Oh the fun you'll have at the markets in Caux and surrounding villages. It's the best way to shop for fresh local produce and then either head home to whip up a delicious meal, or pack a picnic basket for a little feast in a forest or on the banks of a river.
On Fridays in Caux you can roll out of bed, take a few steps down to the village centre, and fill your shopping bag with meat, cheese, veg, fruit and other delights. You can even buy an outfit to wear to dinner later. The market is small, but you're sure to find what you need when you visit between 7am and 12.45pm.
Further afield (a whole seven kilometres!) you'll find the biggest of the markets in Pezenas on a Saturday morning. The market runs from 8am to 6pm, from Place Frédéric Mistral to place des Trois-Six along the length of the street. There are about 120 stalls selling homeware, clothing, shoes and, of course, cured and fresh meat, loads of olives, fruit, veg, tons of cheese, wine, fresh pasta, fish, oysters, flowers, herbs, and a whole host other delicacies. The market apparently dates back to the 14th century and is a gathering place for people from all over the region. Try take the bus from Caux as parking can be hard to find, although not impossible.
Other markets within easy driving distance include:
Bessan has a small market on Tuesdays and a bigger one on Sundays (about 60 stalls) from 6am to 1pm at the Mairie, Promenade and Grand Rue squares.
Montagnac's market is on Fridays from 9am to noon on the esplanade in the town centre. This shaded market is a hit in summer.
Saint-Thibery's mini food market is on Tuesday mornings from 7am to noon on the square Francis Laurent.
Another small market, also on a Tuesday, is on place Pierre Thieule in Pinet, from 8am to noon.
On Wednesdays you can head over to Tourbes from 8am to 1pm for the market on the place de l'Eglise, where you can expect to find a small selection of fresh fruit and vegetable, sausages, cheese, fish and meat.
Florensac has a Tuesday traditional market, but on Saturdays from 8am to 1pm you expect more stalls on Republique Square.
Filling in the gap on Thursdays is the Pomerols market from 7am to 1pm on place du Général de Gaulle.
