While Brive-la-Gaillarde is renowned for its Collegiate Church of Saint-Martin, the Saint-Antoine caves, the Denoix Distillery, and its Labenche and Edmond Michelet museums, this southern French town also draws crowds of locals and visitors alike on market days. Held three times a week at Place de la Guierle in the Georges Brassens hall, the market is known as a lively, welcoming, and gourmet hub. During your stay at our Corrèze campsite, don’t miss the Brive market—an essential stop on any trip to the Corrèze department!
Brive Market: A Showcase for Local Products
At the Brive market, you’re guaranteed to find high-quality, local, and seasonal products. Vendors proudly share the best goods from Corrèze and nearby regions: truffles, Rocamadour goat cheese, Limousin apples, Périgord walnuts, Limousin beef, as well as foie gras, duck breast, violet mustard, Ayen plums, Concèze raspberries, and of course, the freshest fruits and vegetables. The market awakens all five senses with its vibrant colors, enticing aromas, delectable samples, quality products to touch and admire, and animated conversations around the stalls. What better way to discover the subtleties of a product than by meeting local producers? Vendors love showcasing their treasures and discussing how they’re cultivated or made, sharing advice, cooking tips, and recipe ideas to make your meals truly delicious.
Brive Market: A Highly Renowned Market
A True Institution
The Brive market attracts lovers of flavorful and high-quality local products several times a week. This bustling market can draw up to 20,000 visitors per event. Visitors unanimously praise its warm and friendly atmosphere. Even if your refrigerator doesn’t need restocking, it’s worth strolling through the aisles to soak in the unique ambiance. While the Georges Brassens Hall, with its 19th-century metal architecture, was inaugurated in 1982, the tradition of the market dates back to the Middle Ages when the city, ideally located at a crossroads, was already a hub for meetings and trade.
A Market Celebrated by Georges Brassens
In his song Hécatombe, Georges Brassens sang of the simple and joyful life unfolding at the Brive-la-Gaillarde market. To pay tribute to this great man, who so masterfully set the beauty of this market to music, the city named the hall in his honor. The Brive market thus takes place in the Georges Brassens Hall, on Place de la Guierle.
One of France’s Most Beautiful Markets
Proud of its high-quality stalls and lively atmosphere, Brive-la-Gaillarde has showcased its market several times in the televised contest Your Most Beautiful Market, organized by TF1’s Journal de 13 Heures in collaboration with the regional press. To do so, it won the title of the best market in Limousin, a prerequisite for entering the competition. Although it has not yet claimed the top prize, it’s undoubtedly only a matter of time.
A Culinary Journey with Gastronomic Fairs
Several times a year, the market in Brive-la-Gaillarde hosts special events such as themed markets or festivals dedicated to specific products. Notably, the Foires Grasses, where foie gras and truffles take center stage, as well as the Honey Fair and the Livestock Festival. In addition to purchasing high-quality products from local producers, you’ll even have the chance to interact with chefs who can guide you on how to best enhance these products.
What are the market days in Brive?
In the medieval capital of Corrèze, the market is held on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday mornings from 7 AM to 1 PM. More than 300 merchants, artisans, and producers await you with the best local specialties. However, Saturday is when most stalls are present, and the market is at its liveliest, as Tuesday and Thursday markets are smaller. It’s recommended to arrive early on Saturday to make sure you don’t miss out. So, during your stay at our camping site Le Gibanel, don’t forget your basket or shopping bag and enjoy your visit to this gastronomic haven! If you’re driving, there’s an underground parking lot located beneath the market hall. All that’s left is to wish you a gourmet and friendly experience at the Brive-la-Gaillarde market!