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Luckily for us visitors, the French still take their
daily food purchases extremely seriously. In the markets listed below you
should find a cornucopia of seasonal produce as well as many home-made or
home-grown specialities local to the particular area. (In hot weather it's a
good idea to take a coolbox in the car to keep your purchases fresh.)
2010
Some of the
markets are, sadly, beginning to dwindle in importance,
with the increasing popularity of hypermarkets. I shall try and indicate larger ones
with larger type, and smaller with smaller.
S =
particularly interesting markets, spread throughout the town's streets;
P = picturesque market halls; Foire = a
larger event, sometimes held once a month.
Unless otherwise stated, all markets are held in the morning, finishing
around 12.30pm.
MONDAY
Aizenay, 1st & 3rd Mondays of month;
Benet;
L'Herbaudière, Noirmoutier (mid-June to mid-Sept);
Jard-sur-Mer;
Longeville-sur-Mer S (Foire 1st
Monday of month);
Merlin-Plage (July & Aug), nr St-Hilaire-de-Riez;
Les
Sables-d'Olonne central
market P (July & Aug only);
St-Michel-Mont-Mercure;
Touvois (Loire-Atlantique), 2nd & 4th Mondays of month.
TUESDAY
L'Aiguillon-sur-Mer;
Le Boupère;
Brem-sur-Mer (July & August only);
La
Chaize-le-Vicomte, 3rd Tuesday of month;
Challans S
(plus Foire on 2nd Tuesday of month);
Chantonnay;
Mortagne-sur-Sevre;
Niort P
Noirmoutier-en-l'Ile, Place de la République (Apr-Sept);
Port-Joinville, Ile d'Yeu;
La
Roche-sur-Yon;
Les
Sables-d'Olonne P, central market;
Les Sables-d'Olonne, Arago (inc outdoor stalls);
St-Gilles-sur-Vie (south of river);
Sion-sur-l'Océan, nr St-Gilles;
La Tranche-sur-Mer, Place de la Liberté.
WEDNESDAY
Angles, nr La Tranche-sur-Mer;
Avrillé (July & August
only);
Champagné-les-Marais;
Chavagnes-en-Paillers;
La Chevrolière (Loire-Atlantique), nr Passay;
Commequiers;
Croix-de-Vie (north side of river Vie, at St Gilles-Croix-de-Vie);
Les Essarts;
Foussais-Payré (July & August only);
L'Hermenault;
Luçon;
Machecoul S
(Loire-Atlantique);
Merlin-Plage, nr St Hilaire de Riez (July & August only,
afternoon);
Niort P
La
Roche-sur-Yon
Rocheservière, 2nd
Wednesday of month;
Les
Sables-d'Olonne P, central market;
St-Jean-de-Monts;
La Grière, nr La Tranche-sur-Mer (July & August only).
THURSDAY
Beauvoir-sur-Mer;
Brétignolles-sur-Mer;
Chantonnay;
La Faute-sur-Mer;
La Garnache;
La Guérinière, Noirmoutier;
Les Herbiers;
Mareuil-sur-Lay;
La Mothe-Achard P
(plus Foire on first Thurs of month);
Niort P S
Le Poiré-sur-Vie (1st & 3rd Thursday of month);
Pouzauges;
La
Roche-sur-Yon;
Les Sables-d'Olonne P
(central market);
St-Gilles-sur-Vie (south of river);
St-Hilaire-de-Riez;
St Michel-en-l'Herm.
FRIDAY
L'Aiguillon-sur-Mer;
Brem-sur-Mer (July & August);
Challans (indoor);
Clisson P S
(Loire-Atlantique);
Coulon (Deux-Sevres);
L'Ile d'Elle;
Longeville-sur-Mer (July & August only);
La Mothe-Achard (except Fri following first Thurs - see above);
Niort P
Noirmoutier-en-l'Ile, Place de la République;
La
Roche-sur-Yon
Les Sables-d'Olonne P (central market);
Ste-Hermine P (larger on first Friday
of month);
Sion, nr St-Gilles;
Soullans.
SATURDAY
La Barre-de-Monts;
Bouin;
Bourgneuf-en-Retz (Loire-Atlantique);
Challans (indoor);
Chantonnay;
Chavagnes-en-Paillers;
Cholet (Maine-et-Loire),
8am-5pm;
Coëx;
Coulon (Deux-Sevres);
Croix-de-Vie (north of river);
Les
Essarts;
La Faute-sur-Mer;
Fontenay-le-Comte S;
Les Herbiers;
Luçon;
Merlin-Plage (July & August), nr
St-Hilaire-de-Riez (afternoon);
Montaigu;
Niort P
S
Le
Poiré-sur-Vie;
Port-Joinville, Ile d'Yeu;
La Roche-sur-Yon (largest of the week);
Les Sables-d'Olonne P (central market);
St-Jean-de-Monts;
Talmont-St-Hilaire;
La Tranche-sur-Mer, Place de la Liberté
SUNDAY
Angles, nr La
Tranche-sur-Mer; (July & Aug only)
Brétignolles-sur-Mer;
La Faute-sur-Mer;
La Guérinière, Noirmoutier;
Maillé (July & August);
Noirmoutier-en-l'Ile, Place de la République (Apr-Sept);
Notre-Dame-de-Monts;
Notre-Dame-de-Riez (15 June-15 Sept);
Olonne-sur-Mer; (July and Aug only)
Les
Sables-d'Olonne P (central market);
St-Florent-des-Bois, 1st Sunday of month, "Marché de la
Nature" (farmers' market);
St-Gilles-sur-Vie (south of river);
St-Hilaire-de-Riez;
St-Philbert-de-Grand-Lieu (Loire-Atlantique);
St-Vincent-sur-Jard
Dates are given in good faith, but no guarantee is
given as to their accuracy
or of the size of the events mentioned.
Visitors are advised to check with local Mairie of tourist office before
making a special journey.
Any comments, amendments, additions or suggestions welcomed
(see link to Webmaster, below).
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