Our day-to-day guide to the best markets in the Languedoc region of South France, enables you to always find a great local market to visit, no matter what day it is. Whether you're visiting the Languedoc on holiday or you're a regular visitor, then experiencing a local French market is a real treat. Buzzing with life, full of colour, aromas and sounds; the markets of Languedoc is where you will find some of the best local produce in the South of France.

I am sure that you will not want to go to a market everyday, but we have presented our selection of the best markets in Languedoc in a daily list to help you narrow down your choice. The markets we have chosen keep to a high standard in both the Summer and Winter. As with any market, you're best to get their early to grab your parking space and get the best deals.

Saturday - best markets in Languedoc

Pezenas market

There can be only one market to go to in Languedoc on a Saturday - and that is Pezenas. The beautiful historic town of Pezenas is located 20 mins inland from the Mediterranean coast, 30 mins south of Montpellier and 20 mins north of Beziers. The town is located in the heart of the Languedoc vineyards

Pezenas market takes over the whole town and offering a wonderful array of artisanale food, clothing, flowers, and general nic-nacs, this really is the place to be. Situated on the main street of Pezenas (CoursJean Jaures) the market best sums up what Pezenas is all about. With the beautiful old stone buildings as a back drop, you can quite easily while away half a day here. 

The market in Pezenas does get extremely popular in the Summer, but it is well worth it for the atmosphere. In the heart of the former capital of Languedoc, the market best sums up what Pezenas is all about. For more information see the Saturday market in Pezenas.

Ceret market

The market town of Ceret is located close to Perpignan, in Southern France. The town of Ceret is located in the foothills of the Pyrenees and lies just a few kilometres from the Spanish border. The town has always been a haven for artists (especially those associated with the Cubist Movement) and over the years it has attracted famous painters such as Picasso, Raoul Dufy, Matisse, Derrain and Marc Chagall. You can also pop into the Modern Art Museum if you are visiting the town, to see some of the artworks produced in Ceret.

The town of Ceret is also one of the largest producers of Cherries in France. Due to the Southern climate, the cherries in Ceret are always harvested first, before any other region in France and to celebrate this fact, the town always sends a punnet of Cherries to the President of France on the first day of the harvest.

I have heard good reports about the weekly market in Ceret, which is held on a Saturday. Make sure you go in cherry season (late April-May). 

Carcassonne market

The town centre of Carcassonne always gets a real hard press from all the guide books, but I don't mind it. It is like the plain-Jane to the beautiful elder Sister, which is the magnificent Castle in Carcassonne. But when it comes to it, you'd rather spend more time wandering around the town and soaking up French-life than touring the plastic ambiance of the Citadel (anyway that's my opinion).

Every Saturday there is a large market held at Boulevard Commandant Roumens, which has a range of colourful stalls offering you everything from organic produce, to fruit and vegetables, cheese, local sausages and also a range of clothes of all kinds.

Carcassonne does hold other markets during the week. On Boulevard Barbès, there is a daily market selling new and second hand clothes and on Place Carnot there is a popular food and general goods market. The market is held at Place Carnot every Tuesday, Thursday & Saturday morning. The Saturday morning market attracts a lot of Organic food producers.

Finally, there is also a beautiful covered market in Carcassonne called Les Halles Prosper Montagné. Parts of the market date back to the 17th century. The market was named in honour of a local Chef, Propser Montagné, who rose to prominence in France, by writing the first Larousse Gastronomic Dictionary in 1938, the most famous encyclopaedia of French dishes and cooking techniques. The market is open every morning, 5 days a week from Tuesday to Saturday. The market sells a range of fresh  and features a number of butchers, fishmongers, greengrocers and cheesemongers, etc.

But overall, I would say that the best time to visit a market in Carcassonne is on a Saturday. Read our article on Carcassonne for more information.

Arles market

Further afield, but hardly a chore, the market in Arles on a Saturday morning is certainly worth the trip. Arles is widely regarded as the heart of the Camargue. It is an excellent little city, with beautiful 18th and 19th century Mansion houses and old Roman buildings. Arles was made famous through its association with the painter Vincent van Gogh and there are plenty famous scenes to see around the town, that were immortalised in van Gogh's paintings. 

There has been a twice weekly market held in Arles since at least 1584 (which is the earliest written record) and there is some evidence that markets could have been held in the city since the 5th century. Apart from a number of small towns surrounding Arles, such as Saint-Gilles, Beaucaire and Tarrascon, the Camargue does not have many large settlements that would have been big enough to hold a market. So it is easy to imagine that during medieval times, the market in Arles would have drawn in people from across the Camargue to trade goods, cattle, vegetables, salt and rice (which is still grown in the Camargue).

