Comments from the author:

“A French Market is as much a social event as a shopping trip.....”

There's something special about a French Market; somehow it epitomises much of what goes to create the unique character of France - the lack of haste (we'll ignore the markets in Paris here because... Paris isn't really France - it's just London with style and class), the gentle friendliness of the people who live here and, above all, an abundance of great produce.

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And Brittany has more than its fair share of great markets.

From the cosy neighbourliness of my small local Saturday morning market at Josselin to the vast, and always packed, Sunday market at Carnac: From the sheer range of fresh produce at the Wednesday morning market at Vannes (with the excellent Fish Market and plenty of great restaurants, nearby), to the totally practical markets, such as the Thursday market at Locmine (with its stalls selling clothes and kitchen utensils, as well as food, but... not one stall selling touristy souvenirs, to be found!)

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And there are plenty of other markets that I have yet to visit but, one day, surely will.

Each one seems to have its own character and its own special blend of produce and products for sale. Just as no two towns or villages, in Brittany, are the same, neither are their markets.

For a (certainly not comprehensive) list of market days in Brittany, please read on....

Auray (56) - All day Monday and Sunday Mornings
Baud (56) - All day Saturday
Becherel (35) - Saturday Morning - There is also a book market at Becherel on the first Sunday of the month
Benodet (29) - All day Monday
Binic (22) - Thursday Morning
Broons (22) - Wednesday Morning
Burby (56) - All day Wednesday
Callac (22) - All day Wednesday
Cancale (35) - Sunday Morning
Carhaix (29) - Saturday Morning
Carnac (56) All day Sunday and Wednesday
Combourg (35) - All day Monday
Concarneau (29) - Friday And Monday Mornings
Dinan (22) - All day Tuesday and Thursday, and Saturday Morning
Dol de Bretagne (35) - All day Saturday
Dournenez (29) All day Friday and Monday, and Saturday and Wednesday Mornings
Erquy (22) - Saturday Morning
Fouesnant (29) - All day Friday
Fourgeres (35) - Saturday Morning
Gourin (56) - Monday Morning
Guingamp (22) - Friday Morning
Hennebont (56) - All day Thursday
Josselin (56) - Saturday Morning - Here I know that I'll get the best seafood in the area and vegetables that will make my mouth water. And hey, I'll meet loads of friends, as well!

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La Gacilly (56) - Saturday Morning
Lamballe (22) - All day Thursday
Lanester (56) - All day Tuesday
Languidic (56) - All day Friday
Lannion (22) - All day Thursday
La Trinite-sur-Mer (56) - All day Friday
Le Faouet (56) - All day Wednesday - 1st & 3rd Wednesday of the month
Lezardrieux (22) - Friday Morning
Locmine (56) - All day Thursday
Malestroit (56) - Thursday Morning
Maure de Bretagne (56) - Sunday Morning
Moelan-sur-Mer (29) - All day Tuesday
Montcontour (22) - All day Monday
Mur de Bretagne (22) - Friday Evening - July and August only
Plelan le Grand (35) - Sunday Morning
Plestin-les-Greves (22) - Sunday Morning
Pleubian - All day Saturday
Ploermeur (56) - All day Sunday
Pontivy (56) - All day Monday
Pontrieux (22) -All day Monday
Port-Louis (56) - Saturday Morning - Also Tuesday Evening during July and August
Questembert (56) - Monday Morning
Queven (56) - Thursday Evening
Quiberon (56) - Al day Saturday
Quimper (29) - Saturday and Sunday Mornings, All day Wednesday - There is also an Organic Produce Market on Friday Afternoon
Quintin (22) - All day Tuesday
Redon (35) - Monday Morning
Rennes (35) - All day, Monday to Saturday (other than bank holidays)
Roscoff (29) - Wednesday Morning
Rostrenen (22) - All day Tuesday
Saint-Brieuc (22) - All day Saturday, Sunday and Wednesday
Saint Gelven (22) - Sunday Morning - Easter to October
Saint-Guildas de Rhuys (56) - All day Sunday
Saint-Malo (35) - Friday and Tuesday Mornings
Saint-Pierre (56) - All day Thursday
Saint-Pol-de-Leon (29) - All day Tuesday
St. Lunaire (35) - Sunday Morning - Easter to October
St Renan (29) - All day Saturday
Treguier (22) - Wednesday Morning
Val Andre (22) - Friday Morning
Vannes (56) - Saturday and Wendnesday Mornings

I am always overwhelmed by awe when I visit the fish market at Vannes.

