Best Home base for Provence market shopping

ST-Remy would be more central to the places you want to visit

Thank you. That's what I was starting to think.

You will love St.Remy de Provence. I believe you will be a bit early for truffle season (usually Nov-Mar), but hopefully you will find something to savor and buy at one of the markets. Perhaps this unusually hot summer will move the season up to October. Qui sait? Enjoy!

For L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue and Bédouin stay in
L’Isle-sur-La-Sorgue. Forcalquier is the furthest of all of them, but may have some different items. It’s known for special gardens and the Ganagobie Abbey that requires driving up a narrow mountain road, but shouldn’t be missed.

For the others, stay further south. It’s possible that you’ll see some of the same vendors at these different markets the closer they are to each other. Uzès is officially in Occitanie, being west of the Rhône, but the Saturday market takes over the whole town. There are some English-language market tours.

Thank you, all for your advice. Which of these are the best provencal markets in October for beautiful lavender products, baskets, linens, delicious Provence candies, scarves, and maybe santons? Sunday - L'Isle Sure La Sorge, Monday - Bedoin or Forcalquier Tuesday, Thursday, or Saturday - Aix En Provence, Wednesday - St Remy; Friday - Lourmarin, and Saturday - Apt or Uzes.

Debating going to Aix En Provence. Is it overrated for its market, restaurants, and activiities? It looks like it's the most northern Provence village for a selection of wine tasting tours or food tasting tours. I'm trying to avoid having to move hotels 2-3 times or travel to the next hotel each night to get to the market early.

Thank you again for your help!!

Lavender season is long over by October, but sachets, etc. of dried lavender are easy to find. I like to get some culinary lavender. And get some Herbes de Provence for cooking. I use it a lot at home.

I have found the biggest selection of Santons on the coast (Marseille, Bandol, etc.) but you should find something at some of the markets.

Santons are sold in the workshops. They aren’t market products. Aubagne, just outside Marseille, is a center of Santon carving. Aix-en-Provence has a couple of workshops.

The Apt area specializes in candied fruit.

Aix-en-Provence isn’t overrated. Since you are looking for linens, the brocant shops and Aix may have more and the Isle-sur-la-Sorgue market.

You might need to go to a lavender distillery for what you want. If the vendor is the grower or distiller then it’s probably local, but if it’s from a merchant, it could be from elsewhere. Only the manufacturer/ distillery guarantees you are getting French lavender. Most of the olives, dried herbs such as “herbs de Provence” are grown and processed in other countries, Bulgaria and Morocco for example.

Ah yes, Aubagne! That is where my two santons were found. I forgot, but it was over forty years ago!