Provençal Markets in the Gorges du Verdon: Complete Guide to the 10 Best Markets

A stay in the Gorges du Verdon wouldn't be complete without a visit to a Provençal market. Between the stalls of goat cheese, baskets of olives, lavender honey and sun-ripened vegetables, it's all of Provence telling its story each morning on the village squares. Good news: whatever day of your holiday, there's always a market within driving distance. This guide covers the 10 most interesting markets around the Verdon, with days, opening times, what to look for and some practical tips to make the most of them.

Verdon Markets Day by Day: the Complete Schedule

To plan your mornings, here is the full calendar of markets around the Gorges du Verdon. Most take place in the morning, roughly between 8am and 1pm.

Aiguines Market: the Little Village Market

If you're staying in Aiguines, the village market is the easiest to reach: it takes place on Tuesday mornings in summer, right on the main square, at the foot of the castle with its colourful glazed tiles. It's a small market — about ten stalls — but full of character. You'll find local artisans, Haut-Var products (honey, soaps, jams), a few market gardeners and sometimes woodturners keeping the village's craft tradition alive.

The atmosphere is relaxed and friendly. You'll see locals doing their weekly shop, children running between the stalls. It's a great chance to combine with a visit to the Autour de la Table fine grocery shop or the local woodturning workshop.

• Day: Tuesday morning (summer only, June to September)
• Location: village square, in front of the castle
• Size: small (about ten stalls)
• Don't miss: Haut-Var honey and handmade wooden objects

Moustiers-Sainte-Marie Market: Faience and Night Market

Moustiers-Sainte-Marie, listed among France's Most Beautiful Villages, hosts a Provençal market on Friday mornings, from March to October. The stalls line the village lanes, between the faience boutiques and pottery workshops. You'll find local producers — cheeses, cured meats, olives, seasonal fruit — in a setting that captures all the charm of the Verdon.

But the real highlight is the summer night market. Every Wednesday evening in July and August, from 6pm to 11pm, the village comes alive in a different way. Artisans set up from the town hall square to Rue de la Bourgade: knife-makers, soap-makers, jewellers, photographers, woodturners demonstrating their craft. On the food side: nougat, lavender honey, olive oil, artisan sweets. All lit by the soft glow of the village — a really pleasant evening out.

• Daytime market: Friday morning, March to October
• Night market: Wednesday evening (6pm–11pm), July–August
• Location: village centre, from the town hall to Rue de la Bourgade
• Don't miss: pottery creations and artisan nougat

Aups Market: the Big Market of Haut-Var

30 minutes from Aiguines, Aups is the capital of the Haut-Var and its market is the largest in the area. It takes place on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 8am to 1pm, on Place Frédéric Mistral and the surrounding streets — all year round. It's a true Provençal institution: dozens of stalls with fruit and vegetables, meat, fish, cheese, cured meats, ceramics, clothing, textiles. The atmosphere is warm and lively, shaded by centuries-old plane trees.

Aups is also the black truffle capital of the Var. From November to March, on Thursday mornings, a truffle market (Tuber Melanosporum) takes place on the square. Sales only begin after the bugle call at 9:30am — a ritual worth the trip. Growers sell only their own harvest, in 1st and 2nd category truffles. In summer (June–August), summer truffle (Tuber Aestivum) can also be found at the Wednesday market.

To extend the visit, the Maison de la Truffe d'Aups et du Verdon is open all year in the former Hospice Saint-Jacques. You can learn about truffle history, hunting techniques and browse a shop full of truffle products.

• Days: Wednesday and Saturday morning, 8am–1pm (year-round)
• Truffle market: Thursday morning, November to March (bugle at 9:30am)
• Location: Place Frédéric Mistral, village centre
• Don't miss: black truffle in winter, olives and honey all year

Riez Market: Provençal Flavours at the Foot of the Valensole Plateau

Riez is a characterful small town 35 minutes from Aiguines, at the edge of the Valensole plateau. Its Saturday morning market is one of the finest in the area: over 100 stalls set up in the lanes and squares of the village. You'll find everything — fruit, vegetables, fish, meat, cheese, plus lavender honey, artisan gingerbread, flowers and Provençal clothing.

It's a typically Provençal market, lively and colourful, where regulars meet at the café after filling their baskets. The village itself deserves a stroll: 4th-century Roman columns, Merovingian baptistry, medieval lanes. Combined with a drive across the Valensole plateau, it makes a lovely half-day.

In winter, Riez also holds a truffle market on Wednesday mornings from December to February — less well-known than Aups but just as authentic.

• Day: Saturday morning (year-round)
• Truffle market: Wednesday morning, December to February
• Location: village centre
• Don't miss: lavender honey, farmhouse cheeses and a walk through old Riez

Valensole Market: Lavender and Terroir on the Plateau

Valensole is first and foremost the plateau: lavender fields stretching as far as the eye can see, world-famous. But the village itself is worth a visit, especially on Thursday mornings when the market sets up. Smaller than Riez or Aups, it focuses on quality: lavender essential oils, soaps, scented candles, natural cosmetics and fine regional products.

