Outdoor markets in France are typically held in the mornings from 8h00 to 13h00. Which isn't to say that all vendors are up and running by then! Arriving by 9h00 you'll find the markets in full swing and the locals are out in droves to stock up on fruits and veg for the week. What can you find at the beloved village markets? Anything from cheeses, breads, organic/ bio, artisanal farm products, sausages, fish,  multi-cultural and freshly prepared street food, kitchen or other utensils, baskets, flowers, clothing, crafts, and more.

What's in season? Markets are not only a great way to discover an area in France, and people watching whilst enjoying a coffee or a carafe of wine on a terrace... it's a good time to practice the language. Our list of seasonal fruits and vegetables now include a glossary of their French word beside it.  Enjoy!

For a summary of markets in the Vendée, please keep scrolling. The markets highlighted here are organised in or around the Vendée. They are worth your time due to their seize, focus, or interesting location to perfectly combine shopping and sightseeing. Keep scrolling for our comprehensive list of markets. Covid-19 update: our market list dates from 2020 before coronavirus. Please check local websites and facebook pages for protocols or cancellations. inthevendee.com is not responsible for cancellations. 

Niort, with its narrow streets and remaining medieval half-timber structures, is located on the Vendéen and Deux-Sèvres border. While shops, cafés and restaurants are centered around the daily covered market in Les Halles, the castle or donjon is worth a visit.  Also the views from the castle rooftop over the city and Sèvres rivers is quite stunning. In addition, the market swells into the market square on Thursday mornings.

TIPS
Parking tip (market, shopping, sightseeing)
*Parking La Brèche (through shopping streets to the market)
Address: Place de la Brèche, 79000 Niort
*Parking Moulin du Milieu (market)
Address: Quai Constant, 79000 Niort
*All parking search results
Restaurant
*Restaurant Le Donjon
Excellent traditional French cuisine
Address: 7 Rue Brisson, 79000 Niort
Website (reservations for lunch highly recommended)

The newly renovated Les Halles is open on Wednesday and Saturday from 8h00 to 13h00. Artisinal food vendors fill both levels of the market hall. On Saturday mornings the market includes outdoor stalls on Place Chevolleau and Place Thiversay for a total of around 140 local vendors. Enjoy a coffee or aperitif within view of the bustling market. Also, Fontenay-le-Comte is a picturesque village that hugs the banks of the Vendée river. So, have a stroll away from the market to take in the views.

Additionally, the beautiful Renaissance Château de Terre-Neuve is open from May 1st to September 30th. Also nearby is the Notre Dame church with a small crypt. Check our Sightseeing tips.

TIPS
Parking tip free parking on the large square/ roundabout near the market. Stairs and hill might make access more difficult for the elderly or wheelchair users. (on the D938T)
Address: Place François Viète
85200 Fontenay-le-Comte
*All parking search results
Restaurants *Tapas (Le Lotus) and French restaurant (Le Pinky) right by the market.

The lovely city of La Rochelle is located by the Atlantic Ocean. It offers culture, shopping, sightseeing, short cruises, and more. There are 14 markets per week. Most interesting are:
Central market: under the XIXth century covered market in the town center every morning 365 days per year. Extended markets are on Wednesday and Saturday from 7h00 to 13h00
Market of La Rochelle La Pallice district of town: every sunday from 8h00 to 13h00. Food and non-food products. This is a large market!
Flea markets of St Nicolas Street and Place de la Motte Rouge every Thursday and Saturday from 8h00 am to 18h00. Professional antique dealers.

TIPS
Parking tip: the problem in La Rochelle is not parking because there are plenty of car parks. However, the city is full of one-way streets, so figure out where you need to be first, then consult Google and program your GPS accordingly.
All parking search results
Restaurants: there is only one cafe by the Sunday market, plenty in the heart of the city.

