Capital of the southern Breton department of Morbihan and benefiting from the mild influence of the lagoon-like Golfe du Morbihan, Vannes is a typically bright, colourful, laid back and yet industrious sort of place by the sea.
Its markets are on the go in one form or another all through the week. The main covered one is Les Halles des Lices, which is in the sort-of off-beat area in the centre of town that’s just off the main browsing/shopping/eating/drinking zone and behind the impressive ramparts, tucked in behind the Château de l’Hermine.
The Halles is a wonderfully noisy place that sums up the industrial spirit of Vannes; a market where the emphasis is on the seafood that they love around here and which comes fresh from the Morbihan gulf every day for your pleasure. There’s also the nice Brasseries des Halles just across the road from it. The service can be a bit uneven, but it’s an atmospheric spot to have a coffee and cake.
The open-air version is similar but outdoors and takes place in the same spot every Wednesday and Saturday, filling up the otherwise slightly empty-looking immediate exterior of the Place.
Les Halles des Lices on Place des Lices in Vannes is open every day (closed on Mondays out of season) from 08:00 to 13:00. The Marché de Vannes is outdoors at the same spot every Wednesday and Saturday from 08:00 to 13:00 (hours can be weather dependant)
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(Related Articles: Lorient Market Guide; Cancale Market Guide; Nice Market Guide; Rennes Market Guide; Toulouse Market Guide; Auray Market Guide.