It's the ideal market for bringing home authentic souvenirs — a lavender sachet, a bottle of essential oil or lavender honey that will recall Provence all winter long. Combine it with visiting the fields during the flowering season (mid-June to mid-July) for a complete day out.

• Day: Thursday morning (year-round)
• Location: village centre
• Don't miss: lavender essential oils and plateau honey

Salernes Market: Under the Plane Trees, in Pottery Country

Salernes is the French capital of the tomette — that small hexagonal terracotta tile found in every Provençal home. The market takes place on Wednesdays and Sundays, under the plane trees on Cours Théodore Bouge. Around fifty stalls offer fruit and vegetables, fish, meat, local produce, flowers and various goods.

The atmosphere is very local, less touristy than Moustiers or Aups. If you're interested in crafts, take the opportunity to visit the village pottery workshops and the Terra Rossa museum, dedicated to the local ceramic tradition.

• Days: Wednesday and Sunday morning (year-round)
• Location: Cours Théodore Bouge, under the plane trees
• Don't miss: artisan pottery and local market gardeners' produce

Castellane Market: at the Northern Gateway to the Verdon

Northern gateway to the Gorges du Verdon, Castellane hosts a Provençal market on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 8am to 1pm, all year round. Set up in the village centre, at the foot of its impressive Rock, it brings together local producers, market gardeners, cheese-makers, butchers and artisans. Seasonal fruit and vegetables, farmhouse cheeses, cured meats, aromatic herbs — the whole terroir of Haute-Provence is represented.

On Saturdays, a general market sets up alongside the food market: clothing, hats, accessories, kitchenware. Handy to combine with a day on the Route des Crêtes or the Blanc-Martel trail.

• Days: Wednesday and Saturday morning, 8am–1pm (year-round)
• Location: village centre, at the foot of the Rock
• Don't miss: farmhouse cheeses and aromatic herbs from Haute-Provence

Small Markets Around Lake Sainte-Croix

Around Lake Sainte-Croix, several villages hold smaller markets that have their own charm. These are producers' markets, often about ten stalls, where you buy directly from local farmers and artisans.

At Les Salles-sur-Verdon, the Thursday summer market offers fresh fruit, honey and local olive oil. At Bauduen, the Sunday morning market from May to September livens up this lakeside village — nice to combine with a swimming day. Sainte-Croix-du-Verdon has its Tuesday market in July–August, in the hilltop village above the lake.

And at La Palud-sur-Verdon, gateway to the Blanc-Martel trail, the Sunday morning producers' market runs all year on the small church square. Local goat cheeses, organic vegetables, honey, artisan breads and pastries — an authentic market, away from the crowds.

Practical Tips for Enjoying the Verdon Markets

A few tips to get the most out of your market visits in the area:

Bring cash. Many small producers only take cash. A stop at the ATM before the market avoids disappointment.

Bring your own bags. A tote bag or wicker basket will come in handy. Some stalls don't provide bags, and it's more convenient than accumulating plastic bags.

Taste before you buy. Most producers offer tastings: cheeses, olives, tapenades, honeys. It's the best way to discover local specialities — anchoïade, caillette, pissaladière, pistou.

Combine market and sightseeing. Each market village has something to offer beyond the stalls: the lanes of Moustiers, old Riez, the Salernes workshops, Castellane's Rock. Allow a half-day so you're not rushed.

In the off-season, some markets are smaller but the produce is still there (Aups, Riez, Castellane run all year). It's even the ideal time for truffles.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Gorges du Verdon Markets

What is the biggest market near the Gorges du Verdon?

The Aups market, on Wednesday and Saturday mornings, is the largest in the area with dozens of stalls selling food, crafts and textiles. The Riez market (Saturday) is also very well-stocked with over 100 stalls.

Are there year-round Provençal markets in the Verdon?

Yes. The markets at Aups (Wed/Sat), Riez (Sat), Castellane (Wed/Sat), Salernes (Wed/Sun), Valensole (Thu) and La Palud-sur-Verdon (Sun) operate all year. Only the small lakeside markets (Aiguines, Bauduen, Sainte-Croix, Les Salles) are seasonal.

Where can I buy black truffle in the Verdon?

The Aups truffle market (Thursday morning, November to March) is the most renowned. Riez also holds a truffle market on Wednesday mornings from December to February. Outside the season, the Maison de la Truffe in Aups is open all year.

What day is the Moustiers night market?

The night market runs every Wednesday evening from 6pm to 11pm in July and August. Free entry. Artisans, producers and a unique atmosphere in the village's lit-up lanes.

Can I plan a multi-day itinerary around the Verdon markets?

That's a great idea. You can organise each morning around a different market and each afternoon around a hike or a day at the lake. See our itinerary guide to plan your stay.