Eat well, live well at Northern France’s Lille markets

 

In a city as vast and vibrant as Lille, choosing which French market’s right for your taste, budget and timescale can be hard with so many to choose from. So we’ve narrowed it down to three French markets – each with its own distinctive flavour – to help you to get the real Lille deal.

 

Throngs of local ‘Lillois’ and their bulging baskets can’t be wrong and if your expectations of traditional French markets include friendly local producers selling freshly-baked baguettes, farm-produced cheeses, seasonal fruit and vegetables plus endless counters of fresh meats, fish, charcuterie and dairy – you won’t be disappointed by Sébastopol market in the centre of Lille.

 

Less bustle and smaller, but big on quality and finesse, you’ll find elegant Place du Concert market in Vieux Lille – the city’s hub of antiquity, character and charm. With stylish stalls draped in French country-style gingham and products bearing labels handwritten with French cursive flair, think gorgeusly-glazed tarte aux fruits, freshly-jarred juices, artisan waffles and oysters.  

 

You’ll need longer at must-see Wazemmes market, one of Northern France’s biggest and best events in summer ─ and a market that’s helped to put Lille firmly on the map as France’s capital of cool. Just a short Metro hop out of the city-centre and in an on-trend industrial neighbourhood, start with the indoor ‘Halles’ food-market. It’s not the pitch-up-and-pile-high approach of some market traders, but rather stalls designed with all the care and style of shop interiors. Brush up on your market vocab ─ ‘bio’ (organic), ‘produits d’ici’ (local produce) and ‘primeur’ (fruit and veg seller) before heading outside to the vast outdoor market, a melting pot of world cultures selling flowers, furniture and take-home treasures like clothes, bric-à-brac and fabrics.