To Market

The markets along Route 7 are some of the best places to experience local delicacies and witness the transformation of flavor as the road progresses from north to south. In Lyon, the Marche Saint Antoine overflows with hearty charcuterie, such as andouillette (pork tripe sausage), and rich cheeses, like cervelle de canut, a seasoned fromage blanc. In Aix-en-Provence, the market on Place des Precheurs is steeped in the smells and tastes of the region, with items like garlic, lavender, local olives and olive oil, and starting in July, fragrant melons grown in nearby Cavaillon. Mediterranean flavor is in full force at the Marche Cours Massena in Antibes, and the market at Cours Saleya, up the coast in Nice. Both offer tapenade, preserved lemons, anchovy paste, and more. At the end of the road is Les Halles at Quai de Monleon in Menton, where prepared local dishes, like pan bagnat (nicoise salad on an olive-oil-drenched bun) and barbajuan (Swiss-chard-and-spinach-stuffed pastry), are especially good.