The most beautiful markets in Béarn

It's no longer a secret, Béarn is renowned for its landscapes, but also for its gastronomy. Between Orthez and Artouste via Pau, numerous markets are organized throughout the year to reveal Béarnese specialties. Jurançon, garbure or sheep's cheese, it's time to get up to go to the market, most often set up between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. before lunch. Take your basket, we'll take you to discover the most beautiful markets in Béarn.

Opening photo: Simonforstock AdobeStock

Photos from the article: Béarn Guide + credit in the Alt

1 - The market of Salies-de-Béarn

You can't go wrong, this is one of the most beautiful markets in the department, winner of the competition in 2021. Always as lively and busy, it takes over the Place du Bayaa on Thursdays from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and Saturdays from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. with stands of fruit, vegetables, cheeses and other specialties. Come and stock up all year round on local products on colorful and fragrant stalls that attract with their quality and freshness. Salie-de-Béarn is the starting point for this gourmet stopover near Orthez, in the north of Béarn.

2 - The Sauveterre-de-Béarn market

We continue our epic journey to Sauveterre-de-Béarn, where the market is set up in Place Royale every Saturday morning. Artisans and producers from the region showcase regional products, promoting short supply chains and local specialties. Cheeses, wines, charcuterie, all the region's delicacies are on offer at this market renowned for its conviviality between producers and consumers. Don't hesitate to stay for lunch; catering is available on site.

3 - The Navarrenx market

The Navarrenx market is almost an antiquity. Created in 1180, it has lost none of its charm and still attracts many tourists who come to visit one of the most beautiful villages in France. The era of large gatherings with the pig market, the cattle, horse and poultry fair is no longer current, but has given way to a pretty little market where mushrooms, local wines, charcuterie, cheeses and vegetables are in the spotlight every Wednesday morning from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

4 - The Billère market

We are getting closer to Pau with the Billère market, a meeting of local and organic producers who meet at Place Jules Gois on Saturday mornings from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Meats, poultry, cheeses, breads, fruits and vegetables are pampered all year round by around thirty traders who love their region. Friendliness, entertainment, quality of products and freshness of ingredients, the Billère market is perfect for discovering the specialties of Béarn.

The organic market takes place on Place François Mitterand, on Wednesday and Saturday mornings from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

5 - The Nay market

South of Pau, it is the Nay market that attracts the taste buds to a 700-year-old market. Under the arcades of the market hall or on the square, the Pyrenees invite themselves onto the stalls on Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays with a wide range of food products. Butchers, delicatessens, greengrocers, cheesemakers or market gardeners, come and meet exceptional producers who will introduce you to their region from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Take the opportunity to escape to the Pays de Nay where nature, history and heritage blend together for a getaway full of surprises.

Your eyes shine with pleasure after wandering between these different markets in Béarn, filled with enticing smells and delicious flavors.

The markets of the heart of Béarn and Béarn de Gaves

The market tour is far from over despite this top 5 of the most beautiful markets in Béarn. We suggest you continue this gastronomic trip with charming towns that offer pretty markets :

• Puyoo where local producers meet from May to September every Friday evening.
• Monein and its traditional Monday morning market from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. and Friday evening from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. with local farmers and producers.
• Mourenx sets up its market on Wednesday mornings from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. for a sale of local products.
• Artix is lively every Wednesday from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. with its farmers' market.
• Arthez-de-Béarn brings together around twenty exhibitors every Saturday morning at its market.
• Orthez is a town of traditions where the market has been established since the 14th century. Tuesday morning is the largest gathering with food products, clothing and flowers while Saturday morning is dedicated to local specialties.

The markets of Pau and its surroundings

Pau is the city in the heart of Béarn, between countryside and mountains. The Pyrenees invite themselves to the markets with regional specialties in the surrounding villages depending on the day and the season:

• On Wednesdays, meet in Garlin (every other Wednesday), in Lons and in Gan for a morning spent in conviviality and gastronomy with local traders.
• On Thursday mornings, you should go to Lembeye (Place Marcadieu) and Morlanne from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. or to Lasseube from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. to enjoy the stalls well-stocked with fresh, quality produce.
• On Saturday, go and stock up on local products in Arzacq, Bordes, Lasseube, Serres-Castets or Montardon.
• On Friday, stroll through the Jurançon market and end your excursion with a glass of local wine.
• On Sunday, head to Lescar on Place de la Hourquie to find the region's specialties. You can also return to Lembeye, this time on Place Marcadieu under the market halls.
• The rest of the week, the Pau market welcomes you on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Morlaas market is organized on Fridays every two weeks and on Saturday mornings.

The markets of the Pyrenean valleys

We are approaching the Spanish border to continue our gourmet getaway , where each day corresponds to a market:

• On Thursdays, Bedous comes alive with local producers and artisans.
• On Wednesdays, Louvie-Juzon (in summer) and Ogeu-les-Bains brighten up the morning with a friendly and colorful market.
• On Sundays, Etsaut (in summer) and Aramits set up a market for local products and specialties.
• On Fridays, the Oloron market is a tradition, the busiest market in Haut-Béarn with 70 traders gathered all year round.
• Saturday in Laruns is market day for locals and tourists, who can meet the traders on Thursday at the night market in summer.
• On Saturdays, you can buy your vegetables, meat and fish at the small market in Agnos.
• On Tuesdays in the Upper Town and on Saturdays in the Lower Town, Mauléon sets up its market.
  
  

The markets of the Pays de Nay

South of Pau, the Pays de Nay still has some lovely surprises in store with joyful and attractive markets filled with lovely smells and pretty colours.

• The Soumoulou market is organized every 15 days, on Friday morning, where some local producers treat you to regional specialties.
• The Arudy market is held on Tuesday and Saturday mornings, with a gourmet program featuring a greengrocer, a cheesemaker, a market gardener, a butcher, a bread seller and many other exhibitors.
• The Pontacq market on Saturday morning offers local products , displayed by local traders.

Béarn specialties

It's nice to go to the markets, but what are the specialties to favor? A rich and generous agricultural land, Béarn is renowned for its fine gastronomy and delicious cooked dishes. We'll whet your appetite with a few typical dishes :

• The Foie gras, a must-have in the region. Plain or flavored, it delights all palates.
• Charcuterie with country ham or Bayonne ham, and Béarnaise andouille, one of the oldest and most typical of Béarn.
• The meat is between the Blonde du Béarn cow, the Blonde d'Aquitaine or the IGP Pyrenees lamb.

• Cheese, whether sheep's or goat's, is a Béarnese specialty to be consumed without moderation.
  

• Wine, especially Jurançon, a sweet wine with a golden color that goes well with regional dishes.
• Pastries, where the Basque cake is a typical dish known to end a meal

Garbure, chicken in a pot or wood pigeon, we could talk to you for hours about traditional Béarn recipes.

What a journey! A tour of Béarn's markets and gastronomic specialties is finished. You can now give free rein to your creativity to cook all the local products found in the most beautiful markets of Béarn.

Did you like our article? Find more on our Béarn Pyrénées Blog. Follow us on the Béarn-Pyrénées Guide Facebook page and on Instagram @guidebearnpyrenees