The markets of Provence – the week day by day

In Provence, the week is planned around the markets. Here are the most important ones in the Luberon, the Alpilles and around Avignon and Aix – which day, which village and what makes them worth an early morning.

The market is everyday life in Provence. Every village has its own day, and a week in the Luberon or the Alpilles can be planned around them: Tuesday in one village, Wednesday in the next, Sunday by the river in L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue. At the markets you can buy fruit and vegetables from the area, cheese, olives, honey, bread, flowers, fabrics and baskets, and in winter, truffles.

Here are the most important markets, sorted by day of the week. The information comes from regional market listings, and days and times may change – always check with the village's tourist office before you go. More about the villages can be found on VERA PI's map of Vaucluse.

01Monday and Tuesday: Cavaillon, Gordes and Aix

The week begins in Cavaillon, the town known for its melons, with a market on Mondays. On Tuesdays there is a market in Gordes, up on the cliff, and in Vaison-la-Romaine in northern Vaucluse. In Aix-en-Provence, the Provençal market is held on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, and there is also a daily market for fruit, vegetables and flowers. In Apt, a producers' market is held on Tuesdays from April to October, and in Lourmarin an evening market with producers on Tuesdays during the summer.

02Wednesday: Saint-Rémy and Arles

Wednesday belongs to the Alpilles. In Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, the market fills the boulevards and lanes on Wednesday mornings, and it is one of Provence's most famous. In Arles, there is a market on both Wednesday and Saturday, with a flea market on the first Wednesday of the month. In Sault, in lavender country, there is also a market on Wednesdays, and in Coustellet an evening market is held from 5pm from June to September.

Those staying in the Alpilles can start Wednesday in Saint-Rémy and continue to Les Baux in the afternoon. See VERA PI's page about Saint-Rémy-de-Provence.

03Thursday: L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue and Roussillon

On Thursdays, there is a market in L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, from 7am to noon – quieter and more local than Sunday's. The same day, there is a market in the ochre village of Roussillon and in Aix-en-Provence.

04Friday: Lourmarin, Bonnieux and Carpentras

Friday is the Luberon's big day. In Lourmarin, the market fills the streets around the château and the squares, and in Bonnieux, on the other side of the Luberon, there is also a market on Friday mornings. In Carpentras, the Friday market is one of the larger ones in Vaucluse, and from November to March a truffle market is also held there on Friday mornings.

05Saturday: Apt, Arles and Aix

On Saturdays there is a market in Apt, the main town of the Luberon, one of the largest and most traditional in the area. In Arles, the Boulevard des Lices fills up, and in Aix-en-Provence the market is held across several squares in the old town. In Avignon, a market is held in the centre on Saturday mornings, and during the winter there is a truffle market in Richerenches.

06Sunday: L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue and Coustellet

Sunday belongs to L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue. The market along the canals runs from 7am to 1pm, and at the same time flea market traders set up along the streets in a town with over 300 antique dealers. In Coustellet, between the Luberon and the Monts de Vaucluse, a producers' market is held on Sundays from April to December. The area became known throughout the world through Peter Mayle's book A Year in Provence, set in nearby Ménerbes. See VERA PI's page about L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue.

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