Explore the best markets in Provence with the Bienvenue en Provence sites 

Villeneuve-les-Avignon’s Provençal market is among the biggest in the region and has an extensive variety of local and regional produce every Thursday morning on Place Charles David and every Saturday morning on Place Jean Jaurès. The flea market is held every Saturday morning on Place Charles David. Don’t miss the old town’s fantastic heritage: the impressive Fort Saint André home to the “Jardin Remarquable” abbey garden; the imposing Tour Philippe Le Bel which marked the start of the Pont d’Avignon, the fascinating Musée Pierre de Luxembourg museum, the beautiful pontifical charterhouse (among the biggest in Europe) and its themed gardens.

Les Halles d’Avignon and the city’s Provençal markets. Les Halles d’Avignon is an indoor market with a staggering green wall trades every morning in the city centre (exc. Monday). 40 traders sell premium local and regional produce. An outdoor market between Place des Carmes and Place Carnot sells a wide variety of seasonal Provençal produce every Saturday between 8am and 1pm. Don’t miss the city centre’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites: the staterooms and priceless murals in the sprawling Palais des Papes and the legendary Pont d’Avignon Saint Bénezet. 3D reconstructions of landscapes, rooms and interiors on tablets, audioguides and videos provide a fun-filled introduction to the landmarks. The city’s many outstanding museums: Musée du Petit Palais and its Italian primitive art collection in the 14th century archbishops’ palace; archaeology and fine arts at the Musée Calvet and contemporary art at the Collection Lambert in beautiful 17th and 18th century mansions; Musée Angladon and Musée Vouland stand in fantastic manors and celebrate two great art collectors with incredible collections of Impressionist and modern pieces at Angladon (Degas, Cézanne , Sisley Picasso etc.) and 18th century decorative and Provence arts at Vouland. Les Grands Bateaux de Provence (departure from Les Allées de L’Oulle on the banks of the Rhône) provide boat trips around Ile de la Barthelasse and restaurant cruises from Avignon to Arles.

Châteaurenard’s Provençal market and indoor market.

The Halles Marchandes de Châteaurenard indoor market is open every day (exc. Monday).

Carreau du MIN is Châteaurenard’s Saturday farmer’s market. It is on Boulevard Ernest Genevet. There are around 50 stalls selling local produce. Châteaurenard market is a regular feature on Sundays with around 20 stalls on Cours Carnot in the town centre.

The Forteresse des Comtes de Provence (13th-15th century) stands at the top of Colline du Griffon hill. Guided tours of the fortress introduce visitors to the extraordinary Benoît XIII, architecture, everyday life, strategic role of the site and its fantastic views. Enjoy a stroll around the medieval old town with its houses, washhouse, chapels, communal oven and Jardin des Tours park.

Saint-Rémy-de-Provence’s Provençal market is one of the biggest in the region and is a regular feature on Wednesdays on Place de la République, Boulevard Gambetta, Boulevard Marceau, Rue Lafayette and Place Jules Péllissier. There are around 100 stalls selling farm produce and local products. Don’t miss the nearby hilltop village of Baux de Provence for its fascinating history. It’s listed as “one of the most beautiful villages in France” with a stunning medieval château towering over breathtaking views of the Alpilles landscape. Val d’Enfer, the valley on the edge of the village, is home to the Carrières de Lumières whose former quarries host incredible immersive sound and light exhibitions. A few miles away, Château d’Estoublon is a first class hotel and fine dining restaurant whose shop sells gourmet produce “from home and away” alongside its own products made on its 200ha farm: wine (white, red and rosé) and olive oil (AOP or single variety).

The Provençal market in Beaucaire was recently upgraded to make it a high end market with top quality produce. It’s every Thursday and Sunday morning on  Place Georges Clemenceau and Cours Gambetta. Don’t miss the nearby quirky troglodyte Saint Roman Abbey whose chapel, cells and tombs were carved out by hermits then monks on a limestone hilltop towering above the Rhône. Un Mas en Provence in Bellegarde provides unforgettable sensory tours of its organic herb farm, distillery and laboratory. You can buy its products at its lovely shop.

The Provençal market in Arles: one of the best and biggest markets in Provence.  It spans over a mile from Boulevard des Lices to Boulevard Clémenceau every Saturday morning. It sells fresh regional produce with a farmer’s market and mainly organic producers on the esplanade. You can pick up these 6 signature AOP (protected designation of origin) regional products: Camargue bull, Camargue rice, Vallée des Baux de Provence wine, Vallée des Baux olive oil, cracked green olives, black olives and Crau lamb among others.

There’s a market on Wednesday morning on Boulevard Emile Combes that’s popular among the locals. Plus there’s a flea market on Boulevard des Lices on the first Wednesday of the month.