I might be exaggerating slightly if I were to say that the fish there are so fresh that they are still wriggling but, it would be no exaggeration at all to admit that I can quite happily spend a whole hour wandering round the 30 or 40 stalls and, after a quick coffee, go back for more!

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Most of my seafood is, however, bought from the fish stall at my local Saturday morning market at Josselin.

I happily queue up for the 10 or 15 minutes (sometimes longer), that it takes to be served; whilst the fishmonger happily takes his time chatting to his customers, preparing their fish (just the way they like it - he always seems to remember each one individually) and generally having a good gossip.

It never ceases to amaze me how loyal the Bretons (particularly the older ones), are to their favourite suppliers of fresh produce, even if it may cost a little more. I have one colleague who drives miles out of her way, after work, to buy her bread. There is a boulangerie in her village but, according to her, the bread there isn't as good as it is at the boulangerie that she uses.

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Queuing up by the fish stall does have its downside, though. It gives me too much time to peruse what's on display and, as a result, I always end up buying more than I had intended to; perhaps a couple of those extra large Langoustines for me and, maybe some prawns for the cats.

I am less fussy about where I get my oysters from - either the shellfish stall (half way down the high street on market days and, Sundays during the winter), or my local supermarket.

Before I got ill, I sometimes used to drive to Roc St. Andre (about 12km away), where there is a very small market (maybe 5 or 6 stalls) on a Sunday morning - their oysters were always good.

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Nothing however, in my opinion, beats the experience of visiting the oyster market at Cancale and eating fresh oysters there, sat on the harbour wall.

Actually, there is one thing that beats that. Sitting outside one of the harbourside restaurants at Cancale, leisurely enjoying a dozen oysters with some salad and freshly baked bread and, a glass or two of cold Muscadet - just generally watching the world go by.

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The following is a (by no means comprehensive), list of Fish Markets in Brittany...

Bon Appetite....

Keith

Concarneau Fish market

There is a guided tour of the fish market and harbour at 6.30am. They start to unload the fish from the trawlers at 11 p.m. and the fish starts to be auctioned off from 6.00 am, the first five days of the week.

Douarnenz Fish market

A busy fishing port which has the lure of an excellent fish market, particularly the plentiful supply of native oysters (not as easily found in Biscay as the Pacific oyster) and live langoustines.

Erquay Fish market - Every day except Saturday and Sunday

Erquay is a busy fishing port and its harbour is a delightful place for a stroll to watch the fish and scallops being unloaded.

Le Guilvinec/Saint-Guenole Fish market

The fish market is open to the public daily, Le Guilvinec is the premier Langoustine fishing port in the whole of France.

Lesconil/Loctudy Fish market

Lesconil/Loctudy Fish market sells mainly monkfish, langoustine and line-caught bass to wholesalers and major distributors.

Ploubazlanec/Loguivy-de-la-Mer Fish market - from Nov to April : Monday and Wednesday

Have fun watching buyers gather round the mountains of fish displayed in boxes on the quayside, to be sold through auction as shop owners and restaurateurs battle for the prizes.

Poulgoazec/Audierne Fish market

Poulgoazec, a fishing harbour, right in front of Audierne delivers fish everyday to the market.

Roscoff Fish market

Don't miss the guided tour and learn all about the running of a fish auction market. if you’re travelling on the Plymouth ferry, the fish auctions take place daily at the ferry port.

Saint-Quay-Portrieux Fish market

This seaside resort and fishing port is the landing port for Coquilles St. Jacques (scallops). There is an annual scallop festival, and fish auctions..

Vannes Fish market

Vannes Fish market is open Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, from 7h to 13h in the Halle aux Poissons

My favourite place in the whole wide world (apart from Josselin, that is) - quite possibly my second favourite place in the universe (after Josselin, of course!)

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