The 5 Finest Provençal Markets to Visit During Your Stay

If you are staying at Maison Yomana, the Provençal markets are not to be missed, true treasures of the local terroir. Every day of the week has its own, within thirty minutes of the house. Here is our selection of the five essentials, and the day to go.

Apt market: Saturday morning

The largest and one of the oldest markets in Provence, with a tradition reaching back to the Middle Ages. You will find absolutely everything: goat's cheeses, ripe fruit, artisan pottery, spices, linen… all in a lively, colourful atmosphere. Be prepared to wander for hours, the offering is that generous. (approx. 25 min from the house)

Lourmarin: Friday morning

Chic yet authentic, the Lourmarin market is a pleasure for the eyes and the palate alike. Perfect for fine produce: olive oils, truffles in season, beautiful craftwork. It is also the occasion to enjoy one of the Luberon's most elegant villages and its Renaissance château. (approx. 35 min)

L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue: Sunday morning

A market doubled with an antiques fair: here you get both at once, local produce and antiques. The atmosphere is lively, and the setting, canals, waterwheels... simply enchanting. Bargain-hunters can extend the morning in the antique dealers' villages: we devoted a full article to them. (approx. 20 min)

Gordes: Tuesday morning

Small but refined, the Gordes market charms with the quality of its stalls and the beauty of its setting, at the heart of one of the Most Beautiful Villages of France, below the château. An ideal stop combining gourmet pleasures with a stroll through the cobbled lanes. (approx. 20 min)

Coustellet: Sunday morning

Here you are at the heart of the terroir. The Coustellet farmers' market is where local producers gather: melons, cheeses, honeys and vegetables picked that morning. The closest to the house, and the most genuine from field to plate. (approx. 10 min)

At a glance: which market on which day?

Day	Market	Estimated distance
Tuesday	Gordes	approx. 20 min
Friday	Lourmarin	approx. 35 min
Saturday	Apt	approx. 25 min
Sunday	L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue Coustellet	approx. 20 min approx. 10 min

A frequent question: what time should you go to a Provençal market?

Go early: stalls are set up from 8 am and the best produce is gone before 11. In summer, the morning cool makes wandering far more pleasant and towards the end, some producers will put together a generous basket at a kind price.

The Yomana tip: bring your basket back to the house and let the market continue around the long table or entrust your finds to a private chef for the evening. That, too, is the Provençal art of living.

Experiencing the Luberon's markets from Oppède? Book direct