things to see in provence Archives

Saturday Arles Market Provence

January 29, 2018 by ashleyt 3 Comments

The Arles market is so big you’ll need a little map! Forgive my silly map-drawing skills…

Arles Market on Saturdays

The Saturday Arles market is one of the largest in Provence. Each of the 450 vendors have an average of 5-metre large stands. If you arrive early, you’ll see the jostling to get a place!

The market is twice a week, but it’s the Saturday market that is most impressive. With a walking area of 2,5 km, you’re sure to find whatever you’re looking for. The vendors in the alimentary part of the market offer the absolute best produce that Provence has to offer. The fruit and vegetables are unbeatable, so is the competitively priced fish market.

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Must See in Provence: Abrivado-Bandido

July 18, 2016 by ashleyt 8 Comments

Abrivado-Bandido in Provence: A Village Event

This past weekend, in our small town, there were constant animations of live music, parades, and lots and lots of bull running to celebrate Bastille Day. While visiting Provence, you must see one of these abrivado-bandido events.

Before the weekend tall steel barriers were installed all along the main road to protect against charging bulls. Announcements in just about every language are made to let people know that you just might find an enormous black bull on the road!

The abrivado-bandidos in Maussane occur in the late morning rather than in the evening. This is ideal as, although the young kids who’s job it is to try and stop the bull are younger, it doesn’t attract the heavy drinking pastis atmosphere of the older youths; leading to some pretty dangerous behavior! Last year, we lived in Noves and oh my the whole village smelled like aniseed. Not that I’m anyone to judge with my copious rosé drinking…

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May 1st in Provence: Arlésiennes et Gardians

May 1, 2016 by ashleyt 18 Comments

Fête des Gardians

Le Fête des Gardians is the annual festival in Arles celebrating the lifestyle and traditions of the gardians. Gardians are basically the French, more refined, version of cowboys that rear bulls for delicious daube provençal. There’s an enormous parade, blessings of the animals, a queen of Arlésiennes is elected and to top it all off there’s a 4-hour long spectacle at the antique Roman arena involving horsemanship games and bull running.

The first of May is also the day where you’ll be expected to buy ‘muguets’ or ‘clochettes du porte bonheur’ (lily of the valley) in honour of French labour day….