Must-see shopping in France
The Pyrenees
One of Pau’s renowned chocolatiers, Josuat has been serving up sweet temptations since 1880.
Paris
Antoine has been the Parisian master of bespoke canes, umbrellas, fans and gloves since 1745.
Côte d'Azur
Beaulieu's open-air produce market takes place in the town centre every morning of the year.
Bouches-du-Rhône
Thrilling cheese shop with a 12th-century ripening cellar and cheese and charcuterie plates.
Paris
Box jackets and little black dresses, chic ever since their first appearance in the 1920s.
Sarlat-la-Canéda
An atmospheric, largely organic night market operates on Thursdays in the medieval centre.
Marseille
Fresh food, clothing, cheap gadgets and more on a large square. On Friday it’s flowers.
Biarritz
A sumptuous place to shop for gorgeous Basque linens and lively Basque-inspired designs.
The Dordogne
Brântome has a weekly winter market of the local delicacy, the black Périgord truffle.
Paris
Huge selection of biologique (organic) produce at this weekly open-air market.
Paris
Delectable artisan chocolates made with 100% cocoa butter (no milk, butter or cream).
Latin Quarter
Specialises in jazz, blues, gospel and timeless crooners, mostly on vinyl or CD.
Bouches-du-Rhône
Biscuits made using ancient Roman, Renaissance, alpine and Arlésien recipes.
Strasbourg
Sells creamy Tomme, ripe Camembert and other first-rate cheeses.
Marseille
From bold, graphic necklaces to dainty leaf-shaped earrings and bracelets, all of the metal and leather creations from this pretty petite boutique are…
St-Germain & Les Invalides
Fig bread made from chestnut flour is a speciality at this award-winning boulangerie (bakery). Expect to queue around lunchtime.
Aix-en-Provence
This calissonnier specialises in Aix’s sweetest treat: small, diamond-shaped chewy calissons, made of almond meal, citrus peel and wafer. They were first…
Bordeaux
Canelés – a sandcastle-shaped, vanilla-infused fluted cake typical to Bordeaux – is the sweet speciality of this cake shop inside the Les Grands Hommes…
Paris
An institution since 1958, Publicis incorporates cinemas and late-opening shops, including an épicerie (specialist grocer), pharmacy, beauty counter,…
Paris
Paris' largest consignment store (dépôt-vente), Réciproque covers a staggering 500 sq metres of floor space, filled with everything from Prada shoes and…
Marseille
A bit touristy, perhaps, but if you’re keen to sample some of 75 different varieties of Provence’s favourite aperitif – the aniseed-flavoured firewater…
Paris
Named for a type of historic fishing boat, this adorable marine-blue-painted shop sells authentic Breton products. Sardines in exquisite tins are a…
Atlantic Coast
This chic shop, just off main square place François 1er, sells cognac produced by more than 100 different producers, ranging from the grandes maisons to…
