Jo Jacks Travel

A visit to the Saint-Cyprien market with our children is one of the best family activities we have found in Dordogne.  We love rambling through the small medieval town of Saint-Cyprien in the beautiful Dordogne river valley. The Sunday morning market is vibrant and busy along the narrow main street of the old town.  And here we FINALLY see many other children! (Sometimes in France we felt like total freaks for having procreated more than twice.)

What to bring: Cash is king. Most stalls will not accept credit card.  There is an ATM at the bank in the middle of the market, but it has a long line.  So try to arrive with pockets of cash. A single stroller is fine and helpful on the busy street. Bring your own bags. Some vendors have plastic bags, but it’s much better to bring a market bag or picnic basket along.

Plan your Day: You should keep in mind all stores and many restaurants/bars/cafes in Dordogne are closed after 12:30 pm on Sunday’s (We ran out of diapers for a toddler with a stomach bug on a Sunday afternoon – thank God for our angel innkeeper Sara for saving us with an emergency stash!) So eat a nice big lunch in town. Lunch is a better deal than dinner anyways and allow for some great people watching. Then buy a gourmet picnic meal at the Saint-Cyprien market, to eat later this evening when restaurants are closed. This is a perfect time to experience French country cuisine.

What to buy at Saint-Cyprien Market:

• Sausages
• Foi Gras – duck (canard) and goose (oie)
• Rotisserie chicken – my mouth waters just thinking of these
• Tarts and cakes
• Baguettes
• Cheese
• Chestnuts and nut crackers
• Table clothes
• Baskets and bags
• Soaps
• Beer – wine is everywhere but good quality craft beer is harder to find in France.  We loves the La Croix du Rat beer made by an Irishman.
• Vietnamese spring rolls – when you need a break from French cuisine…
• Geese figurines – I don’t usually go for figurines, too fussy for my style, but these were just so darn cute!
• Strawberries – best strawberries here in mid-Spring.
• Poppy flowers
• White asparagus

I’m off with my family to enjoy the best food from the Saint-Cyprien market now!

Bon Appetit!

As seen on weekend wanderlust and monday escapes:

   

Looking for more Family Travel Tips in France?  See:

• Paris our Way: Fun for Kids

• Paris Children’s Museum and Beautiful Merry-go-Round

• An American Family in Disney Paris

• Chateaus for Kids in Loire Valley

• Bordeaux Wine Tasting with Kids – Not a Disaster!