Marche de la Croix-Rousse

Marché de la Croix-Rousse is one of the largest and best-loved food markets in Lyon, held along the Boulevard de la Croix-Rousse in the 4th arrondissement, on the hill historically known as the district of the silk workers, in France's Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region. On busy days around 95 stalls line the boulevard, selling fresh produce, cheese, charcuterie, bread, eggs, honey and flowers. It differs from generic shopping in being a genuine neighbourhood market where many traders are farmers and small producers from the surrounding countryside, and locals shop here for their weekly food. The ratio of authentic to tourist goods is high: there are few souvenirs, but regional products such as saint-marcellin and other local cheeses, dry sausages, nuts and seasonal fruit make good edible gifts. Prices are fixed and displayed, bargaining is not customary, and polite greetings are expected when addressing a trader. Many stalls accept cards, but cash remains the safest payment method for small producers. VAT refund schemes are not generally relevant to fresh food. Stalls are laid out in long rows along the boulevard, with produce at the centre and cheese, charcuterie and bread sellers interspersed; cheese and charcuterie corners usually attract the longest queues. A few vendors sell hot food or snacks, and nearby cafés and bakeries on the Croix-Rousse slopes provide coffee and pastries after shopping. The atmosphere is busy and convivial, especially on weekend mornings. The City of Lyon lists opening hours as Wednesday and Thursday from 6AM to 1PM, and Tuesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 6AM to 1:30PM, with the market closed on Mondays. Visitors can combine a visit with a walk through the nearby traboules and the Croix-Rousse neighbourhood, which sits at the top of the slopes above the Presqu'île.