Don’t miss the Roman and Romanesque monuments in Arles, a town listed twice as UNESCO World Heritage as “Arles, Roman and Romanesque Monuments” and as “Routes of Santiago de Compostela in France.” Unmissable Roman sites: the Amphitheatre, Roman Theatre, Forum’s Cryptoporticus, Constantine Baths, Alyscamps and Obelisk. Not forgetting the Musée Archéologique de l’Arles Antique near the Roman Circus: a museum exploring the ancient city with models, videos and unique collections of mosaics, sailing items and relics of the ancient port including the famous 31m long barge found in the Rhône. Unmissable Romanesque sites: Saint Trophime Church and Cloister, Montmajour Abbey a few miles from Arles. The city’s unmissable museums: Musée Réattu housing fine arts exhibitions in the stunning Grand Prieuré de l’Ordre de Malte; the fully renovated Musée Arlaten devoted to Provence’s ethnography in a beautiful manor; Fondation Van Gogh displaying original pieces by Van Gogh alongside contemporary artists; Fondation Luma with Frank Gehry’s contemporary architectural masterpiece and 56m high tower which plays host to major contemporary designers every year.

The Provençal market in Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer is on Place des Gitans in the town centre just a few hundred metres from the beach. Over 120 stalls sell fruit and vegetables, regional produce and crafts here every Monday and Friday morning (exc. bank holidays). Don’t miss a trip to Camargue. Set sail on the Tiki III paddleboat or Les Quatre Maries boat from the mouth of the Petit Rhône on the Bac du Sauvage, explore the flora and fauna and stop at a horse and bull ranch. Le Camargue boat sets sail from the port and begins proceedings with a trip along the coast. Camargue Alpilles Safaris provides 4×4 tours from Arles to explore the flora and fauna living in the lakes and marshes at the Camargue Nature Park as well as a tour of the Alpilles.

Le Grau du Roi farmer’s market. The often “organic” farmers from neighbouring farms set up their stalls on the seafront every Friday morning. The market sells fresh local produce. The fish market is on Quai Colbert on the left bank. The fishermen sell their catch every weekday morning. Don’t miss Seaquarium, a giant sealife centre with top attractions combining modern museum features with interactive areas like the Requinarium and Imaginarium. Camargue Autrement takes you on a 4×4 or e-bike trip on “the road of senses” starting in Le Grau du Roi. The original outing introduces visitors to marsh flora and flora, paddy fields and stops to meet the local ranch owners and winemakers.

Les Halles de Nîmes and Marché Jean Jaurès. Les Halles is an air-conditioned indoor market in central Nîmes with hundreds of artisans and traders who all share a passion for food and people. It’s open every morning and all day Saturday and has an underground car park. Organic farmers showcase local produce at Jean Jaurès market on Friday mornings, a market approved as “Qualité Sud de France”. Don’t miss the Roman landmarks: the Arena, the spectacular and best-preserved amphitheatre in the Roman world, Maison Carré which screens the “Nemausus” film about how Nîmes came to be, and Tour Magne, a tower from the Roman walls. Opposite the Arena, the Musée de la Romanité plays host to 5000 outstanding archaeological items in an immersive and interactive museum.

Provençal markets in and around Uzès: Sixty traders flock to Uzès on Place aux Herbes and along the medieval lanes on Wednesday morning. The big Saturday morning market has up to 200 stalls. 40 traders bring Place de la Madone to life every Friday morning in Remoulins.

Nearby, don’t miss: the outstanding UNESCO World Heritage Pont du Gard, the highest Roman bridge in the world, with museum areas and a stunning natural setting; The Haribo Museumin Uzès has exhibitions delving into the brand’s sweet production with displays of bygone machinery.

The Anduze market in Cévennes is every Thursday morning in the town centre with twenty farmers and producers from the Cévennes area. The market takes over the entire town in peak tourist season with artisans and stallholders joining the regular food stalls. Don’t miss: La Bambouseraie, an exotic haven of peace listed as one of the most beautiful parks in France home to over 1000 plant species from all over the world: bamboo, amazing trees, flowers and rare plants. Anduze town centre’s lovely streets, covered square, monuments and pagoda are well worth a visit whilst its natural surroundings are jam-packed with hikes and outdoor sports (canyoning, climbing, treetop adventure and more). Take a trip back in time on the little Cévennes steam train between Anduze and Saint Jean du Gard.

Monteux farmer’s market is every Wednesday and Saturday on Place du Marché. Local producers bring visitors the best of regional and seasonal produce.

Bédarrides Provençal market is on Monday morning on Quai de l’Ouvèze and Pernes les Fontaines market on Saturday morning attracts fifty traders to Place Gabriel Moutte (next to Tourist Information) and under the plane trees on Quais de Verdun.

