In the Pyrénées-Orientales, the Céret market this Saturday, April 20 takes on particular importance since it is the last before the launch, on April 22, of the votes to choose “the most beautiful market in France” from TF1 (season 7). ). The sub-prefecture of painters and sculptors (Picasso, Dali, Derain, Maillol) will thus defend the colors of the former regional territory of Languedoc-Roussillon with quite a few tricks up its sleeve.
“It’s a market on a human scale, 200 locations in the shade of plane trees, the vast majority dedicated to local producers from Vallespir which is a true garden of the Catalan Country. It is also very popular with artisans and creators. Local players represent 60% of the stands,” explains the passionate and exciting Mina Brissaud, the elected official in charge of trade and the market.
“Great producers, great customers”
“Our market plays an undeniable social role in the city. There are many regulars who often maintain a loyal relationship with their suppliers. And as you see, it’s very transgenerational,” she continues after meeting Jean-Roch Dumont Saint Priest, the curator of the Museum of Modern Art. Since here clearly, everyone comes to the market on Saturday.
“Above all, it’s a market that operates all year round. I would even tend to say that it is even better outside the summer tourist season because we have a very nice clientele attached to this weekly meeting and also to the notion of producer. Here, no products processed on the other side of the world,” comments Simon Redondo, of “Entre les Arbres” a specialist in agroforestry market gardening, which produces and transforms into juices, jams, herbal teas (ah the cherry stems!) the wonderful market gardening and fruit products of the prosperous Vallespir valley in the foothills of the Pyrenees.
Better ! The Place Picasso market escapes into the tree-lined streets of the city which invite you to stroll in a very beautiful setting of traditional Catalan residences, all renovated and sometimes colorful. And sometimes Céret organizes batucada-style musical strolls to spice up the already friendly atmosphere a little, popular with foreign visitors, Belgians and Germans-English who “hunt” for the natural and authentic. To come back at a gallop.
It is undoubtedly thanks to all these charms that the Céret market won the first round of the TF1 competition, the regional confrontation. In front of Espéraza (Aude), the famous market of Uzès (Gard), that of Florac (Lozère).
How to vote?
From Monday April 22 to Tuesday May 23 at midnight. Go to the “Your most beautiful market in France” web page and make your choice from the 24 markets in the final. To succeed La Réole (Gironde) crowned in 2023. After the viewers' vote, a super joint jury of six people (three personalities from TF1 and three viewers) meets to make a definitive decision and proclaim the results on June 24 in the newspaper of 1 p.m. of TF1.
Tips for the Céret market
: arrive early in the morning, to be operational before 9.30 with your shopping bags to stock up on the best products before the big rush at the end of the morning. And for stress-free parking, 800 parking spaces are available. First two hours free. The market lasts until 1 p.m. Then, you can visit the National Museum of Modern Art.