Page 204 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Europe

202  FR ANCE AND THE L OW C OUNTRIES

Shopping items, and there are often foires
artisanales held at the same
Shopping in France is a delight. Whether you go to the time, which sell local produce,
hypermarkets and department stores, or seek out the many arts, and crafts.
small specialist stores and markets, you will be tempted by the
stylish presentation and high quality of the goods on offer. Regional Produce
France is especially renowned for its wine, with a vast selection French regional specialties can be
available, from cheap table wines to classic vintages. French bought outside their area of
food is also excellent, in particular the cheeses, cured meats, origin, although it is interesting
patés, cakes, and pastries. France also offers world-famous to buy them locally. Provence, in
fashion, pottery, porcelain, crystal, and fine-quality antiques. the south, prides itself on the
quality of its olive oil, while the
southwest is notable for its patés.
Central France is famous for
Opening Hours Specialist Shops
snails, cured meats, and Epoisses
Food stores open at about 7am One of the pleasures of shopping cheese. Cheese is also an impor-
and close around noon for lunch. in France is that specialist stores tant product of the temperate
After lunch most are open until for food still flourish despite the north, the best-known varieties
7pm or later. Bakeries often stay new large supermarkets. The being Brie and Camembert.
open until 1pm or later. boulangerie, for bread, is Popular drinks are also
Shops that do not close at frequently combined with a associated with particular
lunchtime include some pâtisserie selling cakes and regions. Pastis, made from
supermarkets, department pastries. The traiteur sells aniseed, is popular in the south,
stores, and most hypermarkets. prepared foods. Cheese shops while Calvados, made from
General opening hours for (fromagerie) and other shops apples, is from the north.
non-food stores are around specializing in dairy products Location also determines
9am–7pm Mon–Sat, often with (laiterie) may also be combined, quality. Lyon’s culinary imp-
a break for lunch. Many are while the boucherie (butcher’s) ortance stems from the many
closed on Mondays. and charcuterie (pork butcher’s/ locally produced cheeses, the
Food stores (and news agents) delicatessen) are often separate proximity of Bresse for chickens,
are open on Sunday mornings. stores. For general groceries, go Charolais for beef, and the
Virtually every shop in France is to an épicerie. An épicerie fine is Alsace region for sausages.
closed on Sunday afternoon, a delicatessen.
except for the last weeks before
Christmas, when hypermarkets Markets Wine
remain open all day. Smaller In wine-producing areas, follow
stores may be closed one day Markets are found in towns the dégustation (tasting) signs
of the week, usually Monday. and villages all over France. to vineyards (domaines), where
However, those in tourist To find out where the market you can taste the wine. You will
regions are often open every is, ask a passerby for le marché. be expected to buy at least one
day in the high season. Markets usually finish promptly bottle. Wine cooperatives sell the
at noon and do not reopen in wine of small producers. Here,
the afternoon. you can buy wine in five- and ten-
Larger Shops Look for local producers, liter containers (en vrac), as well
Hypermarkets (hypermarchés including those with only one as in bottles. The wine is often
or grandes surfaces) can be or two special items to sell, as rated AOP, appellation d’origine
found on the outskirts of every their goods are often cheaper protégée, selling at less than 2
sizeable town: look for signs and of better quality. euros a liter. As wine sold en vrac
indicating centre commercial. By law, price tags include the is “duty-free,” customers receive
Among the biggest are origin of all produce: pays means a laissez-passer (permit) indicating
Carrefour, Casino, Auchan, and local. Chickens from Bresse are their destination. Bottled wine
Continent. Discount petrol is marketed wearing a red, white, sold by co-ops is duty-paid.
often sold, and most, but not and blue badge, giving the
all, now have pumps which name of the producer as proof of
take credit cards. authenticity. If you are visiting Clothing
Department stores (grands markets over several weeks, France is famous for its fashion,
magasins), such as the cheap- look for items just coming into and elegant clothes can be
and-cheerful Monoprix, are season, such as fresh walnuts, found even in quite small towns.
often found in town centers. the first wild asparagus, truffles, Paris, however, is the home of
Others, like the more upscale early artichokes, or wild straw- haute couture. There are more
Printemps and Galeries berries. The special seasonal than 100 fashion houses and
Lafayette, can be found both in markets held throughout France designers listed with the
town and out-of-town centers. are the best places to find these Fédération Française de la

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