Curious Provence

a Curious Canadian in Provence : photography, art & renovation!

In Provence, we have some of the most beautiful markets in the world. Check out my photos from various Provencal markets as well as markets in other parts of France and beyond.

An enormous foodie who has sold stuffed Provencal tomatoes in the markets for 2 years, I'm well acquainted with the best products and sellers. I offer market tours all year round in the towns of Gordes, Saint Remy de Provence, Eygalieres and Isle sur la Sorgue.

The 9 Best Markets in Provence

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CuriousProvence Market Tours

curious provence market tours
Curious about in the ins and outs of working in a market in Provence?
Do you want to taste the best Provencal ingredients?
Would you like to eat breakfast at the market with the workers?

Book a foodie market tour with me!

Tours are about 3.5 hours in the towns of St Remy de Provence and Eygalières. There’s lots of tasting to be done so come hungry! Tours are private and cost 250€ for 2 people or 310€ with a picnic. Day tours and combined market tour and photoshoot experiences are possible. Send me an email to ask about availabilities. curiousprovence@gmail.com

My Favourite Markets in Provence

Just about every village in Provence has a weekly market. Some villages have markets that occur twice a week or even daily! Markets are absolutely my favourite part of living in Provence.

We can easily spend a day wandering through the stalls and people watching as we sit at a wonky table with a couple glasses of rosé. The weekly market is a ritual that is truly part of living in Provence. On Sundays, you’ll see whole families shopping together as kids amazingly express great interest in the new vegetables of the season. Here are my 9 favourite Provençal markets.

mushrooms provence

Seasonal mushrooms at Le Thor market

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Velleron Night Farmers Market

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market velleron

Velleron night market is one of the best producer’s markets in Southern France. It has been continually included within the 100 “marchés d’exception” in France by the Conseil National des Arts Culinaires.

This is not a tourist market.

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December Christmas Markets in Avignon

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marche sapins de noel avignon

These trees can be bought at the “Marché de Sapin” on Rue Carnot that is impressively open 7 days a week until Christmas!

Christmas markets in Avignon

Today and tomorrow Avignon is particularly in the mood for some Christmas spirit. Carols are playing all throughout the town and the fairy lights have been left on!

The main Christmas market (outside the town hall) is open as well as the classy Christmas festivities happening at La Hotel Mirande.

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The Freshest Veggies Near You

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Farm shop in Provence

I must admit, and you’ve probably noticed, that I am minorly obsessed with markets. Despite generally scheduling my entire week around whichever market I would like to visit, I sometimes just can’t get to the market I want to with the best produce. Since living in France my standards have become very high! Believe it or not, depending on the weekly market you frequent, the freshest vegetables may not be found there. Instead, why don’t you try your local farm shop in Provence?

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Alsace-Sénas Christmas Market

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traditional dancing alsace

Traditional Dancing

Marché de Sénas Artisanal Provence à Alsace

Every year Robin and I visit the weekend-long Christmas market that takes place in Sénas. I love this market. It’s so different than any of the others in the small towns in the Bouches du Rhône or Vaucluse regions. You really get into the Christmas spirit with the German influence that comes from the costumed Alsatian stallholders. There are over 100 stalls selling crafts, artisanal food products from Provence as well as Alsace.

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Fontvieille Christmas Market

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jambon sec foire du gras

Fontvieille Christmas Market

The last Sunday in November there has been for the past 6 years the Foire Gourmand au Gras. This annual market is not for the faint of heart. It’s here that many locals stock up on Christmas seasonal treats from the South West of France. The ‘fat’ festival includes mountains of foie gras, oysters, truffles, champagne, all manner of high-quality poultry and other regional products.

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Day Out in Provence: Carpentras + Mt Ventoux

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Sunday Day out in Provence

The Sunday antique market at Carpentras is my favourite weekly antique market. As you may already know, the town of Isle sur la Sorgue is the king of antiques in the south of France. If you are looking for a particular style, period, or piece of furniture etc and have lots of extra cash- then Isle sur la Sorgue is definitely the place. The Carpentras Brocante is more low key. It is a Puces-Brocante (flea market) which means that it’s wonderfully somewhere between a vide-grenier (garage sale) and a brocante (full-blown antique market). The prices are much lower than Isle sur la Sorgue even though there are still many quality items….

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St Remy de Provence Market

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market st remy de provence

Beautiful olive stand in front of the Marie (town hall)

Due to its wonderful ambience, charm and compliment of many great shops and wine bars, St-Remy-de-Provence market is a very popular. In fact, it just might be my favourite! If you’d like a truly immersive experience, I offer private Market Tours in Saint Remy de Provence.

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Picking Cherries in France

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griotte cherries provence

La Cerise Curieuse: Blunders of Anglo-Saxons picking Cherries in France:

Expats Newly Arrived in Provence

Robin and I worked at a large property 2 years ago. The enormous gardens were abandoned and left to be engulfed by the wild Provençal countryside. The owners informed us that somewhere off the road there was an entire cherry orchard. Apparently, the trees that hadn’t bore fruit for years. In January, we found this mysterious orchard. It was made obvious by some nomadic shepherds who had roped it off as an enclosure for their donkeys. After a couple weeks, the donkeys moved on and we were distraught to see they had eaten all of the tender red bark off the bottom of the trees!! It was doubtfull that in Spring, we would be picking cherries.

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