Don’t miss fantastic Pernes les Fontaines, “The Comtat Pearl” and former capital of Comtat Venaissin, with 40 public fountains, 14 mansions, 22 sites registered or listed as Monuments Historiques, 13 chapels, mills and attractions, 7 parks and 5 museums. Don’t miss the “living heritage” Nougats Silvain factory in nearby Saint Didier that’s been making almond and honey treats for 30 years.Families love Wave Island water park in Monteux with 23 attractions whilst Parc Spirou is bursting with fun-filled rides and Spirou characters: Gaston Lagaffe, Lucky Luke, Marsupilami and more.

The Provençal market in Orange hits the town centre’s streets and squares every Thursday morning. It’s one of the liveliest in the region and famous for its prime produce and buzzing atmosphere. 300 regulars sell a wide variety of local crafts alongside local and regional food. Don’t miss the town’s UNESCO World Heritage Roman Theatre, the best preserved in Europe, and the nearby Musée d’Art et d’Histoire home to Roman statues and mosaics. The nearby weekly market in Châteauneuf du Pape is in the heart of the village. The small food market has a dozen stalls selling good produce from home and away every Friday morning. Don’t miss the Cellier des Princes to unlock the secrets of the Châteauneuf du Pape designation, its terroir and fantastic vat room from 1925. Chocolaterie Castelain is the place for a foodie experience in the worlds of wine and chocolate with a tour of the factory, lots of events, tastings and introductions to wine and chocolate pairings at the chocolate bar.

Bollène Provençal markets. The farmer’s market in Bollène is on Tuesday afternoon on Place de la Mairie. The main market in Bollène is on Friday morning. It’s held on Place du 18 juin 1940 on the car park to the north east of town near Lèz. There are around 60 stalls. Don’t miss the nearby Bollène hydroelectric power plant and lock for its outstanding structures that whisk visitors back in time and bring them the latest in electricity production. Guided tour, booking required. Pierrelatte crocodile farm takes visitors on a trip to a tropical reserve with its flora and fauna plus a fun-filled educational trail with countless daily activities. Grotte Saint Marcel in Bidon is one of the biggest cave networks in Europe with a 500m row of huge concretions and a unique waterfall of pools.

The Provençal market in Vaison-la-Romaine has a classic Provence vibe and takes to the town’s main squares and streets every Tuesday morning. It dates back to the 15th century. It plays host to over 450 traders in summer. There’s also a farmer’s market on Saturday morning and Thursday morning in summer. Don’t miss the town centre’s ancient sites from the Roman city covering over 8 hectares and the fantastic Musée Archéologique displaying statues, mosaics and everyday items.

Provençal markets and Halles de Montélimar

Place du Marché is a lovely square in Montélimar old town and hosts a big Provençal market on Wednesday and Saturday morning. The Saturday market also springs up on Place des Clercs and Place de l’Europe. The Drôme Ardèche’s only indoor market is inside a beautiful building (a renovated bank) on the corner of Rue Daujat and Allées Provençales. It’s open Tuesday to Sunday mornings and Thursday to Saturday late afternoons or evenings. Don’t miss Château des Adhémar, a medieval palace and jewel of Southern French Romanesque architecture. It’s a short walk from the town centre with one-of-a-kind arcade windows and unobstructed 360° views from its wall walk. Fun-filled outings and original contemporary art exhibitions bring the site to life.

You’ll find local traders and producers at the Provençal market in Grignan (one of the “most beautiful villages in France”) every Tuesday morning and the one in Suze la Rousse every Friday morning. Don’t miss the truffle market in the nearby Templar village of Richerenches on Saturday morning between mid-November and mid-March. Don’t miss: Château de Grignan, a stunning royal palace with breathtaking views of the surrounding Provence landscapes and the former home of the Marquise de Sévigné; the impressive country Château de Suze la Rousse with its fabulously decorated courtyard.

The Provençal market in Vallon Pont d’Arc in the Ardèche region sees local traders and producers take over the village squares every Thursday morning. Don’t miss the nearby replica of Chauvet Cave, the first known example of cave art and listed as UNESCO World Heritage; the gigantic Aven d’Orgnac Cave listed as a Grand Site de France and its Cité de la Préhistoire prehistory museum.

The Provençal market in L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue is a traditional, colourful and vibrant affair along the southern canalsides and in the town centre.  It dates back to the 12th century. It has around 230 traders every Thursday and Sunday morning (exc. Christmas Day and New Year’s ^Day). Don’t miss the original contemporary sculpture exhibitions at the town centre’s Fondation de la Villa Datris and an immersive journey into the sensory world of premium fabrics at La Filaventure. There are lots of places to visit near L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue. Musée de la Lavande in Coustellet presents the history and wonder of Provence’s signature plant alongside a premium range of toiletries made from lavender grown locally at Château du Bois. Get a real change of scene at the Grottes de Thouzon cave in Le Thor and Le Carbet Amazonien tropical butterfly farm. Calling all wine lovers: Domaine Tourbillon has an impressive wine cellar with a wide variety of Côtes du Rhône designations.

