The Magical Markets of Provence

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One of the best delights of a trip through the villages of Luberon is experiencing her magical local markets laden with Provençal products.  Local markets offer a glimpse into the true heart and soul of the countryside offering a wide variety of products such as lavender sachets, handwoven baskets and linens, flowers, wine, produce and other regional specialties that are renown to the region.

During our April road trip through the perched villages of Luberon, I was instantly drawn to the markets as an ideal place to buy the perfect gift for friends and capture the real essence of Provence.

Beautiful handmade lotions and creams from Provence.

Many of the towns throughout Luberon have their own local markets, however, the best market we found was in the perched village of Gordes. Every Tuesday morning, local vendors set up their colorful stalls around the castle at the center of the village, offering a wide variety of eye-catching delights.  You can stroll through the open-air market and sample french cheeses, local wines and sausages while perusing the gorgeous tables of handmade linens, soaps, baskets and clothing. It is a wonderful place to spend a morning and then grab lunch at one of Gordes many outdoor cafes.

Here are some of the beautiful things we saw at the magical market in Gordes.

A lovely collection of French handwoven baskets caught my eye. Of course I had to bring one home.

There were also rows and rows of beautiful, fragrant Provencal soap.

My favorite find at the Provencal markets were the handwoven table lines and towels. They were brightly colored, in beautiful hues and I couldn’t resist buying some to cheer up my home. If only I had a bigger suitcase!

Handwoven Provencal Table Runners

Handwoven Provencal kitchen towels.

Then came the perfect gift. The rows of colorful Lavender sachets. These were inexpensive and a hit with my friends and family back home.

Provencal Lavender Sachets

There were all so pretty that it was hard to choose which ones to buy.

All good markets must have a fresh produce from the countryside.

Fresh French Peas

Bitter Endive

Onions

And of course the mouth watering fromage and saucisson.Luckily there were plenty of free samples.

I love cheese and went a little bit crazy sampling the different kinds.

Next of course are the amazing colorful spices many which compliment Provençal cuisine. My favorites and must-buys included Herbes de Provence and a special spice to put on top of cheese for making Salade au Chèvre Chaud (a delicious hot goat cheese salad common in Provence).

Any kind of fresh spice imaginable

There were too many delicious preserves to choose from. I loved them all but sadly I didn’t have room in my suitcase.

Lovely hanging flowers that decorated the town.

If you go

Check out The Luberon.com for details on the Gordes market.

Also make sure you bring a big suitcase as you are bound to buy a lot!

Related posts

The Perched Villages of Luberon: Lourmarin

A Tour through the Perched Villages of Luberon

44 thoughts on “The Magical Markets of Provence”

    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Thanks so much! Me too! Someday I’d like to live in France again.

      Reply ↓
  2. restlessjo – Hi! I’m Jo! Johanna when I’m feeling posh, Jan to my Dad, and Joasiu to my Polish family. A bit of a mix-up, that’s me. The one constant, however, is my restless nature. I love to travel and to explore our world. It doesn’t have to be the big wide world. I can be ridiculously happy not too far from home, so long as I’m seeking new horizons. Of course I have a wish list, and it was to help me fulfil my dreams that I started to write travel guides for a venture called Simonseeks. I’d always kept a travel diary, and it was hugely satisfying to share my experiences and to make new friends who shared my passion for travel. Alas, Simonseeks hit a few troubles, but I still find myself writing about my travels. I’ve become addicted. I’d love to share them, and to make more friends. So, it has to be a blog- right? Or do I mean- write?
    restlessjo on said:

    Shows what a busy year you’ve had, Nicole. These delightful images have been lurking in your computer all this time. 🙂

    Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Thanks Jo! Too busy quite frankly but life will calm down by the fall. I still have pictures and stories left to share from that April trip!

      Reply ↓
  3. Madhu – Madhu is an Interior designer turned travel blogger on a long sabbatical to explore the world. When not crafting stories on The Urge To Wander, she's probably Tweeting @theurgetowander or sharing special moments on instagram.com/theurgetowander
    Madhu on said:

    Your gorgeous photos make me want to go back NOW! 🙂

    Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Thanks Madhu! I can’t wait to see your posts on France!