Where: Market by the tower of Melusine
No parking at the central location but ample parking nearby
When: Monday mornings from 0900 - 12h30.
What: Clothing, hats, shoes, crafts, fruits & vegetables, jellies, shellfish, herbs, etc.

Markets in West-Vendée

ANGLES
     July-August: Wednesday and Sunday mornings
     Low-season: Wednesday mornings
AVRILLE 85440
     Thursday mornings from 8h30 to 12h30 **March to Sept Place du Champ de Foire)
                                                                               **and October to February or bad weather Place des Halles
BEAUVOIR SUR MER
     Year-round: Thursday mornings
BOIS DE CENÉ 85710
     Year-round: small market of local  producers on Sundays
BOUIN 85230
     Year-round: Saturday mornings
BREM SUR MER
     Year-round: Tuesday and Friday mornings 
BRÉTIGNOLLES SUR MER
     *Place de l'église
      Year-round: , Thursday and Sunday mornings
     *Les Halles
      April to September from Tuesday to Sunday mornings; October to March on Monday, Saturday -and             Sunday mornings
BRÉTIGNOLLES SUR MER - LA PARÉE
     July-August: Monday and Sunday mornings
     From 5th July to 30th August evening market on Thursdays
CHALLANS
     Year-round: Tuesday mornings and from Friday -to Sunday mornings
CHAMP SAINT PÈRE
     Year-round: Thursday mornings
COËX
     Year-round: Saturday mornings
COMMEQUIERS
     Year-round: local producers market on Wednesday and Saturday mornings
L'ILE D'OLONNE
     Year-round: Friday mornings
L'ILE D'YEU
     *Port
      April to 1st November: mornings daily in the port
     *Saint Sauveur.
      July and August daily
JARD SUR MER 85420
     Year-round: Monday mornings
     July and August: **'marché gourmand' Wednesday mornings in the pedestrian street from 09h00 à 13h
                                     **Thursday evenings @ Port de Plaisance from 19h00 to 23h00
LA BARRE DE MONTS - FROMENTINE
     Year-round: Place de la Gare on Saturday mornings
     From July 2nd to 3rd September at Place de la Fontaine; local producers on Mondays from 17h à 20h.
LA CHAIZE GIRAUD
     Evening market on Fridays from 13th July to 25th August at Place de la Mairie.
LA CHAPELLE-PALLUAU (LIEU-DIT L'ANJOURIÈRE)
     Year-round: farmer's market, 1st Saturday of the month
LA FAUTE SUR MER
     Avril to October: Thursday and Sunday mornings
     From November to March on Sundays
     July and August: evening market on Thursdays on the Place Dudit
LA GARNACHE
     Year-round: Thursday mornings
LES ACHARDS
     Year-round: 1st Thursday of the month and on Friday mornings (except the week of the 1st).
LA TRANCHE SUR MER
     *CENTER
       Year-round: Tuesday and Saturday morning at Place de la Liberté
      July and August: Thursdays (covered market)
      Evening market on Mondays and Fridays in July and August (Place de la Liberté.)
     *LA GRIÈRE
       Every Wednesday in July and August 
       Evening markets on Thursdays
     *LA TERRIÈRE
       Sundays on July and August
L'AIGUILLON SUR MER
     Year-round: Tuesday and Friday mornings
     Evening market on Wednesdays in July and August
LE CHÂTEAU D'OLONNE
     *CENTER
      Year-round on Sunday mornings 
     *Marché de la Pironnière
      Daily in July and August; Tuesday, Thursday and Saturdays from September to June
LE FENOUILLER
     Year-round: Friday mornings
LES SABLES D'OLONNE 85100
     *Les Halles: daily from 8h00 to 13h00 except during the school year it's closed on Mondays
     *Marché Arago, Boulevard Arago: daily from 8h00 to 13h00
     *Marché de la Chaume at Place Maraud: all year on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays from 8h00 to 13h00 and Tuesdays to Sundays in July and August
     *Marché Cours Dupont: year round on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 8h00 to 13h00
     *Le Remblai: artisan evening market from Monday 3rd July to 26th August
     *Place du Tribunal: artisan evening market from Monday 13th July to 31st August
LONGEVILLE SUR MER 85560
     Friday mornings: Marché Hebdomadaire (general) year-round on Place de la Liberté from 9h00-13h00
     July and August Marché Hebdomadaire from 05/07/2021 to 31/08/2021 every Monday morning on Place de la Liberté
MOUTIERS LES MAUXFAITS 85540
     Year-round on Friday mornings, covered market
     27/08/2021 from 17h00 Marché des Producteurs de Pays 
     
