There was a lovely atmosphere in the morning as the shopkeepers were opening their shops — most of them were spending some time having a coffee (or a smoke) together in the streets as they opened. The streets are so narrow that this was possible without straying from their boutiques. A very pleasant town, although certainly full of tourists in the summer months — I’ll mention that later on.
Yea, it was a good experience. Now I need to get down there with my husband to do the antique shops, although I’m a bit afraid of what that might bring on. He is much more of a shopper than I am, especially for brocante.
ah you didn't mention the famous Pézenas pastry, le petit pâté de Pézenas - a sweet specialty served piping hot that reminds me a lot mincemeat, including the fact that it contains a bit of mutton fat.
My French hubby's family is from nearby Lézignan la Cèbe, and they'd always buy petits pâtés for Christmas. We continue that tradition & have them mail ordered to our home for our Christmas meals. 🙂❤️
No, but I have a nice photo of one of the shops that I'm saving for Notes. I had tasted one many years back on a wine-tasting trip, but don't really remember how much I liked them. I wanted to buy some to take home, but the weather was quite warm and I wasn't so sure about how well they would keep. Maybe I should have some mail ordered! You -- or your husband -- must like them a lot to include them in your Christmas meal. Do you eat them as a dessert?
we eat then more as an appetizer. You're right that they might not keep well in warm weather. The mail order delivery ships them refrigerated now (they didn't in the past but we ordered in the winter when it was cold so it was fine).
it's a whole childhood memory thing for my husband (and for our kids now too! 🙂🥰) and we all love mincemeat, but I know that's not the case for everyone...
Oh how nice to hear! I almost didn’t write about it as I was afraid it was too frivolous of a topic. But the shopping was my biggest takeaway from the town, literally and figuratively!
Interestingly, they aren’t that available right where we live, which is a more northern part of the south. So I stocked up.
Yes, the “créateur” sign was great, you really knew who you were dealing with. The fact the workshops are actually part of the shop is a great concept — some of the shops had quite a bit of surface area for that reason, or were in the space of two shops.
Fabulous, Betty! It's true that we need to make a connection with what we decide to buy. I hardly splurge these days, but when I do I want to keep the items for decades. Lovely to make personal connections, too.
Yes, although I really took full stock of the connections on the way home. After each trip, I’m overwhelmed with experiences and while sorting it all out in my head, I realized the shopping had been the highlight.
I too try to keep things but my size has changed a bit with age and I do need to renew some items ;)
Ohh Betty… don’t tempt me further… A friend recently visited Pézenas and recommended we take a trip together… which I very nearly said yes to except she told me how much she spent in all the beautiful shops with irresistible products!
Let me save some money first I did!!
Sounds absolutely wonderful Betty, linen I adore… ceramics I simple can’t pass without leaving with something and worse than both of those delicious artisan made food to put in what ever I bought in the way of pottery!!
Oh dear… sounds like I may have to be patient for my visit!
Yes as I said temptation abounds, and I didn’t even go to the antiquaires and brocanteurs, which for the most part are not directly in the town center, although right on the outskirts. All I can say is save up! And I would avoid peak tourist seasons, it was quite busy in late April, although pleasantly so.
It’s a fun place. Market mornings (Saturday) are apparently super busy and it’s hard to park, but probably fun to be there. I would imagine the place gets very crowded in the summer season — I think the artisans and shops are part of the attraction, although it is quite pretty too.
I can imagine! I had gone before but it was in February, and over ten years ago — I’m not sure if the artisan scene was so dynamic then. This time it was late April and there were already quite a few tourists, including a lot of nationalities. I found the town pretty enough but I think the shopping scene must also be an attraction for them.
I actually didn’t really know that term. Looking it up, it seems that these were towns where the bourgeois (in the historical sense) totally liberated themselves from any servitude to lords, whereas Pézenas got its trading privileges from its connections to royalty and nobility.
There are a lot of “Villefranche” in France and now I know where the term came from! Thank you!
This sounds like my kind of town!
There was a lovely atmosphere in the morning as the shopkeepers were opening their shops — most of them were spending some time having a coffee (or a smoke) together in the streets as they opened. The streets are so narrow that this was possible without straying from their boutiques. A very pleasant town, although certainly full of tourists in the summer months — I’ll mention that later on.
Poorer in a good way, for sure!