      Reply ↓

  4. The European markets are inspirational. While I attend a Farmer’s Market every week, it doesn’t come anywhere close to the haven of goods and products served in places such as you depict. Well done.

    Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Thanks so much! I love markets in other countries. We have farmers markets here too but no where near the stuff I’ve seen around the world. Especially the spices!

      Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Thanks so much! 🙂

      Reply ↓

  6. Amazing photos… And I can see why you were tempted to buy so much… Everything looks fantastic!

    Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Thanks! It was a lovely market!

      Reply ↓
  7. Marianne – What´s to know? I am a ‘recovering’ criminal lawyer, EFL teacher, petrol-head, amateur photographer, neophyte blogger, traveller, English woman and shameless arctophile!
    Marianne on said:

    Gorgeous photos, Nicole – I felt I was there with you 🙂

    Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Thanks Marianne! That is what I was aiming for! 🙂

      Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Thanks so much! I went in April with my mom and sister (it was great as I lived in France 20 years ago so great to be back again). We had a wonderful time. Now I’m still going through the photos months later and trying to finish my posting! 🙂

      Reply ↓

  9. Oh! If only you had a bigger suitcase! I wouldn’t know where to begin. Tantalizing photos. They make me want to buy and taste everything.

    Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Thanks so much! Yes, and if only I had a fridge too for all the cheese!!!

      Reply ↓
  10. tywrussia – We are glad to introduce you the first project of TRIPYOURWAY team! Who we are? • people who are in love with travelling, exploring, tasting, watching, speaking, listening • people who love their country and believe that it’s fantastically interesting and beautiful • people who have lots of experience in arranging any kind of trips, cultural exchanges, variety of events • people who want to share What do we suggest? • personal planning and preparing of your trip in Russia (tickets, visas, hotels, program) • personal guiding in Russian cities, towns and villages • don’t get lost in Moscow/St.Pertersburg at the 1st time (be met by our guide at the airport and follow him to the hotel) • discover non-touristic Russia (contact us to arrange trips to the country side, far deep villages, old towns) • find english-speaking friends to travel with (not professional guides, but nice guys who will help you to buy tickets, find ways, translate the signs etc.) • discover variety of master-classes (Russian cuisine, russian tea ceremony, Russian toys, banya etc.) • experience Moscow nightlife (let us introduce you the best places and clubs to visit in Moscow at night) How to contact us? If you would like to get some information or order some services in other languages, please contact us by e-mail for further details: tripyourway@gmail.com Stay on line, see our future projects! TRIPYOURWAY your way to trip
    tywrussia on said:

    Fabulous! And it is so nice to sleep with the smell of lavender!

    Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Thanks so much! I have the lavender sachets all over my house. It is so calming.

      Reply ↓
  11. Sarah Ann – Hi everyone! Thanks for visiting my blog, Safaris and Sunsets. I hope you all enjoy reading as much as I enjoy writing. My name is Sarah. I'm a twenty-something year old Connecticut girl who loves all things life. Traveling, writing, reading, home decorating, baking, hiking, the beach, chocolate, skiing, wine tasting, boating, meeting new people, diving into new cultures and all things in between. I call my blog "life's little explorations" ... from the big safaris to the everyday sunsets.
    Sarah Ann on said:

    Oh my goodness! I am wishing I was there right now! Beautiful photos!

    Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Thanks so much! It is a wonderful place! 🙂

      Reply ↓
  12. anotherjennifer – Brunswick, Maine – Jennifer Iacovelli is an author, blogger and nonprofit unicorn. Based in Brunswick, Maine, she’s a proud single mom of two boys and two Siberian huskies. Her books include The Mother Of All Meltdowns and Simple Giving: Easy Ways to Give Every Day. Her work has been featured on HuffPost Divorce, Maria Shriver, GOOD, BlogHer, ONE, USAID Impact, Feed the Future, PSI Impact blog and more. Her passions are writing, philanthropy, her awesome kids, bacon and lifting heavy objects, though not necessarily in that order.
    another jennifer on said:

    I just love your photos and your perspective, Nicole!

    Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Thanks Jennifer! Just got back from Virginia and playing catch up. Nice to be home!