ILE DE NOIRMOUTIER :
     *BARBÂTRE
      Year-round Wednesday mornings
      July and August: Monday mornings
     *LA GUÉRINIÈRE
      From 31st October to 31st March on the first Thursday of the month
      From 31st March to 31st October on Thursdays
      From 15th June to 12th September on Sundays
     *L'ÉPINE
      Year-round: Saturday mornings
      July and August at Parc de la Mairie.
     *L'HERBAUDIÈRE
      From 20th June to  juin 12th September on Monday mornings
NOIRMOUTIER EN L'ÎLE
     Year-round: Friday mornings
     From 10th April to 18th September on Tuesdays 
     From 1st April to 28th September on Sunday mornings
NOTRE DAME DE MONTS
      From 9th June to 9th September on Sunday mornings at Place du Marché.
     From 5th July to 30th August on Thursday mornings at Place de l'église.
     From 16th September to May 31st on Sunday mornings at Place de l'église.
     Artisinal market from 10th July to 28th August on Tuesday evenings from 19h to 23h
     From 26th June to September 4th local producers market at Place de la Mairie on Tuesday mornings
OLONNE SUR MER
     From 2nd July to 27th Auguest on Monday mornings
SAINT GILLES CROIX DE VIE
     *Côté Croix de Vie, year-round on Place Kergoustin, on Wednesday and Saturday mornings
     *Côté Saint Gilles, year-round: Place du Vieux Port and Place du marché aux Herbes,on Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday mornings
      Daily evening market from 4th July to 2nd September, Place du Vieux Port et Place du marché aux Herbes.
      Artisan market on Tuesdays from 10th July to 21st August on the Quai du Port Fidèle.
      Local producers every evening from 4th July to 2nd September at Place de la Gare.
SAINT HILAIRE DE RIEZ
      Year-round at Place François Mitterrand on Thursday and Sunday mornings
      Year-round at Sion sur l'Océan, Place Vivi Burgaud, Tuesday and Friday mornings
SAINT HILAIRE DE RIEZ - LES MOUETTES
     July and August: Avenue de la Pège, on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday afternoon
SAINT-HILAIRE-LA-FORET 85440
    25/06/2021 au 25/06/2021 from 16h00 to 20h00 MARCHE DE PRODUCTEURS « LE 4 HEURES DE LA FORET » Place de l'Eglise
SAINT JEAN DE MONTS
     *Marché Jean Yole
Year-round Wednesday and Saturday mornings
     *Marché Jean Yole
Food products daily from April 1st to September 30th, and from 20 October to 4 November.
     *Marché de la plage couvert 
Avenue des Demoiselles in July and August
     *Marché de la plage des Demoiselles
Avenue de la plage Monday -and Thursday mornings from 2nd July to 30th August
      *Evening market daily from  1st July to 31st August, from 20h on Avenue des Demoiselles.
SAINT JULIEN DES LANDES
     Semi-evening market on Friday July 20th
SAINT VINCENT SUR JARD
     In July and August on Sunday mornings
TALMONT SAINT HILAIRE 85440
     Year-round: Marché des Halles, centre ville, on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday mornings (food)
     Saturday mornings general market at Place du Payré  8h to 13h 
     Summer evening market: from 07/07/2021 to 25/08/2021 at Port Bourgenay on Avenue Notre-Dame, on Wednesday evenings from 19h00