The Saturday market is the largest of the 2 markets and is held on Boulevard des Lices, just south of the city's walls. The weekly Wednesday market is held at Boulevard Émile-Combes. The Saturday market is a combination of food, local produce, olive oils, herbs, cheese, spices and a range of clothes, household goods and gift items

Arles is located 25 mins east of the cities of Nimes and Montpellier and 1 hour north-west of Marseille.

Sommieres market

Sommieres, is a pretty little town in South France, with a wide river flowing through it. Sommieres is situated on the border of the Gard & Herault departments, in between Nimes and Montpellier and it is easy to spend a day here wandering around the old narrow grid streets of this ancient town.

Sommeiers was home for 33 years to the writer Lawrence Durrell. Durrell claimed that he had seen "nothing prettier" than Sommieres in all his travels. The market place in Sommieres, was also used for filming the famous French film, Jean de Floret.

The Saturday market is the major event in Sommieres and it really does take over the whole town. You are best to park on the outskirts of the town, because the market draws in thousands of people from the local area.

Castelnau-le-Lez market near Montpellier

Castelnau-le-Lez is a small suburb in the north of Montpellier. There is a traditional market held in Castelnau-le-Lez every Saturday, selling seasonal regional products and crafts. The market is held from 06.00 to 14.00 and takes place throughout Castelnau-le-Lez, starting in Place de la Liberté and up along rue Jules Ferry to Place de l'Europe. This is a nice location for a market and there are plenty of pavement cafés along the route of the market.

Sunday  - best markets in Languedoc

Narbonne markets

When everything else in Languedoc is shut on a Sunday, visiting Narbonne market provides you with a burst of life. There are actually two real markets in Narbonne on a Sunday. The first is spread over both sides of the Canal (Canal de Robine). The market mainly sells clothing, leather goods, shoes, etc. The second market is the wonderful indoor food market in Narbonne. Les Halles as it is known, is one of the best food halls in Languedoc and should not be missed. The food here is excellent, especially the cheese and pate.

The market first opened in 1897 and it has been in operation ever since. A few years back Les Halles underwent extensive renovations, to upgrade the facilities. There are around 70 store holders inside and it is usually busy from 07.30am through to early afternoon. The indoor market also accommodates a number of bars where you can also order food. It is now a real centre-point for Narbonne and a place that friends will meet up for a drink and a bit to eat. The food here is excellent, especially the cheese and pate. But it is the friendly atmosphere that you notice the most.

Also, you really get a sense that the locals from Narbonne buy all their fresh produce direct from the market rather than the supermarket. The fishmongers, butchers and cheese counters all do great business. You will also find plenty of stalls selling local wines, olives, tapenades, as well as cakes and patisseries.

Bessan market France

The village of Bessan is located about 15 km from the Mediterranean coast, in between the towns of Pezenas and Agde. On first look, Bessan is a largely non-descript sort of place. But if you look closely, you can see that the village was once a fortified town (dating back to 1050 AD) and many of the current houses have been built into the former ramparts. There is archaeological evidence linking Bessan to an original Greek settlement from 600 BC and there are significant Roman remains. Bessan lies close to the Via Domitia, the Roman road which ran down to Spain. It is thought that in 218 BC, Hannibal (and his Elephants) used parts of the Via Domitia near Bessan to reach the Rhone at Arles, before crossing the Alps

If we are not going to Narbonne, one of our favourite markets is in Bessan and is open Sunday mornings. There is a good range of food, clothing and hardware. It is spread out through the centre of the town. The Bessan market is particularly good for buying vegetables and also plants (especially small vegetables plants for putting in your vegetable patch.

Collioure market

So if you want a local French Market in a beautiful spot, then Collioure is the place you want to visit. Collioure is easily the most picturesque coastal resort in Languedoc Roussillon and a great place to visit whilst you are in the South of France on holiday. You can spend a very pleasant day in Collioure. There are three small beaches in Collioure that back right onto the town. The beaches are separated by the Church and the Castle and everything is ringed in by the harbour that is testament to Collioure's maritime history. See Collioure tourism information for a list of all the things to do and see in this pretty coastal town.

The Sunday market in Collioure literally takes over the whole of the town, with every available street being used by stallholders. The market is a combination of a food market, with clothes, jewellery, artwork, local produce and household goods.

Saint-Martin-de-Londres market

There is a tradition market held on Sunday in the small town of Saint-Martin de Londres. The market is held below the Clock Tower in the centre of the town and features around 70 stallholders. The market takes places from 08.00 to 12.00 and attracts numerous local and regional gastronomic products as well as artistic crafts. A number of 'Bio' producers are present at the market, including those selling honey, vegetables, tapenades and wine.

