January 12, 2005
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La naissance d 'un marché de plein vent dans un village
The birth of an open air market in a village .
English version below the fist picture
Un village près d ' Amiens a décidé de créer un marché de plein vent pour être plus vivant . A l ' ère des supermarchés ce n ' est pas fréquent . La " naissance " a eu lieu Vendredi dernier 7 Janvier . J ' y suis allé pour prendre bien conscience de l ' événement .
Il y avait 37 marchands ambulants . On pouvait trouver toutes les sortes de vêtements à des prix intéressants , des légumes , des fruits , volailles , oeufs de la ferme , des fleurs , poisson frais de Boulogne , huîtres de Normandie , livres et DVD pour enfants , des bijoux et autres gadgets et même du vin du …Monténégro , des confiseries et du miel . " Monsieur , vous voulez goûter mes miels " . En effet chacun sait qu 'il y a diverses sortes de miel . J ' ai goûté et j ' ai acheté . Mais le véritable plaisir était de bavarder parmi les étals avec les commerçants et aussi avec les gens venus comme moi au marché .!
Ce n ' était plus seulement ici échange anonyme marchandise - argent mais en plus il y avait échanges de paroles et rencontre de regards . Je crois qu ' en revenant de ce marché j ' avais gagné en humanité . Longue vie à ce marché de village .
Part view of the new open air market in a village . Photo Michel Fauquet 2004
A village nearby my hometown Amiens ( Northern France ) decided to create an open air market to make the place more living . At the supermarkets era it ' s not frequent . The " birth " was on the last Friday 7th of January . I went to be well aware of the event .
There were 37 traveller salers . You could find all of sorts of clothes with a reasonable cost , vegetables , fruits , chickens , eggs from the countryside , flowers , fresh fishes coming from Boulogne harbour , oysters of Normandy , books and DVD for children , jewelry and other gadgets , and even wine ….from the Montenegro !! And also sweets , honeys . . " Sir , would you like tasting my honeys ? " . Indeed everyone knows there are varius sorts of honey . I tasted and bought ! But the true pleasure was to chat among the stalls with the salers and also with people come to the market like me ..
It was not only an annymous exchange goods for money but in addition there were people exchanging many words and eyes met . I believe in coming back from the open market I had gained humaneness . Long life to this village market .
Other view of the new open market in the village Photo Michel Fauquet 2004
Comments (100)
We have many of these markets in California, where I live. Every Sunday, I go to one so that I can buy fruits and vegetables. This is helping farmers, and I get good-tasting food.
You are right, Michel--long live the village market!
We used to have a great market here but a few years ago the " power-that-be " decided that it would become a covered market
It lost all it's appeal and character.. now it is just a series of " shops ", yes " they sell a great range of goods but it's not the same. We do have an open-air farmers's market once a month. That is very popular. 
Marie
Je ne sais pas pourquoi je croyais que les marchés ça existait partout. Il y en a même dans les grandes villes chez nous dans cetains quartiers. Je suis sûre que l'échange est très différent et tellement plus agréable. Il y a tant de vignobles en France, pourquoi aller chercher aussi loin?
Avec toute mon amitié.
Clara
(PS: Tu fais partie des initiés puisque tu sais de qui il s'agit. Je m'adressais aux visiteurs de passage...)
Open air markets are so neat. We don't have them much now, since it is winter, but I always look forward to the return of the summer when we have more markets!
~Aubs
I hope the word spreads and it is successful. We have a similar market very near my home. I should take more advantage of it. This weekend, I think. Perhaps I'll even blog about it!
Occasionally we have 'Farmer's Markets' in Manchester but every Sunday in a place called Strangeways (near Manchester Prison) we have a market with stalls, but mostly it is all the wholesale shops opening up so that we can buy things cheaper than a normal shopping centre. Wholesale is when you buy in bulk for your own business (i.e. if you sell watches you can get 50 watches at so much money per watch. That way when you come to sell it you put the price up to get back the cost that you paid to get them in the first place and also make a profit.
that is amazing...there are pockets of that culture here where you stop to get to know the people around you. Glad you enjoyed it and may it be long lasting...
Du bon miel, la fraternité, du coeur dans l'échange... c'est bien, en effet!
