Marché de Fontainebleau

The market of Fontainebleau is held on the Place de la République, in the middle of the town beside the royal château, three mornings a week, on Tuesday, Friday and Sunday, and it is one of the best markets in the Île-de-France. It spreads over a large paved area of about 4,500 square metres, with more than a hundred traders who come from the surrounding countryside of Seine-et-Marne and beyond, and it has been recognised for its quality by culinary organisations. Many Parisians come on the Sunday to shop on their way back from a walk in the forest, and the town's residents shop there every week, so the atmosphere is that of a real working market and not a tourist show.

The stalls offer the full range of French produce. Fruit and vegetables come in the season's best, from asparagus and strawberries in spring to apples and pears in autumn, and local specialities are well represented. The region is known for the grapes of Thomery, the chasselas table grapes grown on walls in a village at the edge of the forest since the nineteenth century, for honey from the Gâtinais, and for cheeses. Seine-et-Marne is the home of Brie de Meaux and Brie de Melun, two of the great soft cheeses of France, and the town gives its name to the fromage de Fontainebleau, a light dessert made from whipped fresh cheese and cream, usually eaten with fruit or sugar. Fishmongers, butchers, charcutiers and bakers have their places, and some stalls sell truffles, spices and prepared dishes such as roast chickens, paella and Lebanese specialities. Flowers and plants complete the market.

The market is open from the early morning until about one o'clock, and the best time to go is before ten, when the choice is greatest and the queues are shorter. It is accessible to visitors with reduced mobility. If you want a snack, stallholders sell oysters and pastries, and the cafés on the edge of the square offer coffee and a place to watch the activity.

Fontainebleau is a destination in its own right. The Château de Fontainebleau, which was a royal residence for centuries and is on the UNESCO World Heritage list, is a few minutes away on foot, and the vast Forêt de Fontainebleau, with its sandstone rocks, is a world-famous place for walking, cycling and rock climbing. The Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte lies a short drive to the north.

The market suits food lovers, families and anyone who wants to pick up ingredients for a picnic in the forest. Allow an hour.