Best flower markets in the Sud

In Marseille

On the Vieux-Port and Avenue du Prado

• The flower market on the Vieux-Port in Marseille
  Every Tuesday and Saturday morning, from 8 am to 1 pm, the flower market on the Vieux-Port rubs shoulders with the daily fish market. In this picturesque, emblematic setting, you’ll find a wide variety of flowers and plants, against a backdrop of boats, the sound of seagulls and the sun’s reflections on the water.

• The flower market on Le Prado
  This is the biggest flower and plant market in Marseille. It is held every Friday morning, from Place Castellane to the top of Avenue du Prado. A lovely flower-filled stroll where the stalls are full of colours and smells. Keen gardeners and those who love pretty bouquets are sure to find something here.

In Nice

On Cours Saleya

In the heart of Vieux-Nice, a stone’s throw from the mythical Promenade des Anglais and Rue des Ponchettes, the historic quarter where Nice became a holiday resort, the flower market on Cours Saleya is a true institution. Installed all year round and every day except Monday, it plunges visitors into a warm, Provençal atmosphere, against the colourful facades of Vieux-Nice and the bewitching scent of freshly cut flowers. A place where you go as much to shop as to admire the stalls, talk about botanical things or take some pretty photos of this unique setting. Gerberas, peonies, tulips or miniature olive trees mingle with local products, in a typically Niçois atmosphere where the colours and scents of the Sud blend harmoniously.

In Sanary

On the harbour

Sanary-sur-Mer is famous for its big Provençal market with many local producers, but its flower market is also well worth a visit. Every morning from 7 am to 1 pm, Place de la République, just in front of the Town Hall, is bedecked with vibrant colours. Dozens of varieties of flowers and plants are exhibited there: roses, marguerites, orchids, peonies… The picturesque setting of Sanary offers the market a unique setting, with its lovely smells of the Sud and its gentle lifestyle. And after you’ve been round the market, take some time to wander around the harbour to admire the “pointus”, traditional boats lined on the quayside and whose colours seem to rival those of the flowers.

In Avignon

Place des Carmes

Every Saturday, Place des Carmes d’Avignon becomes a little piece of paradise for plant-lovers. Under the plane trees, under the covered market, the stands offer cut flowers, seeds, plants and gardening tools, with, of course, personalised botanical advice. You’ll come across plant lovers talking about cuttings with producers, and also the more curious who are there just for the sights. This local market on a human scale is very attractive with its warm, relaxed atmosphere. You’ll also find organic fruit, fresh fruit and vegetables, along with some local sweet delicacies. Despite the commercial bustle, it’s a peaceful market with a lovely setting to walk around, have a coffee on a terrace and start the day in slow mode.

In the Alps

In the Provençal markets

In the French Southern Alps, Provençal markets regularly include flowers and flower compositions. Whether you’re in Forcalquier, Sisteron, Embrun, Briançon, Vallouise-Pelvoux, Roquebillière or Saint-Martin-Vésubie, you’ll find seasonal bouquets, outdoor plants suited to mountain climates, or local aromatic plants. These markets, often set up at the foot of the mountains, offer a spectacular setting. With pure skies, fresh air and rocky peaks rising at the end of the streets and below the houses, the experience is both aesthetic and sensory. It’s another aspect of Provençal markets, wilder and more Alpine, but always full of the generosity which makes up the charm of the South of France.