I enjoyed going around the open market when I visited Bolougne , it was exciting for me to see all the different types of food that was there compared to England . You are right Michel markets bring back to life a villege . I hope that the market goes from strengh to strenght
i love open air markets too. They seem so friendly and the things they sell are more personal, like handmade crafts or produce from their own farms. A nice change from mass products from supermarkets. Keep up the inspiring posts!
That's wonderful. We have a farmer's market here in the summertime that's similar. Much better than the supermarket. Definitely more fun.
Your friend.
Tiffani
In my hometown in South Carolina, no one would dream of an open-air market. They are certainly into the whole supermarkets being inside idea. In Canada, I have yet to see one as well. I do find it to be a neat idea, though!
That is a lot of variety to offer! I would like to see one of those one day. It is always good to get out, meet new people, and share some smiles.
Have a wonderful week, Michel! God bless.
This is wonderful. We have open markets here in Virginia, but not in winter. It is very nice to go and buy fresh foods and other things.
In Maryland, there is an indoor Amish Market that my parents go to every week. They have a lot of good food. That is open all year but closed on Sunday and Monday.
Wonderful atmosphere, always a lot to see.
maintenant j'aimerais bien visiter Amiens, Michel!
J'aime bien les marchés en plein air. 
I agree...and would love if we had the same here. We have farmer's markets every Saturday in another town but nothing like yours.
Michel...did I tell you that we had exchange students from France during the month of August? There were 6 in all. Only one was from the south while the others were from the Paris area. Our student, whom I just adored, was from Cannes. I learned so much from the experience and from her. The differences in our marketing versus hers and how her and her mother went shopping. She thought it not a problem to walk 2 miles to go to town...where here we get in our cars to drive a mile down the road.
She shared with us about the open air market...such as you described. How I wish we had such a thing. I love the idea of picking up this and that...here and there. Getting to know the people who are selling and talking. Enjoy this for us Michel.
I love the pictures and how you describe your surroundings. I should do the same.
The weather here has been beautiful...70's and low 80's. I have the windows open with the ceiling fans going to help keep things cool. I think God is giving us a break from all the hurricanes we had over the summer.
Love and God's Blessings,
Cat
J'aime les marches.
Ca va monsieur?
Ce n'est pas necessaire de traduire, mon amie.
Je comprends.
Merci pour tes mots.
i wish we had better/more open markets here. we have flea markets which can be cool but there is often a lot of junk. we have a great farmer's market but it isn't open all year. i love the french market in new orleans though and i'd love to make a trip there soon. it is pretty big. it's too bad that we have moved away from this type of commerce. you are right it does hold a sense of vitality and community that is severely lacking these days. thanks again for another beautiful post.
Great post, Michel!
I love these sorts of open air markets, and my mother was a HUGE fan of them. You can find so many interesting things for sale, see many, many fascinating people, and of course get some real bargains! 
Glenn and I stop off to have a look, whenever we see an open air market. In fact, the header on my site was from an old book I bought at one of these markets.They are truly fantastic places to browse through.
I love to go to them. I haven't for a long time. They close here in the winter so that's another reason to look forward to springtime.
Great photos. I believe I know the lady in the black top looking at the men's pull over sweaters.
That sounds really cool. Never been to one. Looks like there was alot of people and things. Also lots of fun. Take care.
I love markets like this: Canal Street in Manhattan might be my favorite
That looks like so much fun!
C'est certainement plus agréable que de faire les achats au supermarché. Mais je ne pense pas que les Canadiens içi veuillent faire les achats pendant l'hiver!
Wow, that looks like a fun place! We have some farmers markets around here but I have never been to one. I should check them out.
Hope you are having a wonderful day!
ça doit convenir à toi.
j'aime les marchés. 
Is it this markt once a week or every day. I think if the farmers and the markt people will do like they did in the old times, the fresh product are brought from the farm in the morning very soon to be sold there.
Now we have a lot of weekly markt but they are a mix of they should be.
The real good markt we went was in Carnac, but it was only once a week.
I agree, the markt are much more human, we brought our birds too at the markt.
Amitié
Answer to carlo ; Don' t forget it is a new born market . It will stand twice per mnth on the Friday .
That looks fun. We have an open farmers market in this city every weekend. You get a lot of nice vegetables ther...better than in the store.
bonjour! comment ca va?
ev
Back in high school in the early to mid 70's I took French. I never did get to use it! So reading your entire French version first is fun for me. I test my brain to see how much I can decipher before I go on to read the English version. I kind of get the gist of the entry in French, but not enough to ever survive a day in France. So thank you for writing your entries this way. How fun!
