Markets in Provence
Discover the top Provence markets
Updated
Market days are a way of life in Provence. They originated in the 12th century, when farmers and craftsmen would come to nearest town to sell their wares, or engage in bartering agreements.
Not much has changed since those days - the market is still the place to come for locally grown produce of all shapes and sizes. Check our events calendar to find out specific dates and times of other events throughout the year.
| Monday | Fontvieille, Isle sur Sorgue |
| Tuesday | Aix en Provence, Avignon, Gordes, Vaison la Romaine, Orange |
| Wednesday | Arles, Velleron, Avignon, St. Remy de Provence |
| Thursday | Aix en Provence, Isle sur Sorgue, Roussillon, Vaison la Romaine |
| Friday | Avignon, Chateauneuf du Pape |
| Saturday | Apt, Villeneuve les Avignon, Isle sur la Sorgue, Avignon (flower market) |
| Sunday | Ansouis, Orange, Sorgues |
Types of market
You can expect to find two common types of market in the Nice region, the farmers market and the Provençal market.
The farmers market
This is where you'll find the fruit and vegetable of the local region on sale, plus meat from the butcher, bread and cakes from the baker, cheeses, herbs and spices. Anything to do with food really! This is the kind of market that all the larger villages offer. Prices tend to be higher than you would find in the supermarket, but the taste and the quality of market-bought goods simply does not compare. The climate in Provence lends itself so beautifully to farming that much of the produce in the market is organically grown and likely to have been picked the day before.
The Provençal market (marché Provençal)
These markets tend to be much larger, with all the fresh produce described above, with the addition of clothing, fabrics (napkins and tablecloths are most popular), ceramics and other local crafts, costume jewellery, leather goods, the list goes on...
Flea markets
Flea markets are also popular - they are known as Marche aux Puces or La Brocante (secondhand goods). They tend to occur once a month at selected locations, usually on a Sunday.
Markets days in Alpilles
Market Hours Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa Su Aix en Provence 08:00-13:00 ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Arles 08:00-12:45 ✓ ✓ Fontvieille 08:00-12:00 ✓ Isle sur la Sorgue 08:00-13:00 ✓ ✓ Saint Remy de Provence 08:30-13:00 ✓
Markets days in Luberon
Market Hours Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa Su Ansouis 08:00-13:00 ✓ Apt 08:00-13:00 ✓ Cadenet 08:00-13:00 ✓ ✓ Cucuron 08:00-13:00 ✓ Gordes 08:00-13:00 ✓ La Tour d’Aigues 08:00-13:00 ✓ Lauris 08:00-13:00/18:00 -20:00 ✓ ✓ Lourmarin 08:00-13:00 ✓ Lourmarin summer evening market 17:00-20:00 ✓ Roussillon 09:00-12:00 ✓
Markets days in Vaucluse
Market Hours Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa Su Avignon 06:00-14:00 ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Carpentras 16:45-19:00 ✓ Châteauneuf Du Pape 08:00-12:30 ✓ Orange 08:00-12:30 ✓ Orange - summer market 17:00-19:30 ✓ Sorgues 08:00-13:00 ✓ Vaison la Romaine 08:00-13:00 ✓ ✓ Velleron Summer from 18:00 ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Velleron Winter 16:30-18:00 ✓ ✓ ✓ Villeneuve les Avignon 07:00-13:00 ✓ Villeneuve les Avignon Antiques market 06:00-15:00 ✓
Where and when
Markets generally open early (from 08:00) and tend to finish around lunchtime (12:00 or 13:00) although there are quite a few evening markets and some, like the Velleron farmer's market, that are open all year.
