Markets Pays De La Loire

The Marché des Vins de Loire is a must-see in Montsoreau, offering a unique experience for wine lovers. Situated on a hillside with a breathtaking view of the Château de Montsoreau and the Loire River, this market offers wine tasting and sales in troglodyte cellars. The site is designed to be convivial and conducive to sharing tastes and flavors. Visitors can taste and buy wines on site.

In Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie, there are two typical markets: on the right bank, on the Croix-de-Vie side, on Place Kergoustin, at the foot of the Sainte-Croix church; or on the left bank, on the Saint-Gilles side, on Place du Marché-aux-Herbes and Place du Vieux-Port, near the Saint-Gilles church. Very popular with locals and summer visitors, they are particularly well-stocked at weekends, with a wide variety of food products from local producers: fish (including sardines when in season) and seafood from the nearby fish market, fruit and vegetables from Hilairo's market gardeners...

If there is one place that brings together all epicureans and lovers of good fresh local produce, it is the market, and the one in Saint-Sauveur remains the largest on the island. It takes its quarters in the streets of the village, in front of the houses. You will find there smoked fish from the Islamic canning factories, sweet specialities such as the prune tart, without forgetting some products of creators and craftsmen of art which you will bring back as souvenir gifts. The market is also the place to get to know the inhabitants of the island.

The Pontlieue market is undoubtedly the city's most popular. With over 150 traders on Sundays, it's hard to get around, let alone park. A traffic lane is often requisitioned to cope with the flood of strollers. On Wednesdays, it's a little easier to breathe, with around 30 merchants. Many are small producers (market gardeners, cheesemakers, bakers, etc.) from the rural areas around Le Mans. We tread water, but eventually make some progress... a little. The center of the market is reserved for clothing vendors, where fashions are misused to undercut prices. This lively market often ends with a drink in one of the nearby cafés. Practical: the Durand-Vaillant tramway station is at the entrance to the market.

The Flea Market, an institution. Every second Sunday of the month, bargain hunters flock to the quays of the Loire where 80 second-hand dealers display their wonders. In 2006, the Flea Market received the France-Europe Antiques Quality label, which recognizes the quality of the goods on display. Furniture, unusual objects, lace, old books, there is something for everyone! In May, the flea market celebrates spring and takes nature and gardens as its theme. The stalls are set up in the alleys and the animations and tastings are going well. Charm and bargains!

The Barbâtre market welcomes producers to the Plaine square every Wednesday all year round and on Mondays in July and August.

The La Guérinière market is a large and attractive affair, held on the Place des Lauriers and Place de l'Église every Thursday throughout the year, and on Sundays from March to October. You'll find a host of stalls and stands, from artisans and market gardeners selling their locally-grown vegetables, including island potatoes, to cheesemakers, bakers, poulterers and seafood producers. You'll also find home and clothing merchants.

Every Monday morning in season, about fifty merchants give appointment to the Noirmoutrins and to the estivants, in front of the fishing ports and the marina of Herbaudière. One finds there in good place all the greedy products of the local producers. On the stalls, oysters from Vendée, shellfish, fish, but also meat and poultry, delicatessen, good cheeses. The market gardeners will display their best vegetables next to the neighbouring merchant who will offer sweet delicacies. Also clothes and other products.

Opened in June 2023 by the Basque company Biltoki, Les Halles Coeur de Maine covers almost 1,000 m² entirely dedicated to gastronomy. Shops include Le Billot butcher and delicatessen, La Marée Malouine fishmonger, Delicat'tess greengrocer and Artisan Passionné patisserie. Shoppers come here not only to do their shopping, but also to enjoy a break with friends and a bite to eat, thanks to the café-bar strategically located in the center of the site and its stands serving Iberian, Savoyard and Lebanese specialties...

Ivan Garber has taken his marks at the bottom of the Talensac market. And who says young generation, also says novelties. New desires to treat seafood lovers. Ivan proposes in particular fish labelled "Ikejime". In fact, it is a Japanese method of slaughtering, with a quick "sleep" of the fish, to avoid stressing it: we remove the nervous awareness of the fish before working on it. Thus, the taste, quality and preservation of the product are enhanced. Ivan gets his supplies from different fish markets: Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie, Sables-d'Olonne, and also Royan. His idea? To make people rediscover the thousand and one flavors of good fish, as local as possible! He is also keen to help people discover tasty varieties that are sometimes unknown to the general public. Fish to cook or raw for the amateurs, to transform into sushi or ceviche... Here no "fish tail" but very wise advice!

Whether you're a Noirmoutrin or a holidaymaker, it's always a pleasure to stroll through the local markets in search of good local produce to prepare the day's meal. The island of Noirmoutier has several markets, in each of its four communes. The market in the small commune of L'Épine is located on Place du Général de Gaulle (also known as Place de la Poste) and takes place every Saturday from 8am to 1pm, all year round. You'll find market gardeners and a wide range of producers, so you can stock up on good Vendée produce. The atmosphere is friendly and family-friendly.