The farmers market on Place Richelme is one of those places that causes you to pause, take a deep breath, and let out a long, slow sigh…. Voilà, it seems to say, This is Provence.

Since we live about an hour away from Aix, I’m almost ashamed to admit that this past weekend was the first time I’ve shopped at this beautiful market.  I’m not sure what I was expecting to discover, since up to this point I’ve found that most Provençal markets stock mainly the same products: fruits & vegetables, herbs, flowers, some seafood, and of course, regional specialties.

This market is not very different, having many of the same regional products save a few local specialties like the calisson & navette (both types of “cookies” which are well-known in the area). The real appeal of a Saturday morning on Place Richelme is the location itself. It’s gorgeous. Big, leafy trees provide just enough shade to keep shoppers cool, but still allow the bright sunshine to peep through. Although the square is small, it’s constantly in movement with sellers, buyers, and café-goers all enjoying the lively, southern ambiance.

Where:

Place Richelme, Aix-en-Provence

When:

Everyday; Saturday being the busiest (according to the Aix tourism site).

8:30am – 12pm (ish)

Special Interest:

Well, Aix itself! There are like a 101 things to do in this town, about half of which revolve around food, so a morning spent at this market could quite easily be topped off with lunch at a nearby restaurant.   For local events, have a peek at the helpful Aix-en-Provence official tourism site.

And don’t forget to check out the adjacent Saturday-morning flower market (on Place de l’Hôtel de Ville) which is worth a whole post all its own.