On Wednesday mornings, Pont-de-Vaux becomes a market town. Just 5 km from the campsite, it is the perfect place to fill your basket with Bresse poultry and seasonal fruit and vegetables.
The Wednesday morning market
All year round, Pont-de-Vaux’s weekly market sets up on Wednesday mornings in the town centre, on Place de la Promenade and Rue Maréchal de Lattre. Depending on the season, it brings together 100 to 150 stallholders. Lively and colourful, it is the ideal place to stock up on fresh produce a few minutes’ drive from the campsite, and to get a feel for this small Bresse town.
Bresse poultry in pride of place
Pont-de-Vaux lies at the heart of Bresse poultry country, protected by a designation of origin since 1957. At the market, poultry sits alongside seasonal fruit and vegetables and other local produce, with stalls of clothing and tableware too. Every December the town also hosts one of the four Glorieuses de Bresse poultry shows, a tradition dating back to 1862, alongside Bourg-en-Bresse, Louhans and Montrevel-en-Bresse.
A stroll around town after the market
Once the shopping is done, take time to wander around Pont-de-Vaux. The Musée Chintreuil, in a late 17th-century town house, covers General Joubert, who was born here, the Revolutionary period and the painter Antoine Chintreuil. The church of Notre-Dame-de-l’Assomption, built in the 15th century, has an 18th-century façade in white Mâconnais stone, and a statue of Joubert stands on the square named after him. The marina is only a few minutes’ walk away, a pleasant spot to round off the morning beside the canal.
Practical tips
The market is about 5 km from Camping Les Ripettes, with car parks close to the town centre. Come early, especially in summer, and bring a cool bag if you are buying poultry or other fresh food. If a Wednesday falls on a public holiday and you are unsure, check with the tourist office. Then all that is left is to head back and cook your finds in the peace and quiet of the campsite.