      Reply ↓

  13. No matter where we are, we love to seek out the local markets and this one looks particularly divine. 🙂

    Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Thanks LuAnn! It was gorgeous! 🙂

      Reply ↓
  14. Donna Owen – Fairfield County, CT – A small business consultant with background of 20+ years in marketing management and an additional 13 years in home decorating servicing high-end clients and interior designers. Today, I am a curator of select Vintage & Antique smaller design shop, or consignment boutiques on-line called UpperCrustHome or www.etsy.com/uppercrusthome.
    Donna Owen on said:

    Reblogged this on UpperCrustHome and commented:
    I can smell the fragrance from here!

    Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Thanks so much for the reblog! I appreciate it! 🙂

      Reply ↓

  15. Pingback: Distilleries de Provence ed il RinQuinQuin | Glocal Vini & Terroir

  16. ailsapm – wheresmybackpack.com – Hi there! I’m Ailsa Prideaux-Mooney. I’ve lived in many places, and travelled to many more. I had a lot of fun getting there and being there, wherever there happened to be at the time. I climbed a castle wall in Czesky Krumlov, abseiled down cliffs to go caving in the west of Ireland, slept on the beach in Paros, got chased by a swarm of bees in Vourvourou (ok that wasn’t fun, but it was exciting), learned flower arranging in Tokyo, found myself in the middle of a riot in Seoul, learned to snowboard in Salzburg, got lost in a labyrinth in Budapest and had my ice cream stolen by a gull in Cornwall. And I’m just getting started. If you’ve enjoyed what you’ve read so far, I’d love you to follow my travelogue - wheresmybackpack.com - and remember, anyone who tries to tell you it’s a small world hasn’t tried to see it all.
    ailsapm on said:

    What a gorgeous post, Nicole, bursting with colour and deliciousness. Thanks for sharing a little bit of your Provence experience. 🙂 Ailsa

    Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Glad you enjoyed Ailsa! I love the South of France. It is a wonderful place!

      Reply ↓
      • ailsapm – wheresmybackpack.com – Hi there! I’m Ailsa Prideaux-Mooney. I’ve lived in many places, and travelled to many more. I had a lot of fun getting there and being there, wherever there happened to be at the time. I climbed a castle wall in Czesky Krumlov, abseiled down cliffs to go caving in the west of Ireland, slept on the beach in Paros, got chased by a swarm of bees in Vourvourou (ok that wasn’t fun, but it was exciting), learned flower arranging in Tokyo, found myself in the middle of a riot in Seoul, learned to snowboard in Salzburg, got lost in a labyrinth in Budapest and had my ice cream stolen by a gull in Cornwall. And I’m just getting started. If you’ve enjoyed what you’ve read so far, I’d love you to follow my travelogue - wheresmybackpack.com - and remember, anyone who tries to tell you it’s a small world hasn’t tried to see it all.
        ailsapm on said:

        I know, it’s been far too long since I visited. I’m hoping to get back to Europe sometime soon, pretty excited about revisiting familiar places and finding new ones. xxx

  17. loca4motion – Phuket, Thailand – Travel feeds my soul. The kick of living in foreign cultures keeps me awake. Photography, writing and the great outdoors are my passions.
    loca4motion on said:

    Nicole, I only just saw this post! I think I’ve missed a few of yours. It’s funny but my last post was about a Thai market so it’s really interesting to compare the different kinds of produce. Your French market is another world from my Thai one. I love your photos here but especially of all the herbs and spices!

    Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      SO cool! I saw your lovely post too and yes what a contrast between the markets! 🙂

      Reply ↓

  18. I LOVE this, it’s so absolutely beautifully presented, so inviting and inspiring. I had forgot about Sachets, I haven’t seen them in so many years and yet they are so easy to make and functional. 🙂

    Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Thanks so much! I still have my little lavender sachets in my closet and they smell so beautiful! 🙂

      Reply ↓

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  20. Pingback: The Perched Villages of Luberon: Gordes | Thirdeyemom

  21. Praveena – India – I'm Praveena, an young software engineer from India who is in the journey to explore herself and people around the world
    Praveena on said:

    What a beautiful place,I could imagine the freshness of market.I wish to visit this place !!!

    Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Yes, it was really gorgeous and the market was superb! Wish we had something even remotely like it here!

      Reply ↓

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