▼

Monday, 15 December 2008

The Christmas market in Avignon







The Christmas market, like the antique market, is happening all over France during the holidays. Avignon, my closest town, is a place I love to visit at this time of year. Small wooden huts or chalets as the French call them, are constructed at the beginning of December and stay for the holiday period. They line both sides of the main square in the old city and the local shopkeepers stock them full of Christmas treats that are part of the French tradition. 

I hope this little one's 'fairy wishes' come true.
on

37 comments:

  1. Blue Muse15 December 2008 at 07:34

    The market looks wonderful - all those yummy treats, and I love the fairy! How sweet! I hope the little one's wish comes true, too!

    Isa

    ReplyDelete
  2. Anonymous15 December 2008 at 11:00

    Lovely! My dream is to go to France, visit the markets and come back with a suitcase full of treasures. Thanks for the wonderful pictures.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Erica Lee15 December 2008 at 12:23

    Wonderful! But bread is very good in Italy, too. :-)
    Erica Lee

    ReplyDelete
  4. Miss Kris15 December 2008 at 13:09

    Hi Vicki!

    We have Kris Kringle market here in Chicago with many goodies from Germany, which I love! Your market looks sooooo enjoyable~wish I where there to enjoy!!!

    I hope the little one's wishes somes true, too!

    Miss Kris

    ReplyDelete
  5. High Desert Diva15 December 2008 at 13:26

    Charming...

    ReplyDelete
  6. My Castle in Spain15 December 2008 at 13:32

    so festive ...and appetizing !
    i wonder if they serve "vin chaud" in the evening..

    ReplyDelete
  7. La Belette Rouge15 December 2008 at 14:18

    I have had enough of American malls and I refuse to set foot in another one until the holidays are behind us. But, this Christmas market looks lovely enough to break my ban. Is that gingerbread I see? Mium!

    ReplyDelete
  8. studioJudith15 December 2008 at 17:11

    Vicki -
    Such a lovely tour through the Avignon Market ... . just wish I could nibble a couple of those cookies!
    Juith

    ReplyDelete
  9. annechovie15 December 2008 at 17:30

    Wow, Vicki, these photos transport me to your neck of the woods. Look like the most charming market - I would love to visit France at Christmas time eventually.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Anonymous15 December 2008 at 18:26

    Vicki,
    Thank you for sharing these photos of Avignon's marche de noel!! I am yearning for a little French in my Christmas and this was just the fix I needed.
    Merci!

    ReplyDelete
  11. dee15 December 2008 at 18:31

    Thank you for posting this so I could visit vicariously! So pretty:)

    ReplyDelete
  12. Unknown15 December 2008 at 22:28

    Is EVERYTHING better in France? I think so! I love the Angel. Maybe Santa will be good to me & put a ticket to Paris in my stocking!
    Happy Holidays!
    Judith~

    ReplyDelete
  13. Anonymous16 December 2008 at 00:01

    A Christmas market of wooden chalets and a fairy wandering about would definitly put me in the holiday spirit. I'm living in the wrong town.
    Catherine

    ReplyDelete
  14. Margie’s daughter Leiny16 December 2008 at 00:20

    What a wonderful fairy Vicki. Love that gingerbread, I stocked up on my trip to Vienna. That nougat is one of my favourites (stocked up on that too when I was in Carcassone in August). In school I learned a song with the first line "sur le pont d'Avignan" and everytime I see it the word Avignon written I think of it. Looks like it was a great market. It is definitely begining to look a lot like Christmas. hugs Margie.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Visual Vamp16 December 2008 at 01:00

    The breads! The cookies! The place!
    And it's your market!
    Isn't life great?!
    xo xo

    ReplyDelete
  16. Anonymous16 December 2008 at 04:40

    The food looks delicious. I would have to have one of each thing especially the bread!! I wish we had Chalets here.

    Shame, I hope the little one gets his/her wish.

    Kris

    ReplyDelete
  17. Callie Grayson16 December 2008 at 04:57

    wow, beautiful photographs!
    the food, cookies, and bread all look so good! I hope to go to the market here in chicago this week.

    That fairy is so sweet!

