©Marche Sainte Marie Ile De Re Mathieu Genon|Mathieu Génon

Ile de Ré markets

Discover the markets in every village on the island

To discover the delights of the Ile de Ré, there’s nothing better than strolling through its markets. Local producers, craftsmen and souvenir vendors set up their stalls: sun-drenched fruit and vegetables, oysters and seafood or delicious honey offer intense colors and fragrances!

A dive into the diversity of villages

The Ile de Ré is a rich territory, with a market in each of its ten villages. Each market on the island is unique. Each market has a different atmosphere, reflecting the soul of the village in which it is located. It’s only by lingering that you can get a glimpse of the soul of the village you’re visiting, and appreciate the stalls and quality produce that make the island such a treasure trove of local produce. Open in every village every day from 9am to 1pm in season, the picturesque markets of the Ile de Ré offer a friendly, authentic atmosphere to delight the eye and the palate.

You don’t go to a market simply to find everyday products. You go for its atmosphere and history, for that little extra touch that makes you love this friendly place. That’s where some of them stand out, like La Flotte’s medieval-inspired market, voted the department’s most beautiful several times over, Ars-en-Ré’s most popular and Bois-Plage’s largest and busiest. Each one has its own story to tell, and it’s up to you to discover it among the stalls.

A showcase for local produce and seasonality

Take a stroll through the markets and you’ll discover just how rich and high quality the Île de Ré terroir is. It’s a veritable showcase for everything that’s harvested here. Thanks to its producers, you can admire and sometimes even taste what makes the island so special: quality.

A market is a cartography of the best Ré has to offer, such as its AOC and AOP seasonal potatoes, its generous and succulent oysters, and its emblematic salt from the north of the island. There are even more exceptional or rare products, such as salicorne, the treasure of the marshes, and local, tasty wine. Even the unpacking area is not to be outdone, offering handcrafted items that merchants proudly display.

©Marche Couvert Saint Martin Ile De Re Alizee Russeil|Alizée Russeil

©Oyster Ile De Re Jules Serrurier|Jules Serrurier

Seasonality also plays a major role in the market calendar.
In the low season, there are fewer markets, but they’re still top quality. From April onwards, Ré is decked out with stalls in every village, to the delight of locals and visitors alike. You’ll discover seasonal produce such as the famous Alcmaria, the island’s inseparable potato. And in summer, it’s here that the choice becomes most difficult, as all, without exception, open their stalls. That’s when they’re busiest, and you’ll find a huge choice of sun-drenched products.

Highlights

Summer is also the season for the famous night markets. The biggest is held in the commune of La Flotte every evening in July and August, but there are also occasional markets in other communes.

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