The market in old Antibes
The old town of Antibes dates back to before Christ and later became an important entry point into Gaul, what is now France. To protect the town from attack, extensive fortified walls were constructed and still remain today. Pablo Picasso stayed in the Antibes Castle in 1946, producing beautiful works of art, which he left there. The castle became known as the Picasso Museum and we were happy to see the exhibit. As many of you know, whenever I travel, I make a point to visit the local markets and the Provencal Food Market in Old Antibes did not disappoint. I loved the amazing mix of aromas, colors, and the many local characters.
1 The vendors set up under the roof every morning.
2 The market in Old Antibes is charming and full of local foodstuffs including these beautiful saucisson of the region.
3 Farm fresh eggs sold by the half dozen
4 Local goat's milk cheese - it was very delicious.
5
6 There were all types of fresh berries - black and red currants, blackberries, fraises des bois (Alpine strawberries), and red raspberries.
7 A vendor of fresh pasta
8 The first cheese I ever had in France was mimolette, a hard orange cow's milk cheese similar to a smooth Edam. Louis XIV requested this cheese to be made because he wanted a French cheese to resemble the Dutch one.
9 Several types of eggplants made me hungry for ratatouille
10 The market is in a long plaza covered by this curved roof.
11 These purple artichokes are beautiful.
12 I adore the markets wherever I travel - especially if the foods are fresh and plentiful.
13 Preserved lemons are an important staple for Moroccan cooking.
14 Niçoise olives, of course!
15 And lovely mixed olives
16 So many types of potatoes - La Charlotte
17 La Pompadour
18 La Belle de Nouvelle Fontenay
19 La Stela
20 La Primeur
21 La Rosabelle
22 La Amandine
23 Gorgeous tomatoes of all types come to market.
24 Fragrant small apricots
25 Fuzzy dark-skinned peaches
26 Great delectable strawberries
27 So many types of confitures (jams and jellies)
28 And many kinds of honey
29 Wonderful ducks, chickens, and other poultry - many sold with feet still intact
30 Cured ham
31 Another style of ham
32 And another
33 I would love to cook with these tomatoes.
34
35 Another poultry vendor
36 And, of course, foie gras
37 Wines at the local wine shop
38 There was a wide variety of rosé wine from the region.
39 A typical, but very good bakery
40 Two bakers at work
41 A whimsical stone decoration around a doorway
42 A local church right near the market
43 The ancient bell tower dates from the 12th century.
44 The newly renovated Picasso museum - we saw the first exhibit.
Thank you for sharing this, it looks wonderful and I have always wanted to see Antibes!
Posted by: The Blushing Hostess | August 10th, 2009 at 6:28 am
Absolutley Fascinating! Visiting your blog is my morning ritual..thank you for sharing your travels.
Posted by: RPM | August 10th, 2009 at 7:28 am
Interesting as always, it would appear customers are less fearful of contracting a disease or food borne health issue than we in America. Is it because ignorance is bliss or they just have more resistance?
Posted by: Margie | August 10th, 2009 at 12:46 pm
I just love the pictures - thanks so much for sharing. Feels like being there.
Posted by: Victoria Wozny | August 10th, 2009 at 2:06 pm
I bet everything is incredibly fresh. Wow Wish I could sample
Posted by: Sheryl | August 10th, 2009 at 2:10 pm
To market, to market to buy a....one of everything! I hope you cooked something delicious with your selections or at least brought something home. Wow, they have just about everything you can think of at that market although I don’t think I would be thinking about fois gras, but that’s just me. Poultry with the feet intact – interesting. Thanks for your very real pictures – time for lunch now! Trish
Posted by: Trish | August 10th, 2009 at 2:31 pm
One of my favorite markets! There is a wonderfully unique absinthe bar right near the market. I hope you had time to stop by and enjoy a drink.
