It is the simple activities I enjoy the most when we are at La Maison des Chaumes, our house in the vineyards of Burgundy, France. Top of my list is going to the Saturday morning market in Beaune.
You can see why every time I am in Burgundy I try to go to as many Saturday morning markets as I can. It is always a tantalizing adventure. Not only do I find a myriad of fresh ingredients to enjoy during the days to come, but even more importantly I bump into friends, family, and acquaintances. We always take the time to chat, often retiring to the nearby café for an espresso and a proper catch up.
Then I meander back to the market again and I always stop off at the brocante stands set up on the Place Carnot. I have found more treasures there over the years that I can count, many of which now adorn our four vacation rentals in and around Beaune.
Franck's grandfather, who lived in the family home in Villers-la-Faye, was a Saturday morning market devoté. He was an early-bird, but he would spend so long chatting and visiting friends at the market that often he could be in Beaune from seven o'clock until one o'clock (when the market shuts down) and still run out of time to buy any food.
If you have the chance to experience the Beaune market for yourself, it is every Saturday from around 7:00am to 1:00pm on the Place Carnot, the Place de la Halle, and spreading out like an octopus from there. It is literally steps away from our vacation rental in the heart of Beaune - Le Relais du Vieux Beaune. There is also a smaller market every Wednesday at the same time. If you are traveling to France do not forget to excavate time in your schedule for market meandering - it is not to be missed.
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