Not my cup of tea, but I guess for an outdoor market, it is not the worst. Aix has become so…read moreoverrun by tourists (Americans and Chinese) as to make it seem too much like an up-and-coming Barcelona rather than the charming former capital of Provence. Mostly stalls along the Cours Mirabeau hawking clothing in the afternoon, food in the morning, depending on the day. There are smaller outdoor markets in Aix that aren't so blatantly commercial and tourististic. I mostly avoided the Cours Mirabeau when I could, including the smaller side streets just north. When the Foot Locker and North Face have stores, you can believe readily that the crass Americanization of French culture has been and is well underway. Rue d'Italie, I much prefer, with its neighborhood feel.

Aix-en-Provence is a foodie's haven, with entire streets devoted to small trattorias,…read moredelicatessens, cafés and bars. It's no surprise then, that the Aix-en-Provence markets are a gourmet experience. They're a place to indulge all five senses, and a joy to wander, working up an appetite between breakfast and lunch or as a place to socialize. Besides produce, cheese and bread, the Provence markets are also awash with linens, clothing, antiques, and fragrant rows of Marseille soap. And don't forget to stock up on fresh flowers at the daily market, where you can browse peonies and potted plants in the shadow of the stately town hall. Every day is market day in Aix-en-Provence - You can pick and choose the one you want to stroll around, you will love them....

Was lucky enough to get a perfect sunny day to walk through this market and view the food and…read morewares. The fruits and vegetables were especially enticing to me as I was getting on the hungry side and so decided to splurge a little and buy a fresh white peach. I didn't know if/when I would ever be back here so I bought the most expensive one. That was a great decision. It was the juiciest, sweetest peach I've ever had. Obviously ripened fully in the sun. You won't get that from a supermarket. I got there a bit late and so couldn't see everything before they started to pack up but I saw enough to know that it's somewhere you definitely want to visit if you're around the area. Forget Nice and Cannes, these smaller, less hectic towns in the Cote d'Azur are way better.

after hearing so much about the fish market at marseille's old port, i was expecting something far…read moremore grandiose, along the lines of tokyo's tsukiji, perhaps. but when i scanned the quai des belges from my hotel balcony at around 7:30 this morning (the market opens at 8), i came to the conclusion that the fish market must be closed because i saw no signs of life there. lo, individual fishmongers gradually appeared and set up shop from 8 onwards, and by 9 or so there were a good dozen or so of them offering up some very fresh (some still alive and flopping around) denizens of the mediterannean sea. a tv crew filming something about a grisly old timer hawking mollusks added to the atmosphere, and i couldn't help but think that if i actually lived in marseille, this would be where i came to get my fresh fish. still, i couldn't help but get the impression that the heyday of this well-known fish market had long since passed.

From the owner: une Halle regroupant des commerce de bouche de qualité avec possibilité de se restaurer sur place…read moredans la convivialité

From the owner: Marché alimentaire Du lundi au samedi de 8h à 13h.read more

Very nice upscale fresh market in the center of Avignon. Vegetables, butcher, seafood, spices,…read moreherbs, wine and a restaurant and bar. Would love to live here just to be able to shop this market weekly!

I've been to better markets in France, but for Avignon this is probably your best bet for fresh…read moreingredients. On average, they have two to three vendors with each category: bakery, meat, seafood, etc. I have gotten pate, desserts, duck, produce, and seafood. Glad to have access to this place.

From the owner: La plaine fraîcheur c'est des fruits et légumes frais toute l'année issus de productions locales.read more

Lovely little market. Has the standard produce items as well as nice local jams, honey,…read morecharcuterie, including cured meats, etc. There are also some fresh raw seafood stalls as well. A few cafes are serving breakfast and lunch overlooking the market. A pleasant atmosphere.

Vendors are friendly and welcoming, sure, if you're French that is. I've visited markets all over…read moreEurope and this is the only one where I experienced nakedly racist behavior. I approached one stall by the edge of the square and was met with blank stares by one of the vendors. Meanwhile he greeted a very blond Caucasian woman with a "bonjour madame" and immediately handed her a basket to gather her purchases. Needless to say, I'm neither blonde nor Caucasian. The icing on an already rotten cake came when, despite the fact that I gingerly picked through some tomatoes for sale, the same vendor who hadn't bothered to utter one word to me finally spoke by shouting "STOP!" as if I were a five year old poking the produce and shooed me away. Unbelievable.