Coming down the Planpraz lift, you could see the tented food stalls below in the Place du Mont-Blanc. I had forgotten that today was the weekly Saturday morning market in Chamonix. One side of the Place du Mont-Blanc Square was filled with clothes, shoes, belts, artwork, jewelry and other miscellany for sale. Prices were not out of line but almost all clothing articles were made, where else, in China.

On the other side of the Place du Mont-Blanc were the food sellers, and saliva began dripping from my lips. A food market like any other in Europe but I dearly love…food, glorious food…. Vegetables included some of the largest artichokes I’ve ever seen, artistically arranged radishes…View image…fresh strawberries, raspberries, sweet figs…View image, huge boxes of the fragile Girolle (Chanterelle) mushrooms. Vendors selling pizza, rotisserie chickens. And what would a market be without a fresh flower section. One dozen roses for 12 Euros.

Saturday morning Chamonix market below, France 

Pasta & Company in the Chamonix market, France
There was a large stand belonging to Pasta & Company that had incredible ravioli, manicotti, and other little pastas filled with rabbit, zucchini, mushrooms, different cheeses, just to name a few, along with different lasagnas. Fillings that I’ve never seen before. There were stands selling unbelievable arrays of sausages, huge wheels of cheese (all with free samples), a long array of different olives, tapanades (again, all the sellers offered samples and who were we to refuse). One man sold unusual vinegars made from peaches, tomatoes, and other fruits…View image…in colorful bottles.

bounteous assortment of olives in the Chamonix market, France 

boxes of Girolle (Chanterelle) Mushrooms, Chamonix market, France
The market was jammed with people buying, the streets with automobiles (today was really the first day of Chamonix’s season) and huge tour buses disgorging passengers with baggage, tourists on day tours from Grindelwald, Morzine and other areas while still more people waited for public transportation.

There are also lighted lift displays throughout Chamonix showing which lifts are operating…View image, and I enjoyed watching two English hikers economize while waiting for a bus. They parked themselves on a bench, took out a spirit lamp to heat tea, made sandwiches from the array of food from the market, ate, stowed everything back in their packs and caught the bus to Les Grands Montets with us. That is how you save money!

economizing in Chamonix, France 

Lonely Planet Discover eBook Travel Guides for your iPad