Top 7 Markets to Visit in France

Noyers-sur-Serein Market, Burgundy

Nestled near the River Serein in Northern Burgundy, Noyers-sur-Serein is a lovely medieval village with its half-timbered houses, carved pillars and arches dating from the 13th to 19th centuries. It has remained a wine-growing village with many cellar doors opening directly onto the street. The village has long attracted entrepreneurs, artists and craftspeople from across the country and overseas.

Their lively, weekly market is held every Wednesday. During the autumn, you will find the famous Burgundy truffle market held in the town centre with stalls selling local produce and pottery. You can visit this market while barging on board La Belle Epoque or L’Art de Vivre.

Les Halles de Dijon, Burgundy

Named one of the best markets in France, Les Halles de Dijon is located at the heart of this elegant and historic city. The famous covered market hall was designed by Dijon-born Gustave Eiffel, who is best known for his creation, the Eiffel Tower in Paris. Open four days a week, visitors can seek out some of the very best foods of France – stalls are overflowing with artisan cheeses, charcuterie, fresh produce, cakes, regional specialties and wine.

During their cruise along the Burgundy Canal on either hotel barge L’Impressionniste or Finesse, guests are given an escorted tour of Les Halles, often accompanied by their onboard chef who will encourage them to choose some items that he will include in that evening’s dinner menu.

Narbonne Market, Canal du Midi

Narbonne, the Roman Mediterranean capital, is home to a very well-known indoor market. According to Lonely Planet, “It is one of the most beautiful markets in France. Built at the turn of the 20th century, it’s a masterpiece of art nouveau style, with panels of frosted glass, decorative stonework and a wonderful cast-iron roof.”

Hungry visitors can take a walk around more than 70 stalls displaying the wide range of products of bakers, butchers, fishmongers, greengrocers and wine merchants. You can visit this market while cruising the Canal du Midi aboard hotel barge Anjodi or Enchanté.

Casteljaloux Market, Bordeaux

Famous for its hot springs and spa resort, Casteljaloux is situated on the Landes Lot-et-Garonne, in the heart of southwest France. It boasts a historic centre surrounded by lush, green countryside. The main street is lined with little shops and cafes.

The market in Casteljaloux is vibrant, lively and very enjoyable. It’s renowned for its local Agen prunes and Marmande tomatoes as well as their foie-gras and cheeses. The twice-weekly market is held on Tuesday and Saturday mornings.

Gien Market, Loire Valley

Home of the famous Faience pottery and Chateau de Gien, the quaint town of Gien has a bustling market held on Wednesday and Saturday mornings. It also hosts unique seasonal markets, including Halloween and Christmas markets.

The town is situated on the banks of the River Loire accessed by a medieval stone bridge. Gien is world famous for its faïence, or glazed ceramic pottery. Over 200 years old, Gien has the largest faïence making factory of its kind in Europe. Their pieces showcase the French “art de vivre”, the legendary French way of life.

Briare, Loire Valley

The pretty, flowery town of Briare is a perfect stop for those cruising France’s oldest canal, the Canal de Briare. With an impressive aqueduct over the River Loire built by Gustave Eiffel, activities can be found on and around the waterfronts of this town. Learn about the wonderful history of Briare’s world-renowned enamels at the Musée de la Mosaïque et des Émaux (mosaic and enamels museum).

Head to their Friday market full of fresh fruit and vegetables, seafood, cheese and some French fashion stalls. And don’t miss out on the Le Cloadius, a unique local caramel candy made with liquor.

You can visit the markets in Briare while cruising aboard hotel barge Renaissance.

Saverne Market, Alsace

Saverne is located at the foot of the coast in the plain of Alsace. As you walk down its Grand Rue (main street) you will see it is lined with beautiful old half-timbered houses. Its majestic, 18th century Rohan castle with park and museum has a neoclassical façade recalling the glory of the Prince Bishops. Many festivals are now held there making Saverne a lively place to visit throughout the year.

On Tuesday afternoons you can visit their local produce markets held in the Saverne train station. Their weekly market is on Thursdays from 8am – 12pm in Place du Général De Gaulle (Saverne marketplace). Hotel barge Panache cruises through Alsace along the Canal de la Marne au Rhin with a stop off at Saverne’s markets.

Know your Market Etiquette

There’s a certain etiquette to buying in markets. First, we queue and wait our turn for the seller to give us his or her undivided attention. The longer the queue, the better the product. Local people know the best stands to purchase from. It may take a while, but once you arrive at your turn, it’s your chance to determine what is best to buy, where it comes from, even how it’s made. Many of the stands represent small farm producers selling produce that has barely travelled any distance. Super fresh, farm to table.

And possibly more importantly, the sellers in markets specialise in what they sell, so their knowledge is broad and individual to their produce. It’s not the done thing to go up to a stall and handle the goods. Rather, ask the expert for what you wish. Want the perfect strawberries to eat today? Then you ask for this. And assuming they are in season, the seller will choose his best and ripest ready to eat now delicious delight. Or if you prefer, a melon ripe for that Saturday get together with friends, you simply need to say what you need and we can guarantee you that the melon will be perfect when the weekend rolls around. And bonus, only the seller is handling the wares, so nothing gets bruised!

Discover Local Markets in France

French markets are generally only half a day, usually in the morning, and not every day. More often, only once a week. They are a chance for locals to catch up on the current gossip of their town, to see old friends, and those they haven’t seen in a while.

There’s usually a central place to sit and have a coffee and chat, take a break or simply watch the uniqueness that is market day.

On many of our cruises, there is a visit to a quintessential market place at least once during your week aboard. Guests aboard private charters have the option to tailor their itinerary to include their choice of market visits. Talk to our Cruise Team today to find out more!

Don’t forget, our dedicated Christmas Markets Cruises in Alsace offer a traditional Christmas market experience with influences from both Germany and France.