The beating heart of Toulon
Made famous by the song “Les marchés de Provence” by Gilbert Bécaud, himself a native of Toulon, the Cours Lafayette market immerses you in Provencal culture. All year round, the stalls of producers and retailers delight your five senses: colorful vegetables and fruit delicately selected by the hands, lilting accents, tantalizing fragrances and a delight for the taste buds are the ingredients that make a stroll to the market one of the favorite rituals of Toulon residents and visitors alike. Take a delightful tour of this unmissable site and let yourself be tempted: in Toulon, gourmet food is an art of living.
5 good reasons to come to the market
- Immerse yourself in Provencal culture
- Take part in Toulon’s art of living
- Taste local specialities
- Stroll through the lively town center
- Bring back an original souvenir of your vacation
Market day
The market takes place every day except Monday: food market in the morning and fairground in the afternoon, it winds for a kilometer along the avenue of hackberry trees of Cours Lafayette and Cours Paul Lendrin. You’re in the heart of the city’s old town and want to explore this essential part of Toulon life: let’s go for a stroll!
Our advice
As you stroll along, don’t miss the cade caravan located at the bottom of the market, on Place Louis Blanc. Cade, Toulon’s specialty, is a delicious chickpea flour cake cooked over a wood fire. It’s ideal as an aperitif, or if you feel peckish while strolling through the market.
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Toulon’s art of living
You arrive at the market via Place Louis Blanc, bathed in sunshine. At the foot of Saint-François-de-Paule church, linger in the colorful flower-bed and take a first look at the clothing market. The atmosphere is friendly and you won’t be able to resist tasting a little cade: to know the city is also to enjoy tasting its specialties.
A feast for the eyes and taste buds
Continue your stroll along the shady lanes of Cours Lafayette. You won’t know where to turn: all around you, stalls overflow with fruit and vegetables, olives, cheeses and charcuterie, fresh fish and spices… As the seasons go by, the market is a feast for the eyes, its mouth-watering scents an intoxicating pleasure. The growers and retailers always have a friendly word for you, and you’ll smile to hear them joking and calling out to passers-by with that southern accent that’s so exotic. Following on from Cours Lafayette, stroll along the small Cours Lendrin and end your stroll at the – equally appetizing – local farmers’ market. Take a break, the fishmonger’s terrace is waiting for you: this lunchtime in the heart of Toulon, you’ll enjoy grilled fish and the happiness of the moment.
Toulon markets
In Toulon, every neighborhood has its own market. Like a forum in ancient times, it remains a privileged place for residents to meet and exchange ideas. From Mourillon to Pont-du-Las, Brunet to Les Routes, stop off at one of our local markets to experience the city in all its authenticity.
Focus on
les halles de Toulon
In this Art Deco building, 25 food retailers welcome you to Toulon’s “Halles Gourmandes”.
Cheesemongers, fishmongers, Corsican, Iberian and Italian stalls, as well as roasters, wine merchants, truffle growers and many others are the artisans behind your shopping!
How do I get there?
By car, from the east or west entrances to the town, follow signs for “Centre-ville – Le port”.
The market is located behind the port and starts at Place Louis Blanc. Park in the Q-Park ” Lafayette ” or ” Mayol ” underground parking lots, 100 m away. or in the port parking lot between the ferry terminal and quai du Petit Rang.
By bus, the nearest stop is “Lafayette”. Mistral lines U, 6, 15, 23 and 40 take you there.