Posted by: CAH | August 10th, 2009 at 2:34 pm
Everything looks real nice. nicenwhere
Posted by: Earl Thompson | August 10th, 2009 at 6:47 pm
Hi Martha, What a gorgeous blog of your trip to Antibes, France. The Provencal Food Market is a place I would definitely visit if ever I went to Antibes. Their produce is absolutely delicious looking. I love all of the different potatoes and the purple artichokes. Those tomatoes are very unusual looking. I can see why you love visiting the markets in all of the places you visit. Thanks again for sharing. Jan
Posted by: Jan Erickson | August 10th, 2009 at 6:56 pm
Antibes is indeed lovely. I hope I get back there before long for a view of the remodeled Picasso museum. Charming building, lovely location. So amazing to visit an authentic Picasso space. . . . .
Posted by: MMC in San Diego | August 10th, 2009 at 7:12 pm
That's amazing! I never saw tomatoes like that. I wonder how they taste.
Posted by: Kenneth Tan | August 10th, 2009 at 7:22 pm
Thank you Martha for sharing with us this beautiful "Marché Provencal". These market have an authenticity that is sometimes hard to find here in the US.
Posted by: Sandra (L'esprit Sud Magazine) | August 10th, 2009 at 7:23 pm
Merci de faire connaître nos merveilleuses régions.Il faudra venir en Bourgogne un jour pour faire découvrir les vins et autres arts culinaires de cette région.
Posted by: Prisca | August 10th, 2009 at 9:50 pm
Hello Martha, What type of camera do you use? Thanks!
Posted by: Terri McGee | August 11th, 2009 at 1:58 pm
What a great photo of the "Marche Provencal" market in Antibes, Martha. Thanks so much for sharing.... As a history buff, I'm fascinated with ancient locales.... I can't wait to travel there...
Merci!
Suzanne
Posted by: Suzanne DeBow | August 11th, 2009 at 2:16 pm
I have been surfing your website and came across the tour of your 4 acres, Turkey Hill Connecticut home. What an awesome place! We have 10 acres in real need of your design touch! Truly. What about a TV "reality" of your favorite home design people on our ten acres? It would make great programming and so many neat details for your show. We have good friends who have a petting zoo who would absolutely LOVE an Eco-friendly place for all their animals to live.
Posted by: Judith Kopchak | August 11th, 2009 at 8:55 pm
I can't even imagine what the preserved lemon tastes like! Or how it's served. I wonder if they sell anything like that in the US...
Posted by: Linda | August 11th, 2009 at 10:02 pm
Tasty photos, Martha! I can almost smell the market.
Posted by: Michael | August 15th, 2009 at 5:09 pm
Hi Martha,
I live in Old Antibes in a beautiful little 12th Century Fishermans Village house on Haut Castelet which is on all the post cards with views over the Cap d‘Antibes the Sea the Alps and the Picasso Museum Towers we are two minutes from the daily Marche so its great to be able to shop there on a daily basis.
I am in the process of opening an Art Studio & Cafe on the street level of our home which we may call the “New Earth Studio Cafe“ what do you think?
I will serve a salad of the day with fresh ingredients from the Marche with fresh juices and cupcakes with a recipe from you obviousley im your biggest fan!!!
I am going to start with the coconut cupcakes they look yummy!
You actually met my Fiance Captain Chris at the home of your friend JP {Mr Pigozzi} when you visited the Cap d‘Antibes this summer and I came to Villa Dorane with my newly born Maltese puppies one morning and I believe the Villa managers told you about them so they were the topic of conversation that morning, how exiting!
I have been an avid fan of yours for many many years and you have been an inspiration to me in many ways!
I have no Family of my own so you have basically taught me how to be a Woman, so thank you!
You waved at me as you were leaving the Villa for the airport and that was a thrill to me to have seen you, I wish we had met and you had seen the new puppies she had two and a third one was breech and he died unfortunatly, the Mother Fifi had to have a cezarian but we got two beautiful healthy ones!
I hope you have a great rest of Summer, Captain Chris says hi!!
Best Wishes
Lynsey Fifi CHANEL the 10 week old Chihuahua Harvey the 9 week old Maltese & not forgetting KK-KAT the Siamese!!
Posted by: Lynsey | September 1st, 2009 at 4:49 am