A trip to the market

in Châtillon-sur-Chalaronne

It’s hard to describe the market at Châtillon-sur-Chalaronne, where a whole experience awaits you from the moment the sun rises. Before the stallholders have even finished setting up, you can hear them on the café terrace and see them going about their business in a pleasant atmosphere.

Emmanuelle tells us

Reenergize in an exceptional setting

The stalls display colorful arrays of tomatoes, carrots and spices and we can already smell the spit-roasted chicken we’re planning to have for lunch!
We finish our coffee and grab our tote bag which is quickly filled with fresh produce and delicious treats. Simple pleasures to savor, inviting us to take a break from the hectic pace of day-to-day life.
We feel safe and secure in the majestic 15th-century market hall. A glance at the watch, and it’s already time to find another café for a glass of white wine… I can picture myself as a child, visiting the market with my grandfather, eyes wide with wonder. It’s like stepping back in time and you never get tired of it. The market is held every Saturday morning and you can easily spend hours there.

An exceptional market

As a national heritage site listed as a “marché d’exception”, this market brings together some sixty producers from all over the region and over 300 meters of stalls. A special feature I really appreciate is the space reserved for live animals, where the beaming smiles of delighted children always fills me with joy.

With our bags full, we enjoy a little picnic on the banks of the Chalaronne before taking an afternoon stroll through Châtillon. It’s a completely different atmosphere on the quiet medieval streets that beckon us to stroll through the village center. The cobbled streets and the brick and half-timbered buildings of the old quarters bear witness to the village’s medieval past.

After all, a trip to the market in Châtillon-sur-Chalaronne isn’t just about shopping, it’s a whole experience that transports you to another era.