Markets in Center-Vendée

AIZENAY
     Year-round on Sunday mornings
BELLEVILLE SUR VIE
     Year-round on Wednesday mornings
SALIGNY
     Local producers on the last Sunday from March to June, and from September to November
LA FERRIÈRE
     Year-round on Friday mornings
LA ROCHE SUR YON 85000
     *Marché des Halles Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 8h00 to 13h00
     *Marché Bio on Sunday mornings at Place de la Vieille Horloge from 8h00 to 13h00
    *Quartier Les Jaulnières on Sunday mornings from 8h00 to 13h00
     *Quartier La Garenne on Wednesday and Saturday mornings from 8h00 to 13h00
LE POIRÉ SUR VIE
     Year-round on Thursday, Saturday and Sunday mornings

Markets in the Marais Poitevin

BENET
     Year-round on Monday mornings
CHAILLE LES MARAIS
     July and August Tuesday mornings
CHAMPAGNÉ LES MARAIS
     Year-round on Thursdays
FONTENAY LE COMTE
     Year-round Thursday and Saturday mornings
FOUSSAIS-PAYRÉ
     Year-round bi-monthly on Wednesday morning and every Wednesday from June to September
GRUES
     Year-round on Wednesday mornings
L'ILE D'ELLE
     Year-round, small market on Fridays
LA CHÂTAIGNERAIE
     Year-round small market on Saturdays
LA TARDIÈRE
     Year-round small market on the 1st and 3rd Saturday of the month
LUÇON
     Year-round Wednesday and Saturday mornings
MAREUIL SUR LAY
     Year-round last Thursday of the month and Saturday mornings
SAINT HILAIRE DES LOGES
     Year-round small market on Fridays
SAINT JUIRE CHAMPGILLON
     Year-round 2nd Sunday of the month
     July and August on Sunday mornings
SAINT MICHEL EN L'HERM
     Year-round on Thursday mornings
SAINTE HERMINE
     Year-round on Friday mornings
SAINTE RADEGONDE DES NOYERS
     Year-round on Thursdays
VOUILLÉ LES MARAIS
     Evening market in July and August; and bi-monthly with a music event
VOUVANT
     From June 5th to September 11th on Monday mornings

Markets in the Vendee Valley (le Bocage)

CHAMBRETAUD
     Year-round the 3rd Monday of the month
CHANTONNAY
     Year-round on Tuesday and Saturday morning on Place de la Liberté
     Every Thursday Marché BIO in Les Halles, Place de la Liberté from 17h à 19h30
LA BOUPERE 85510
     100% Local producers on Saturday mornings from 9h00 to 13h00. Place Cunaud. 2nd Saturday of each month large market
LA VERRIE
     Year-round on Saturday mornings from 9h30 à 13h
LES ESSARTS
     Twice per month on Fridays from 16h à 20h
LES HERBIERS
     Year-round on Wednesday and Saturday mornings
MONTAIGU
     Year-round on Saturday mornings
Fair on the last Thursday of the month
MORTAGNE SUR SÈVRE
     Year-round on Tuesdays from 8h to 13h
MOUCHAMPS
     Year-round on Friday mornings
POUZAUGES 85700
     Year-round on Thursday mornings
     Marché Du Jardin Des Puys every Friday from 15h00 to 19h00 (may vary due to season and weather) A wide variety of vegetables from the source plus organic producers of dairy products, beef, lamb, poultry, eggs. Rue de la Fontaine
SAINT LAURENT SUR SÈVRE
     Year-round on Tuesdays from 16h30 à 21h
SAINT MALO DU BOIS
     Sunday 15 July: local producers at Vallée de Poupet
SAINT PHILBERT DE BOUAINE
     Year-round local market on Sunday mornings
TIFFAUGES
     Year-round  1st Monday of the month from 9h to 14h
TREIZE SEPTIERS
     Year-round 2nd Wednesday of the month