    ReplyDelete
  18. The Muse16 December 2008 at 06:55

    we are counting the days for our trip this spring...
    your pictures have turned out lovely and you have captured the feeling exactly!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Tina { Luphia Loves... }16 December 2008 at 12:29

    what a great Christmas market! LOVE all those cookies, looks so pretty & delicious!

    ReplyDelete
  20. Kwana16 December 2008 at 14:57

    I'd love to be there right now. Wonderful photos.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Velvet and Linen16 December 2008 at 14:57

    Don't you just love this time of year?
    I can almost smell all of those delicious breads.
    Thank you again for sharing your beautiful day with us.

    xo
    Brooke

    ReplyDelete
  22. Unknown16 December 2008 at 15:45

    yummy : )

    ReplyDelete
  23. LIBERTY POST EDITOR16 December 2008 at 18:01

    Oh, how I wish there was a similar type market here. Does it also stay open at night with pretty lights?

    ReplyDelete
  24. beauty comma16 December 2008 at 20:04

    That's it, I'm moving to France. A country with inhabitants that actually write stuff on their bread has to be the best!

    Trudi =)

    ReplyDelete
  25. spread your wings16 December 2008 at 21:33

    my dream is to spend time in the southern region of France - painting and visiting markets and breathing in the scent of lavender.
    My daughter spent 16 days in Avignon the summer she was 14 and fell in love with it.
    Thank you for sharing this Christmas market in Avignon with us. Oh to be there.......

    ReplyDelete
  26. Millie16 December 2008 at 22:25

    Oh Vicki how delightful! MOTH would be in his absolute element here with all this food - I think he'd do a major raid on the gingerbread stall & empty them out in seconds!
    Millie ^_^

    ReplyDelete
  27. Pamela Terry and Edward17 December 2008 at 00:16

    This looks truly like a Christmas treat paradise!!

    ReplyDelete
  28. cottage farm villa17 December 2008 at 02:55

    What a wonderful Christmas market! Your traditions must be just lovely... beautiful breads! Comfort Food! ~Cheryl

    ReplyDelete
  29. The Daily Connoisseur17 December 2008 at 03:18

    Oh how delightful... what beautiful presents to give...

    ReplyDelete
  30. la la Lovely17 December 2008 at 04:08

    Am in awe of the beautiful bread and food!!! If only I could find some of that over here!! My stomach would be so happy!

    ReplyDelete
  31. Oliveaux18 December 2008 at 02:02

    Oh how I wish I were there - so wonderful to see your pictures! x

    ReplyDelete
  32. mondocherry19 December 2008 at 06:03

    Probably a good thing I don't live over there as I would be huge. My willpower when confronted with yummies like these is very minimal!
    Clare

    ReplyDelete
  33. CC19 December 2008 at 11:25

    What a delightful tradition :) There something about old tradition that really adds such sweet memories to the jolly season :) Lovely. Merry Christmas!

    ReplyDelete
  34. Pascale20 December 2008 at 14:39

    Ce marché de Noël à l'air vraiment superbe, cela manque par chez nous..

    Pascale

    ReplyDelete
  35. Amy J16 January 2009 at 03:25

    Lovely blog, it makes me miss Frnace...

    ReplyDelete
  36. country french Judi15 December 2009 at 00:18

    I did all the christmas markets on a river cruise in 2006 from Cologne to Bazel. You are elbow to elbow with all the people but it was wonderful! All the vendors are basically the same from country to country, cheeses, teas, smoked meats, tablecloths, and tons of christmas ornaments and german nutcrackers. Everything is paid by Euro or Swiss franc so it was a lot more $$$ there. If you are an excellent shopper and do your math you can find a lot of those things at Marshall's and Home Goods. I did bring home spices, tea's and some cheese and wines that were NOT exported. My best treasures were found outside the market area and off the beaten path. But it still was a wonderful experience and I have vacationed all over France and love their hospitality, food and sights. Love it, love it , love it!!!

    ReplyDelete
  37. Elan4 January 2011 at 17:37

    How beautiful! I would love to be there to experience the sounds and smells, too. :) Thank you for this posting

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for visiting French Essence... I love to read your comments and I hope you will be back often... xv