What are the top markets to hit in Provence? We are in that area for only a few days (Monday-Thursday) and want to know the good ones during those days.

Forcalquier...Monday
St.Remy...Wednesday

Isle sur la Sorgue on Sunday!!

Second Isle sur la Sorgue!!! That is a market to end all markets!!

I bought paella off of a street vendor there that was out of this world!!! I still have "real" saffron that I bought at that market.

My wife and I drove up early while everybody was still setting up. We got a free parking spot right on the street.

They won't be there on a Sunday for the l'Isle sur la Sorgue market

Monday - Bedoin (very nice)
Tues Gordes (small) & Aix (very nice),
Wed - St Remy
Thurs - Aix

All are morning markets

Stu Dudley

Just posted for a resource to buy the soap we bought at Isle sur La Sourgue! Fabulous..and also the fresh Herbes de Provence. Want to return right now!!

I am sorry I missed the part about Monday to Thursday. We missed the Aix market although we almost got a ticket by driving through it. Got lost and followed a truck, don't know why, but got pulled over by a cop in the market area.

http://provence.angloinfo.com/information/7/markets.asp

This link will give you all the market information you will ever need!

Enjoy!

joy/luvparee

The above site says that the large Aix market on Pl Precheurs in front of the Ste Marie Madeleine church is operated daily except Sunday. Other docmentation I have (somewhat old) indicates that it is only Tues, Thurs, & Sat.

Anyone know for sure??

Stu Dudley

Arles has an enormous market on Saturdays. Maussane's market is Thursdays.

Nothing gets by Stu!!!!

I got so excited about Isle sur la Sorgue that I missed the Mon-Thurs too!

Masterphil --- What time is "early", and exactly where did you park? I know there are a couple of public parking lots, but can one get closer to the action on side streets without a ticket? First timer to Isle sul la Sorgue.

If people were just setting up, early is probably around 7 am. It seems like most markets I've been to are going by 8 am. I went to that one in early afternoon and didn't really have any trouble getting a parking spot, but it wasn't very impressive to me. Maybe a lot of things were already closed up by the time I went, but it just looked like all the other ones in France I've ever seen. I did have to walk a way, of course, but walking a mile doesn't mean much to me. I probably didn't have to walk that far, maybe a half mile.

I don't know the current days of the Aix one, but I did like that one and think it was a good one.

I replied to this earlier - but somehow it got lost

We like to arrive at the l'Isle sur la Sorgue market at 8. At that time, you'll have no trouble parking. Meander to the main church in the middle of town, and watch the vendors set up their stalls along thw way. Have a cafe creme & croissants at one of the many cafes on the square in front of the church. Continue to watch the vendors set up around the square. Hit the market at 8:45 - "official" start time is around 9.

The Flea Market antique section sets up a little later.

The section of the craft/food market on the "outside" pedestrian street running from the water mill, seems to get quite crowded as the day goes on - so visit that section first while the crowds are thinner. Usually by 10:30 in summer the entire market is too crowded for me, so we leave by then. The serious/permanent antiques shops are not as crowded - so they are a good thing to visit if the outside market starts to close in on you.

Stu Dudley

Stu -

That site is wrong - the large market in Aix is Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. It's held usually in the Place des Precheurs and surrounding the Palais du Justice unless there is a sensitive court case going on, in which case it's held along the Cours Mirabeau.

-Kevin

Thanks Kevin - glad to know that the info I've been posting about the Aix market for 10 years or so is corect.

We leave for the Dordogne in 45 mins. We're having a June Gloom here in the Bay Area - so we're happey to take off !!

Stu Dudley