travel from market to market, so you may see the same vendor at a market on Monday, and then in another town on Tuesday. Other vendors are more local and only sell at their town's market.

The market place is usually the town square, crammed full with stalls. You will most often have a selection of fresh fruits and vegetables from local farmers, fish and meats from local butchers as well as other specialties such as fresh bread, ripe cheese, olives, honey, spices and wine. If you are traveling, this is a very economical way to build a picnic for lunch or dinner. It is also common to find pre-made food such as baguette sandwiches or pizza.

In addition to selling food, most markets also sell everyday items such as table linens, shoes, clothes, flowers, recorded music, books, and items you might find in a hardware store. Then there are certain markets that offer very specific goods such as antiques. It's almost as if a mini-mall pulls into town each week, and everyone comes outside to meet and shop. None the less, you will always find things that are very specific to the region or city.
I can't imagine a better way to spend a morning in Provence than visiting a local market. Below is a list of markets by day. Parking is often difficult, so arrive early! The more popular markets are in bold and specialties are shown in (parenthesis).

Sunday- Avignon (flea market), Isle sur la Sorgue (antiques), Mausanne

Monday- Bédoin, Cadenet, Cavaillon, Nîmes (antiques), Stes-Maries-de-la-Mer

Tuesday- Aix-en-Provence (antiques), Gordes (arts and crafts), Grasse, La Tour D'Aigues, St-Tropez, Tarascon, Vaison-la-Romaine

Wednesday- Arles, Digne, Draguignan, Fréjus, Salon-de-Provence, Sault, Sisteron, St-Rémy-de-Provence

Thursday- Aix-en-Provence, Beaucaire, Isle sur la Sorgue, Le Lavandou, Orange, Roussillon

Friday- Bonnieux, Carpentras, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Lourmarin, Moustiers-Ste-Marie, Remoulins

Saturday- Aix-en-Provence (antiques), Apt, Arles, Barjols, Digne, Draguignan, Fréjus, Manosque, Sisteron, St-Rémy-de-Provence, St-Tropez, Uzés

Daily- Aix-en-Provence (fruit and vegetables), Antibes, Avignon (except Monday), Cannes, Marseille (fish), Menton, Nice, Sanary-sur-Mer, Toulon

Judyrem--Re: Hotel du Soleil. The coffee maker used #4 filters, we think, and we purchased them from a very close by grocery market as well as Cafe Noir ground coffee. I'm unaware of any laundry facilities in the area- didn't need or look. I don't recall english on the TV--I think I turned it on once in 4+ days just to check it out but had no time otherwise.
Re: Markets. We were in the area-4 nts in Arles, 4 in St. Remy and 4 in Vaison la Romaine and we attended six markets in St. Remy, Lourmarin, Isle Sur la Sorgue, Vaison la Romaine, Nyons and Apt and I can honestly attest to our complete enjoyment of each. We were 2 couples and got so we had "plans of attack" depending on our goals and the offerings--later dinners or picnics, wine, clothes, etc. It was great to come back to our lodging and put together meals of the offerings from the market, especially when we had even the most modest of kitchens.
Enjoy--Paul

Thanks macanimal, for the feedback, I really apprecite it. We just want a English station so we can watch for hurricanes in here S Fla...my DH is hurricane phobic! Regarding markets, I think it is quite wonderful to be able to buy yummy things and make a picnic ot lunch,,sounds fab!