Chateau Market in the Southern Luberon...

The village of La Tour d'Aigues anchors a lovely and vibrant valley that runs along the southern edge of the Luberon. Far less well-known than the northern slopes of Luberon made famous by Pater Mayle, the Val d'Aigues is home to wonderful villages like La Tour d'Aigues.

The Tuesday morning market surrounds the entrance to their famous Chateau. It has long been an active market for locals in the region, but in recent years the number of vendors has increased, the variety of offerings has grown, parking has been made easier to find and use, all making the market at La Tour d'Aigues an attractive venue for shopping!

It is in this market that I learned how to find the vendor whose produce is produced locally and has been harvested within hours of the market. After a tour of the vegetable vendors, my neighbor, a local native, stopped me in front of a particular vendor. She pointed out the age and habits of the customers.
Nearly all were senior citizens, if you will; all carefully checking each item; and choosing only things in season. They knew one another and they knew the vendor, spoke of family and cooking strategies as they shopped.




At the other stalls, the vendors did most of the talking, encouraging customers to purchase certain products and hurrying from one customer to the next. Valuable lessons!




One last secret to tell about La Tour d'Aigues--the best bakery for miles around is just 1/2 block from the Chateau, on the main road with a yellow awning.

The Lourmarin Market is on Friday!

The village of Lourmarin hosts its market on Friday mornings, all year round. This market seems popular not only with visitors to the Luberon region, but also with locals.
The vegetable vendors' stalls are very busy with discerning french women, choosing the best of what's available. (These shoppers are normally among the first to arrive in the morning.) The flower seller also has a wide range of plants that grow well locally. The boulanger, the butcher, the fishmonger, they are all quite popular at this market. There is a man who sells cheese (fromage) from the Savoie region. He offers samples as the crowd passes, and slices wedges from a huge round for picnic-ers.

At this market, there is a separate plaza filled primarily with artists, artisans, and vendors of hats, clothes, soaps, jewelry, and pottery. At this market, there is a tiny silver-haired woman who sells the kind of pottery I like: soap dishes, garlic graters, soup bowls, latte cups, all in rich deep shades of Provence--greens, golds, reds, and deep blues.


If you go, plan to park in the lot near the top of the market, under the cherry trees. It's convenient with plenty of spaces, and after walking the market you can refresh yourself with a cherry or two from the tree branch brushing the roof of your car....

The village has a couple of good restaurants for lunch and the small chateau offers a self-guided tour for after lunch enjoyment.

Remember that these markets open for summertime business around 8-8:30 and close up around 12:30-1pm. During winter months, they open closer to 9am and I have seem them close up an hour later in the face of winter winds or rain. Early is best!!