La Lohuas Gites in Brittany
Five spacious and comfortable gites near Dinan, Brittany for a perfect French holiday.
 Caroline HaycoxLa Lohuas 22630 Les Champs Geraux France Telephone: 00 33 2 96 27 40 51 |
En Français |
French markets in Brittany are a delight and are a part of the life of
the villages and towns. They are picturesque, full of life and movement,
and a place to see and meet interesting people. Village markets are excellent
for a variety of items you won't find in normal shops, as well as for
good prices, if you are a careful shopper. (The photo shows just a part
of the weekly market at Dinan.)
Most villages have a daily produce market where local suppliers, from individuals with tiny plots to larger professional farmers, sell fresh vegetables, fruit, cheese, meat, bread, olives and other local specialities.
Other markets usually appear in a particular village or town on one specific day of the week. The market sellers are completely mobile. Travelling in trucks, vans, and sometimes just a 2CV, they travel from village to village, following the schedule of markets in the area.
On market day, you'll find clothes, tools, books, records, antiques, junk, treasure, art and things you would never imagine. The basic, most-common market has clothes, both new and preowned. This is a good alternative to the small shops with their limited selections in the small towns and villages, and the market prices can be very good bargains. Larger markets will have more of the non essential items, such as antiques, furniture and art.
Types of Markets
Here are the main categories of markets. There are, however, variations
in the names as well as mixtures of different types of markets (such as
a Foire antiquités brocante).
Marché
The standard market is mainly for food. But it is
very good food. The markets are attended by the people who make the food,
grow it, catch it, cure it, bake it, bottle it or otherwise have a passion
for it. Cheeses and dairy products are fresh. There are meats and poultry
and an endless variety of sausages. Olives and honey are locally produced.
Vegetables are from the local gardens, and herbs and spices are both exotic
and local. Lunch choices in the market are cheaper and more varied than
the restaurants, and it can be more fun, shopping for it as well as eating
it. Try some fresh olive bread or walnut bread.
Foire
This is the clothing market, with mainly new clothes, and usually at bargain
prices.
Brocante
Flea Market, also called Foire à la Brocante. The brocante is where
you look for old things, interesting things, and just plain old unusual
things. Items here might be junk someone is effectively throwing out,
or the treasures discovered in the attic of a hundred-year-old house.
There can be furniture or collectables offered by experts, or individuals
selling personal items for a few euros.
Antiquités
Antique Market, also called Salons des Antiquaires and Salon Antiquités
Brocante. This type of market specialises in antiques and old furniture.
Artisanat
Arts and Crafts and handmade items.
French markets are full of interesting characters and wonderful produce. Wander through the streets, witness the colour and charm of shopping Al fresco. The food tends to be fresher, slightly cheaper and more regional than in the shops. French markets have a wide range of delicious cheeses and breads. We recommend an early start as most are morning markets. Details of the days of all the local markets are available in our information folders in each gite.