Visit the Local Markets

Experience the amazing sights, sounds and tastes of the local markets

Everyone loves a French market. The hustle and bustle, the colourful fresh food, the things you can’t buy at home. The rotisserie chickens with potatoes roasting beneath the rotating birds, nearby towns and cities offer all of the above.

Saintes

Saintes markets are all between a 25 to 35 minutes drive from Mon Coup de Coeur Gîtes:

• The Saint-Louis Market: open on Tuesday and Friday from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., located on Place du 11 Novembre-Cours Reverseaux. Outdoor market. Top end of Saintes town (30 mins drive).

• The Saint-Pierre Market: open on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., located in Saint-Pierre Square. A covered and an outdoor market. Next to the Cathedral (30 mins drive).

• The Saint-Pallais Market: open on Thursdays and Sundays from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., located at the crossroads of Avenue Gambetta and Avenue de la Marne. An outdoor market. At the start of Saintes (25 mins drive)

• The Bellevue Market: open on Thursdays from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. and located on Place des Câtives, Bellevue district. Outdoor market. Out of town, follow the river after turning left after crossing the bridge (35 mins drive)

Saintes is a wonderful, traffic-free walking city on the banks of the Charente River with a beautiful cathedral, many great shops and restaurants, cafés, bars and brocantes. On the other side of the river there’s a lovely park. Walking along the river banks presents many great views and photo opportunities. We have listed our favourite restaurants in Saintes elsewhere. Everything from Michelin-starred eateries, bistros, Indian food, cafés with speciality dishes, the whole gamut. 

St. Jean d’Angély

30 mins drive from Mon Coup de Coeur Gîtes:

The market takes place on Wednesdays and Saturdays (market square): From 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. from October 1 to March 31 and from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. from April 1 to September 30. Many stalls are present under the halls and outdoors, offering fresh products, for the most part, from local producers. Take advantage of the market to discover its magnificent wooden frame dated to 1853. The market is also a delicious moment of conviviality.

The Monthly Fair

A centuries-old tradition in Saint-Jean-d’Angély. Every 3rd Saturday of the month, in addition to the market, the monthly fair unpacks on the squares of the Hôtel-de-Ville and François-Mitterrand, clothes, hardware, poultry and objects useful for everyday life... From 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. from October 1 to March 31 and from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. from April 1 to September 30.

St. Jean d’Angély has some great bars and restaurants. After you’ve finished shopping or browsing, stop for a coffee or something stronger at one of the several bars, choose a café for an on-street snack or stay for lunch at one of the bistros (book a restaurant on arrival, they fill up quickly). 

Cognac

Cognac covered market, in the centre of town, is a 10 minute drive from Mon Coup de Coeur Gîtes.

The covered market in Cognac is small and only open (every day except Monday) from 08:00 to 13:00 however, the restaurant/bar at the entrance off Rue d’Angoûleme stays open after the market has closed. The restaurant/bar serves great burgers, steaks and chips and they have no objection to diners bringing-in oysters from a neighbouring stall or cakes from the boulangerie outside the market. It serves good beer, wine and coffee and is reasonably priced. 

There’s a great cake stall in the market (English-owned/run), the oysters & wine bar, a takeaway Thai food stall, a butcher, some greengrocers, a fish stall, a fromagerie and a pop-up wine stall and brocante from time-to-time. There’s also a great florist (Jo’s favourite). 

Cognac town is relatively small and there are stacks of restaurants and bars, a beautiful park (which hosts many of the acts appearing at “Cognac Blues Passion” the annual blues music festival). Place Francois 1er is a great spot at the top of town to sit and watch the world go by over a drink/coffee.