Saint-Martin de Londres is located close to the Pic St Loup mountain, to the north of Montpellier. The wine produced in the vineyards surrounding Pic St Loup are among the best in Languedoc, if not the South of France. There is a dedicated wine appellation for Pic St Loup and there are a number of biodynamic wine producers such as the Chateaux du Lascaux, Mas Foulaquier and Clos Marie Simon vineyards.

Marseillan market

 There is a large car-boot market in Marseillan every Sunday. Whilst you will find a lot of tat here, you will also pick up some bargains as well.

Olargues market

If you want to spend a pleasant Sunday morning out in the country, head up to Olargues in Haut Languedoc. This stunningly well preserved medieval village is included in the list of France's 151 "most beautiful villages". The small but lively food market is situated on Avenue de la Gare and offers plenty of cheeses, fruit, wild boar pates and much, much more.

Monday - best markets in Languedoc

Mirepoix

The beautiful medieval town of Mirepoix is located in the Southern France, just a short drive south west of Carcassonne. It is located in the Ariège department, (part of the Occitanie region) just above the Pyrenees. Although it may be a bit of a drive, this is without doubt the best Market to visit on a Monday in the South of France. Just looking at the the stunning timber framed buildings that surround the market place, is worth the drive alone

Mirepoix holds its main market every Monday in the main square (Place Marechal Leclerc). The market really does consume the whole town and the population of the town doubles on market day. Even though there are plenty of car parks in Mirepoix, it can be quite tricky to find a parking space when the market is on. Whenever we have visited the market, we have always parked down by the rugby stadium. It is a bit of a walk into town, but it saves you having to drive road looking for a space.

The Monday market in Mirepoix offers everything from locally produced foods, beers, wines, fruit & veg, clothing, artisan soap, flowers and everything in between. You can even get your knives sharpened by a craftsman with a special stone wheel. When we stayed in Mirepoix a couple of years back, the owner of the B&B said that the Fish van is the best supplier of fresh fish in the area. She also recommended the goats cheese stall, which is produced by a farmer from the nearby Ariège region.

On market day you can still get something to eat or drink, but the cafes and restaurants on the edge of the Square do get very busy. 

There is also a smaller Bio market in Mirepoix, held every Thursday in the Market Hall in front of the cathedral.

To reach Mirepoix, you can take the A61 motorway from Carcassonne to the town of Bram and then follow the D119 down to Mirepoix. It is a very pretty drive and the road offers plenty of views of the Pyrenees mountains in the distance.

Bedarieux market

The small town of Bedarieux is the other place to head to for a market on a Monday. Even though the name of the town is virtually unpronounceable ("Bay-dar-i-yuh"). The market at Bedarieux is a mixture of local food produce, clothes and other things.

Valras Plage market

Although not a good day generally for markets in Languedoc, the market at Valras Plage is worth a trip out. The fish stalls at the covered market are excellent, selling squid, crab, octopus, skate, etc. You will also find plenty of fruit, veg, cheese, cloths, furniture etc. During the summer months the market is moved from Place Rene Cassin to the sea front. For more information read our article on Valras Market. Valras plage is also one of our favourite beaches in the South of France (see Best Beaches in South of France).

Tuesday - best markets in Languedoc

Roquebrun market

Although hard to get to (from anywhere) Roquebrun is a real delight. Perched on the edge of the River Orb, this is a very picturesque setting within the Languedoc Regional Park. There is a market here on a Tuesday (and also a Friday). The other reason to come here is that the local wine is mostly excellent. Produced under the Saint-Chinian appelation, the Roquebrun wines are well respected (see Best Languedoc Wines).

Olonzac market

Over in Minervois, Olonzac is the local town. The market here is best on a Tuesday when you get a mixture of food, clothes and nic-nacs.

Cap d'Agde market

I have to admit that I have never been to the market at Cap d'Agde, but I have added it to this list because good friends of ours, who are real foodies, rave about it. The market only takes place during the summer months (June to September) and is located on the Place du Barbeque. This artisanale market features local producers from the Haut Languedoc region and covers everything from honey to cheese, charcuterie, as well as local craft items.

Wednesday - best markets in Languedoc

Clermont l'Herault market

If you love food, then the Wednesday market in Clermont l'Herault is not to be missed. Here you will find the best olive oil, honey and goat's cheese in Languedoc. See Clermont L'Herault market for more information.

Lezignan-Corbieres market

There is a large market in Lezignan-Corbieres (not to be confused with Lezignan-le-Cebe, near Pezenas) every Wednesday. Lezignan is on the road to Carcassonne from Narbonne. I have never really known what to make of Lezignan. There are some nice old streets and buildings but it is largely a working town. It might be best to combine a visit here with a trip to Carcassonne.

