In Les Bormettes, a theater of flavors and scents

By Gilles CARVOYEUR

Every Tuesday morning, this iconic location in La Londeles-Maures is transformed into a theater of flavors, scents, and encounters. Until August 25, the Les Bormettes summer market stands as a must-visit stop for anyone wishing to taste authentic Var. The Les Bormettes district is not like any other. With its past linked to the industrial and agricultural history of the municipality, it offers an intimate, almost timeless setting. Place Françoise-Belot, with its shaded areas and natural friendliness, provides the perfect backdrop for this display of exceptional products. Here, far from the rush of major shopping centers, people take their time to live, chat, and choose. From the early hours of the morning, the scents of Provence guide visitors. The stalls are brimming with local treasures that are the pride of the region. Here, local produce is in the spotlight with sun-drenched tomatoes, zucchini blossoms, juicy peaches, and fragrant melons... Local market gardeners offer products of absolute freshness, picked at maturity. Mediterranean flavors are well represented, featuring local olive oil, olives from Nice or the Vallée des Baux, as well as tapenades and anchoïades to accompany outdoor aperitifs. Beyond food, the market is a showcase for artisans. From Provençal fabrics to the straw hats essential for protection against the mistral or the midday sun, each stall tells a story of Provence. What makes the market so successful is its atmosphere. It is the place where vacationers, recognizable by their relaxed smiles, cross paths with neighborhood regulars coming to get their bread and the day's news. People call out to each other from one end of the square to the other, exchange recipes at the corner of a fish stall, and finish the morning on the terrace of a nearby café to extend this shared moment. Like the year-round market held every Sunday morning, this weekly market is an enchanting interlude that supports the local economy and short food supply chains. Whether looking for the perfect souvenir gift (Marseille soaps, dried lavender) or filling your basket for lunch, the market meets every desire, as this tourist couple confides: "For us, who are not from around here, it's easier to come to this market because it's close to our apartment." •

PLEASE NOTE...

En savoir plus sur le marché estival : Place Françoise-Belot, quartier des Bormettes, La Londe-les-Maures. Tous les mardis matin. Jusqu'au mardi 25 août. Arrivez dès 8h pour profiter de la fraîcheur matinale et éviter l'affluence de la mi-matinée.

Sam FELLAH (text and photo).