Everyone loves a French

Everyone loves a French street market - from the visitors who flock to France to experience the good life to the locals who shop at their favourite each week. There are markets in almost every town and village or at least there will be one nearby. From the grand street marché s, to covered markets, called Les Halles, to the authentic street markets of Paris and in tiny villages where there may be only a few stalls, everyone has their favourite. This year in France, a contest aimed to discover – which is the most loved market of the French? The “Votre Plus Beau Marche” competition run by TV channel TF1 was hugely popular with voters. 25 contenders went through to the finals and when voting ended in May 2018 there was a clear winner – lovely Sanary-sur-Mer in the Var Department, Provence-Alpes-Cote-D’Azur. We look at the winner and the contenders… Sanary-sur-mer Market Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur The colour, scents, sounds and flavours of this vibrant market on the edge of the Mediterranean Sea make it a real stand out, happy place to be. The town is located in the heart of Provence, between Marseille and Toulon and its wiggly streets are filled with beautiful buildings. At the friendly market you’ll find around 300 stalls. Honey, olive oil, wine, cheese, spices, fruit and veg plus of course the freshest sea food are on offer. And you’ll find colourful baskets, flowers, pottery and table cloths. Wander under the shady plane trees along the Allées Estienne d'Orves and soak up the ambiance. It gets busy in the summer months and will probably be even more so now that it’s been recognised as France’s favourite market, so get there early to avoid the crowds and if you need a parking space, have more chance of finding one (there’s plenty of paid parking). Pick up ingredients for a fabulous French picnic and head to the local beach afterwards to enjoy it while watching the world go by. Market day: Wednesday 08h-13h www.sanarysurmer.com/

Colmar Market Colmar, Alsace The market in the town of Colmar has been going for more than 150 years. In days gone by market gardeners would arrive by boat with their wares using the canals that cross Colmar giving it the nickname Little Venice. The lovely old city of half-timbered houses looks like a scene out of fairy tale and it’s the perfect location for a spot of shopping. Expect to see plenty of local specialities at the market from pretzels to sauerkraut. Covered market daily except Monday; Wednesday street market, Quartier Est Quai du Roi, Orleans A lively food only market held on the banks of the Loire River. Local produce including mushrooms, wine and cheese - delicious! Saturday 07.30-12.30 Belfort Market Franche-Comté Located on Rue Dr Frery this foodie covered market is held in a spacious 100 year old building with huge arched windows in an Eiffel-like metal structure. Foodie perfection. Wednesday 07h-12h Amboise, Loire Valley A short walk from the city centre, this large market is one of the most popular in the region and is a former favorite market. Sunday and Friday mornings Cahors Market Midi-Pyrenees A 700 year-old market at the foot of a UNESCO World heritage site, the magnificent Saint-Etienne cathedral, fabulous local produce make this a superstar. Wednesday and Saturday mornings