Markets in the Aude - and close to the Aude
Most towns have regular market days. The markets are usually a mix of local food and produce and "stuff". The stuff includes clothes, fabric, shoes, utensils, jewelry, you name it. ....continue reading
| Carcassonne | Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. Saturday is the big market |
| Bages | Tuesday and Friday |
| Castelnaudary | Monday |
| Caunes-Minervois | Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday |
| Chalabre | Saturday |
| Esperaza | Thursday and Sunday |
| Fabrezan | Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday |
| Ferrals les Corbieres | Tuesday and Friday |
| Gruissan | Wednesday and Saturday |
| Lagrasse | Saturday |
| Leucate | Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday |
| Lezignan | Wednesday |
| Limoux | Friday - and Tuesday night in July and August |
| Mirepoix | Monday |
| Narbonne | daily in Les Halles - covered market |
| Olonzac | Tuesday |
| Port La Nouvelle | Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday |
| Quillan | Wednesday and Saturday |
| Revel | Saturday |
| Rieux Minervois | Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday |
| Sigean | Tuesday and Friday |
This doesn't claim to be an exhaustive list of markets, if you know of one that's not here please e-mail me the details.
Aude Markets
Most towns have regular market days. The markets are usually a mix of local food and produce and "stuff". The stuff includes clothes, fabric, shoes, utensils, jewelry, you name it.
Lezignan market is held on Wednesday morning. The first Wednesday of the month is a big market. Walk near the herb and spice stand and just smell the wonderful aromas. The woman who runs the stand is very nice and patiently explains what everything is. she is also at Carcassonne on Saturday and Narbonne on Sunday.
Need to try before you buy? A big smile and "Gouté, s'il vous plait?" works.
Check out the stall with the waxed table clothes. Really! They are fabric that is waxed to make them water and stain resistant. Beautiful southern colours and fabric. We left ours outside all summer and it's still fine.
Take home some of the paella, or a roast chicken, or both, for dinner.
The market in Olonzac is quite similar. It's on Tuesday morning.
The Carcassonne market is in the Place Carnot in Carcassonne. The square is about a 10 minute walk from the train station. There is a large market on Saturday morning and a market on Tuesday and Thursday morning. It's always worth a visit to the herb lady, she has the best herbs and spices and terrific mixes she makes herself.
The other markets that are terrific are brocantes, puces, and vide-greniers. The brocantes are markets with used things, not really antiques but a lot of very interesting items, some of which look like antiques to my Canadian eye. The puces - flea markets, and brocante are scheduled regularly.
The interesting ones are vide-greniers and foires brocantes. "vide-grenier" means empty attic, or empty the attic, it's usually a combination of villagers and dealers and there is an incredible mix of stuff available. A foire brocante is similar, but more dealers and higher prices. You'll see notices for vide-greniers in tabacs and in shop windows. There are also magazines devoted to brocante and they have listings.
I'm a fool for antique sheets and chemises. I see them and see the hand-sewing and embroidered and crocheted trim and can't help myself. I buy. Soon they'll take over the house.