The Sunday market in Pélissane is one of the biggest and most traditional in the region with 184 traders. The market is so good that it’s been awarded the “Parasol d’Or”. It takes place on Avenue du Général de Gaulle and Avenue Saint Roch. The farmer’s market is on Wednesday morning on Place Pisavis. Don’t miss these sites near La Barben: Rocher Mistral, the spectacular Provençal grounds at Château de la Barben with sound and light shows that revive the history and people who made their mark here, its listed garden designed by Le Nôtre, classic Provençal market and restaurant devoted to Alphonse Daudet. La Barben Zoo is home to animals from all over the world in a protected 30ha park. You can see nearly 130 species: tigers, lions, rhinos, giraffes, elephants, leopards, reptiles and more. Families love the zoo for its little train, picnic area and bistro. Don’t miss the flying displays in peak season: “The World of Birds”.

Provençal markets in Aix en Provence: daily food markets bring central Aix-en-Provence’s squares and streets to life with the highlight on Saturday with the big market on Cours Mirabeau. The daily flower market is on Place de la Mairie and the book market is the first Sunday of the month. It’s a hive of life, experience and discussion that make it a buzzing city. Don’t miss the Centre d’Art de l’Hôtel de Caumont in the town centre. It hosts at least two exceptional temporary art exhibitions a year in an 18th century manor with original opulent interior, furniture and grounds. Have a quick lunch or snack in the Mazarin district at Café Caumont and its patio looking over the French-style garden. Nearby:  Musée Granet is a must-visit for its fine arts and archaeology with a fantastic collection of pieces by Cézanne; Fondation Vasarely Architectonic Centre has been listed as a Monument Historique since 2013 and its dimpled structure displays pieces by Vasarely and temporary exhibitions. Visit Château La Coste in Le Puy Saint Réparade, 20 minutes from Aix-En-Provence. A winery home to vineyards, places to eat and sleep and a contemporary art centre. Artists and architects have designed the fixtures, installations and artworks that work together with the landscape to create an incredible atmosphere. On-site wine and local organic produce tastings, several fine dining restaurants with unique artistic interiors, regular temporary exhibitions.

Fish market on the Old Port in Marseille. Fishermen sell their catch here every morning. Flower market on the Old Port on Tuesday and Saturday morning. The city’s two iconic markets have always brightened up life in Marseille. Monthyon market every morning on Place Montyon in Marseille’s 6th arrondissement.  The nearby Estrangin market has a fantastic flower market every Monday morning.

Noailles market is very popular and well worth a visit. Guaranteed fresh produce (fruit and vegetables, herbs, fish etc.) and a wide variety of exotic items in the neighbouring streets. 

Cours Julien market: Wednesday farmer’s market popular among people who love good food with a monthly event celebrating traditional seasonal farm produce. Social and friendly atmosphere.

La Canebière and Cours Joseph Thierry markets. A little market with a village vibe away from the hustle and bustle of La Canebière. Every Tuesday and Saturday morning. It sells flowers, regional organic produce and fish. The nearby Cours Joseph Thierry market sells fruit, herbs and fish every morning. Carré Méry farmer’s marketEvery Thursday afternoon sees a dozen local producers trade at this lovely little organic market on Place du 23 janvier 1943 in the historical and traditional Le Panier district outside the Hôtel-Dieu.

South of the Old Port, don’t miss a stroll around the traditional Le Panier district. It’s a village in the city with narrow lanes, shops, bars, restaurants, views, landmarks and museums: the awe-inspiring Marseille Cathedral, La Vieille Charité (M.A.A.O.A. or Mediterranean Archaeology Museum and African, Oceanian and Native American Art Museum) and its many temporary exhibitions, Musée Regards de Provence. Fort Saint Jean towers over the sea and has been made part of a trail-blazing architectural complex with MuCEM (Museum of European and Mediterranean Civilisations) and Villa Méditerranée. June 2022 sees the latter play host to a replica of 90% of the prehistoric underwater Cosquer Cave. The space is filled with historical collections, reconstructions and innovative digital tools. An immersive visitor experience introduces you to the world of diving and the maritime setting before you “set sail” on a tour of the cave. Before or after your immersive cave adventure, visitors can watch a spectacular screening about Henri Cosquer’s escapade (there may also be conferences based on film screenings on the night).

A visitor centre has a permanent exhibition devoted to prehistory and the rise in sea levels since the last glacial maximum to tie into the experience.