The Saturday market in Arles

Every Saturday morning there is an enormous market on both sides of the Boulevard des Lices, the broad tree-lined street which forms the south border of the old city of Arles. The street is closed to traffic except for busses and the vans of the market vendors. The market spills over into the Boulevard Clémenceau to the west and into some of the narrow streets of old Arles. The cafés which line the north side of the Boulevard des Lices are open and active. The market has a definite Provençale character with produce from the surrounding area and fish from the Mediterranean. Linda and I went on Saturday, September 22, 2007. 

The Provençale nature of the produce is obvious: garlic, tomatoes, eggplants, olives, figs etc:

 

 

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The first signs of fall are there with squashes and cèpes, being cut here to show their good condition.

 

 

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There are fresh local cheeses, of course:

 

 

 

 

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Many stands have prepared foods with recipes from Provence and around the world. There are quite a few from North Africa. There is an enormous paella and a big pot of shrimp provençale.

 

 

 

 

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Sausages are made from many meats including the famous black bulls of the nearby Camargue. The feistier bulls end up in a corrida in the Arles arena instead of at the sausage maker.

 

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Spices and condiments are important:

 

 

 

 

 

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There is a big variety of breads, including local specialties such as fougasse:

 

 

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There are several stands grilling a wide variety of meats and vegetables on the rotisserie:

 

 

 

 

 

 

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There is, of course, a section of the market with a wide variety of fish, much of it fresh from the nearby Medierranean.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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The lotte, or anglerfish, known as Baudroie locally, is a handsome devil. All the fish needed for a bouillabaisse are assembled in one lot. 

 

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Bouzigues oysters are raised in the Thau lagoon, southwest of Arles.

 

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And one can buy Château Cardboard in four flavors: red table wine, rosé, grey and merlot. Vin gris is made in sandy Listel, just west of the Camargue, from grey grenache grapes.

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There is also a section for flowers and plants:

 

 

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Soaps based on olive oil with provençale aromas, such as lavender or almond, are popular.

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