Bize Minervois market

Up in the Orb Valley, Bize Minervois is a strange old place. Beautiful in parts, ugly in others, it still retains its local ambience. The drive up to it is great. When you've finished shopping you can also dip your toes into the cool River Orb (follow the sign posts to the Canoe base - about 3km from the town).

Thursday - best markets in Languedoc

Saint-Chinian market

Although the town of Saint-Chinian doesn't really live up to the lovely drive up to it and its fame as a wine producer, the market on Thursday is worth a trip. The market is mainly food, but also has clothes, fabric, books, plants, as well as lots of local producers. Make sure you leave with a car full of Saint-Chinian wine, some of the best to be found in Languedoc (for more information see Saint Chinian market for more information). 

Saint Mathieu de Tréviers farmers market

Saint-Mathieu-de-Tréviers is a beautiful village of around 5,000 inhabitants, located 20km north of Montpellier. The village dates back to 978 AD and was the scene of a number of sieges and battles during the Wars of Religion. Saint-Mathieu-de-Tréviers is a very upmarket village, with a lot of residents commuting into Montpellier for work. The village has some excellent wine stores, delicatessens and cheese shops. The nearby Pic St Loup mountain is an iconic landmark in the Languedoc region and the wines from the vineyards near Pic St Loup are among the best in the South of France.

There is a Farmers' market held in Saint Mathieu de Tréviers every Thursday, which brings together local producers and artisans. On the 1st and 3rd Thursdays of each month, the market is supplemented with live music, an aperitif with bio wines and beers, as well as workshops focused on various seasonal products.

The Farmers' market is held at Place de l'Ancien Abattoir from 08.00 to 13.00.

Friday - best markets in Languedoc

Beziers flower market

The flower market on the Allées Paul Riquet, Beziers; on a Friday morning is a real must. It is practically the only time I go into Beziers except for the Feria in August (see Best Festivals) and on business. The flower market sells an amazing colourful selection of cut flowers, plants and herbs. The indoor food market close to the Cathedral is also pretty good, although not as good as the indoor markets in Narbonne and Nimes.

Le Grau du Roi Farmers market

The beautiful fishing village of Le Grau du Roi is located in the Camargue, 20 km east of the city of Montpellier. The Farmers' market is held every Friday from 08.00 to 12.00 on Boulevard Front de Mer, right by the beach. The market attracts a whole range of Foodies, searching for organic produce. The market features a large selection of local producers selling everything from olive oils, fresh vegetables, tapenades, honey, goats cheese and wines.

Marché de Caux

Caux is a small wine-making village just 4km from the historic town of Pezenas. Caux has a lovely old hilltop centre (they call these villages Circulades in France on account of the circular streets that wind up the hill). Caux is a very old village, with records showing it first being established in 880AD, although numerous Roman remains point to a much earlier settlement. In the 1300's, the Great Plague which swept across Europe, almost wiped out the village, with only 6 inhabitants surviving.

Caux was also the home village of Jean Pomarèdes (known as La Canaille de Caux or the Scoundrel of Caux) a famous 19th Century Highway Robber, in the vein of Dick Turpin. Pomarèdes was eventually executed by guillotine in Pezenas in 1843 in front of a crowd of 50,000 people. He was convicted of 3 murders and 58 robberies.

The village is surrounded by vineyards in all directions and there are over 20 wine producers in Caux, including the excellent Domaine Allegria and Domaine de Belles-Eaux. Every second Friday in the month, the epicerie, the small delicatessen shop in the centre of Caux, is converted during the evening into a fully-fledged wine bar, serving tapas and the wines from the local vineyard. We have been a couple of times and it was absolutely packed.

Every Friday morning there is a Farmer's Market held in Caux from 07.30 to 12.00 noon. The markets is held on the Place de la République, which is the main circular street in the centre of the village.

Farmers' market Nîmes

There is a large Farmers' market held on Boulevard Jean Jaurès in the centre of Nimes every Friday morning from 08.00 to 13.00. The market is called "Qualité sud de France" and features a wide range of fresh seasonal products and sustainable local agriculture producers.

Everyday

For food and local produce in Languedoc you can not beat the indoor food halls of Nimes, Carcassonne, Narbonne and Beziers. Situated in lovely old market halls, these markets really make you feel that you're in France when you're shopping with the locals.

Where to next . . .?

If you are a bit of a Foodie and you are planning a trip to the South of France in 2024, then you are in for a treat. The Languedoc region in the South of France is the largest producer of organic food & wine in France and features some of the best Oysters and mussels, a fantastic array of cheeses (especially the local Brebis and Chevre), some excellent local dishes such as the Cassoulet from Carcassonne and the spicy Tielle tart from Sète; and beautiful fresh fruits and vegetables. You will also find a good choice of local restaurants including dozens of Michelin star restaurants and excellent family-run eateries

To get the best out of your trip, then the following articles are a good source of local information: