When you arrive in France, you naturally expect to treat yourself to traditional sweets and delicacies. After all, as everyone knows, the capital of fashion offers tourists a massive variety of pastries and baked goods. Here, you can try everything from crème brûlée and profiteroles to the unmatched Tarte Tatin (the famous upside-down apple tart) and clafoutis (a traditional French dessert where cherries are baked in a light, batter-like dough).
However, magnificent France is not famous for its desserts alone. First and foremost, people here care deeply about their health, favoring organic (bio) products. In fact, France boasts some of the largest organic agricultural lands in Europe, where organic vegetables, fruits, olives, and grapes are grown, and organic dairy and meat are produced.
If you want to experience the true gastronomic diversity of this country, don't rush off to the nearest supermarket. Instead, step into an open-air market, known in France as a marché en plein air, or marché hebdomadaire (a weekly open-air market that visits towns on specific days of the week).
For instance, in the southern French town of Bédarieux, you can visit the market every Monday to pick up fresh vegetables, fruits, cheese, and candied fruits, while doing a bit of shopping at reasonable prices.
Just be careful—there is a risk of getting lost among all the different types of marchés! In France, you can visit not only the traditional food market as we usually think of it, but also a marché couvert (a covered market, as opposed to an open one), a marché aux puces (flea market), a brocante (antiques and second-hand market), or a vide-grenier (« empty attic », where local residents sell their old belongings right on the street).
Most importantly, however, a market for the French is not just a place to buy quality food. It is a space saturated with the atmosphere of unhurried French life, where you can meet friends, acquaintances, neighbors, and strangers, and chat over a cup of coffee. Don't be surprised if, while walking between the food stalls, you run into the mayor of Bédarieux, Francis Barsse, and exchange a few words with him. He has held office since 2020 and was re-elected for a second term in the municipal elections of March 2026. The mayor adheres to the principle of close communication with citizens—acting as a « mayor within arm's reach. » In Bédarieux, he is widely seen as a pragmatic, capable, and accessible leader.
Francis Barsse, Mayor of Bédarieux
As for the vendors at the Bédarieux market, they are primarily local farmers and small producers from the surrounding villages and the mountains of Haut-Languedoc. There are no middlemen: behind the stall stands the exact same person who picked the tomatoes that morning, or who handcrafted the goat's cheese catching your eye. They embody the concept of the circuit court (short supply chain), where there are literally just a few kilometers between the field and your shopping bag. Most importantly, the products are always fresh, healthy, and delicious—something crucial for people like the French, who value simple yet wholesome cuisine.
Why do the French mostly prefer the market to the supermarket?
Here is the answer from an average Frenchman at the Bédarieux market:
«Because the market often sells local products from regional farmers, meaning fewer pesticides and hazardous substances, since strict standards apply in France. Whereas in supermarkets, they are very often processed products or ones containing dangerous pesticides, which is harmful to health. And we also choose the market to support a French neighbor, rather than a large company from, say, Spain»
Sometimes this cuisine is very simple, yet incredibly delicious. Indeed, sometimes you don't need to « reinvent the wheel » (il ne faut pas chercher midi à quatorze heures), because simplicity in the French style is not only fast and tasty, but also very healthy.
So, whether you are a tourist or just passing through, be sure to visit the marché in Bédarieux or any other small town in France. There, you will find not only health benefits, but also comfort for the soul, an incredible atmosphere, and the open-heartedness of the French. True beauty lies in simple things; you just have to learn how to notice it.
To be continued...
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