Markets
New for 2011 - Both Forville and Gambetta markets
have had make-overs
Cannes has three food markets: Marches Forville, Gambetta and La Bocca - all are covered markets. There is nothing quite like a French market with its colours, smells, sounds and hustle and bustle - especially in the south of France where the sensory delights are heightened several fold.
Forville mar
ket can be reached by walking up the rue Gazagnaire, nearly opposite the bus station. There is also one hour free parking at the Forville car park. In the market you will find flowers, fish, fruit and vegetables as well as dairy products, spices, chickens and ducks...the list goes on. All around the market proper are lots of shops from a great hardware store to a shop specialising in smoked fish and another in live crustaceans. There is also a good wine and champagne outlet where you can sit and eat oysters or a snack with a glass of wine or two. Bistros and bars abound, by the way. Leader Price has a small supermarket on the corner.
The market is open 7am till 1pm every day except Mondays in the winter.
Gambetta market is at the other end of town - walk past the railway station going east along rue Jean Jaures to Place Gambetta. In addition to all the great foods here you will also find clothes, shoes, jewellery and leather goods. Open every day 7am to 1pm, except Mondays in winter. Again a great selection of shops all around and a lot of bars and restaurants, including those on the pedestrianised rue Hoche just off the square. Also in rue Jean Jaures and rue Marceau, to the
east of the market you will find an Asian supermarket, including fruit and veg, Kosher stores, delis, butchers and wine shops. There is a small Monoprix supermarket - open till late at night - opposite the market.
Parking on the roads is murder so go into the car park just past the railway station off the rue Jean Jaures.
La Bocca market is a short bus ride away, Ligne 1 or 20. Fish, flowers, fruit and veg, deli counters, etc can be found here. There are butchers, bread shops and a great chocolate shop around the market, as well as bars and restaurants. Saturday's market is huge with the addition of clothes, shoes, materials, jewellery, underwear and makeup. The market is open 7am to 1pm everyday except Mondays in winter. The Saturday market closes at 12.30pm. Parking is easy in La Bocca except on Saturdays.
Antiques and bric a brac can be found at the markets on: Forville, Mondays 8am to 6pm; La Bocca, Thursdays 8am to 12.30pm.
Les Allees de la Liberte is a daily flower market and on Saturdays has an antiques market from 8am till 6pm. It can be found at the side of the Mairie.