Yea, it was a good experience. Now I need to get down there with my husband to do the antique shops, although I’m a bit afraid of what that might bring on. He is much more of a shopper than I am, especially for brocante.
ah you didn't mention the famous Pézenas pastry, le petit pâté de Pézenas - a sweet specialty served piping hot that reminds me a lot mincemeat, including the fact that it contains a bit of mutton fat.
My French hubby's family is from nearby Lézignan la Cèbe, and they'd always buy petits pâtés for Christmas. We continue that tradition & have them mail ordered to our home for our Christmas meals. 🙂❤️
No, but I have a nice photo of one of the shops that I'm saving for Notes. I had tasted one many years back on a wine-tasting trip, but don't really remember how much I liked them. I wanted to buy some to take home, but the weather was quite warm and I wasn't so sure about how well they would keep. Maybe I should have some mail ordered! You -- or your husband -- must like them a lot to include them in your Christmas meal. Do you eat them as a dessert?
we eat then more as an appetizer. You're right that they might not keep well in warm weather. The mail order delivery ships them refrigerated now (they didn't in the past but we ordered in the winter when it was cold so it was fine).
it's a whole childhood memory thing for my husband (and for our kids now too! 🙂🥰) and we all love mincemeat, but I know that's not the case for everyone...
I like mincemeat quite a bit and should have just tried one on-site.
I can imagine their being a nice starter!
What a shopping feast! I love towns like this. And I love when writers share their shopping adventures.
Oh how nice to hear! I almost didn’t write about it as I was afraid it was too frivolous of a topic. But the shopping was my biggest takeaway from the town, literally and figuratively!
Fab article Betty. I do love those Italian linens one can purchase in France
Sounds like a lively place to live and visit.
I love the idea of the colourful, highly visible createur de pezenas sign.
Interestingly, they aren’t that available right where we live, which is a more northern part of the south. So I stocked up.
Yes, the “créateur” sign was great, you really knew who you were dealing with. The fact the workshops are actually part of the shop is a great concept — some of the shops had quite a bit of surface area for that reason, or were in the space of two shops.
Fabulous, Betty! It's true that we need to make a connection with what we decide to buy. I hardly splurge these days, but when I do I want to keep the items for decades. Lovely to make personal connections, too.
Yes, although I really took full stock of the connections on the way home. After each trip, I’m overwhelmed with experiences and while sorting it all out in my head, I realized the shopping had been the highlight.
I too try to keep things but my size has changed a bit with age and I do need to renew some items ;)
Ohh Betty… don’t tempt me further… A friend recently visited Pézenas and recommended we take a trip together… which I very nearly said yes to except she told me how much she spent in all the beautiful shops with irresistible products!
Let me save some money first I did!!
Sounds absolutely wonderful Betty, linen I adore… ceramics I simple can’t pass without leaving with something and worse than both of those delicious artisan made food to put in what ever I bought in the way of pottery!!
Oh dear… sounds like I may have to be patient for my visit!
Yes as I said temptation abounds, and I didn’t even go to the antiquaires and brocanteurs, which for the most part are not directly in the town center, although right on the outskirts. All I can say is save up! And I would avoid peak tourist seasons, it was quite busy in late April, although pleasantly so.
Antiques and brocanteurs too… oh dear I would be a lost soul! 😂
Thank you for this another one I will add to my wish list 😎
It’s a fun place. Market mornings (Saturday) are apparently super busy and it’s hard to park, but probably fun to be there. I would imagine the place gets very crowded in the summer season — I think the artisans and shops are part of the attraction, although it is quite pretty too.
I never leave Pezenas empty handed but then again my nickname is Spendy-Wendy..!
I can imagine! I had gone before but it was in February, and over ten years ago — I’m not sure if the artisan scene was so dynamic then. This time it was late April and there were already quite a few tourists, including a lot of nationalities. I found the town pretty enough but I think the shopping scene must also be an attraction for them.
Is this town what’s called « une ville franche »?
I actually didn’t really know that term. Looking it up, it seems that these were towns where the bourgeois (in the historical sense) totally liberated themselves from any servitude to lords, whereas Pézenas got its trading privileges from its connections to royalty and nobility.
There are a lot of “Villefranche” in France and now I know where the term came from! Thank you!
This sounds like a great excursion. I’ve flagged it for my next trip. Thank you!
It’s also a very pretty town, but there’s more to come! When is your next trip?
Probably in the fall. Have a book to finish first.
Well that’s a good reason! The fall is coming up soon though!
Truly beautiful.