Shopping in Les Halles market, Toulouse

Toulouse market, FranceOne of the (many) pleasures of traveling in France is wandering the stalls at the local markets.

I’ve already written about some of my favorite markets in France – in the stunning mountain town of Annecy and the Cours Saleya market  of the Riviera coastal city of Nice.

If you’re travelling in France, always make time to check out the local market.

Toulouse market, FranceOn a visit to Toulouse, in southwestern France’s Midi-Pyrénées region, we often passed through the town’s lively Les Halles  marketplace… and managed to stuff our suitcases with many of the local specialties to extend our French holiday meals for some days after our return to Rome.

Is there anything better than returning from a  holiday and bringing a piece of your destination home with you?

Toulouse market, FranceThe market is centrally located – and Toulouse is a fantastic walking city – and is open daily from 6:00-13:00, closed Mondays.

Here you will find everything – fish shops with catches from the Mediterranean and the Atlantic, Spanish jamon, meats, fruits and vegetables, cheeses, bread, pastries, and plenty of the local specialties – such as casoullet and the region’s renowned foie gras.

Toulouse market, France

Even a taste of home – Italian pizza

If you’re like me, and love French cheese, there’s a great shop close to the market not to be missed – Betty, Place Victor Hugo, 2. The shop has over 200 different types of cheeses from all over France.

There’s little chance you’ll miss it – you’ll smell the shop from hundreds of meters away. My kids have learned to roll their eyes and groan when my husband and I select the “smelly cheese”.

Betty also has a stand in the covered market, and there are other excellent cheese counters as well.

There’s plenty to tempt your palate at Toulouse’s Les Halles on your next visit.

3 Comments

  1. Catherine on February 11, 2014 at 9:59 am

    Sounds wonderful! I could do with a walk about a French market right now. My local market is so dreary.. Though I did manage to find a great cool jacket the other day..

    • kimberlysullivan on February 11, 2014 at 6:11 pm

      Like you, I LOVE French markets, Catherine. What do you say to a road trip around France, hitting them all? : )

  2. […] I always love French markets – if you want more tips for some of my favorite markets, see my earlier posts on the Annecy market, the Cours Saleya in Nice, and Les Halles in Toulouse. […]

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