I always look forward to the opening of farmer's markets here, in the early summer.
Canal Street in Manhattan is my favortie too...but then again...I haven't visited your market...it looks like such fun...being outdoors shopping makes you feel alive...indoor is dreadful for me...I am not a shopper...I love your pi and am so glad you shared it...and I do agree...the chatting amongst each other...it is like a closeness is born...I'm going to one in south-central New Jersey this Sunday with Shining Silk...we leave our homes at 5:30, stop for breakfast and make a very long morning of it...I can't wait...thank you for sharing this wonderful blogg and the pictures with us...huggs...Sassy
Sounds lovely...
Wonderful event. So much has been lost by the large supermarkets and lack of personal experiences
Nancy
a great way to spend the day. shopping and socializing.
I love open air markets! I can spend hours looking at the different wares they have to offer. I saw a great one up in Brussels back in October. That's where I bought Karen a few Christmas presents!
Cheers, Neil
I can't wait until the weather gets warm again here so that ours will open again. It's a lot of fun shopping at places like that and meeting interesting poeple.
It is Venice, Michel, they are having some problems with the low tide.
around here, there are farmer's markets almost every day of the week but in different cities nearby. I usually went on Saturday mornings and sometimes Thursday. You're right about the human connection in these open air markets...in these parts, the main attraction is that the vegetables are 'organic'which means that no chemical pesticides have touched the fruits and vegetables. They're wonderful to buy a bunch of flowers for cheaper than one gets at the grocery store!
I like the open air markets and craft fairs, sometimes you can meet local artists and some interesting people... when the weather is nice outside and there are fresh fruits, flowers and smiling faces it can make for a nice day
whoooa.
c'est tres cool que vous etes de france.
je veux aller a la france.
est-ce que ca fait du sense?
Je m'excuse mais je ne suis pas tres bon avec le francais.
Cool =)
I LOVE open air markets. We have them all over, all year, in all forms and fashion. From food to pets to art to antiques, you can find anything. And the people-watching is most entertaining! I will drive out of my way to go to one when I hear about it. And most are uniquely Texan so it's much fun! Have a great weekend. Blessings, kc
Human bonding. The surrounding. I sometimes think i really want to live in a more 'country' feel kind of place..where ppl selling eggs/chickens..fresh flowers in an open marketz like the one you mentioned!
U have a good life! 
Itz crunch week..starting my new job/studying for my big exam lately!
Fresh fish, oysters, and fruit?! Sounds like a great place.
Bruit de marchés libres libres si noble et grand. J'aimerais les marchés libres libres. Cela ressemble à de lui serait un contact et plus personnel tellement plus humains que le supermarché. L'humanité ne serait pas perdue comme elle a maintenant. Je souhaite que nous ayons eu un marché libre libre où je vis. D'ailleurs, avez-vous Noël gentil et une nouvelle année
Billy
je t'aime beaucoup!!
random propz
Where we live we call those, "Farmer's Markets". We don't have them in the winter but spring to fall, we have 2 per week in our city. Fresh picked lettuces of all kinds-those are my favorite. I only buy my produce from Farmer's Market during non-winter. I like to support the smaller family-owned farms and like you say, it is more human to socialize like that. An old-age custom comes back to us-it was always superior to the supermarkets.
Hugs,
Lisa
Here in The States those things are called flea markets. There is a huge one held during the good weather in a town named Rutledge here in Missouri. I have attended it twice. My Aunts go every time it is open. Which is every second Saturday ,March thru October. And the first Satuday in November.
u ppl have issues.. bye!!
J'aime beaucoup aussi! Je prend (le forme correcte?) francais a l'Universite d'Ohio, et on est aimable lire des journaux en francais. On est une bonne voie apprendre. Tres bien!
~Kevin
(Desolee si mon grammaire est incorrect. J'apprend....)
I love open air markets! Even if I do not need anything. Just to be able to stroll along the booths and mingle, just as you have mentioned. There is one open market here in California in a place called Ojai which is known for its "artsy" population. They regulary have an open air market. When I went I was so thrilled to see real people, with their fruits, vegatables and homemade lotions. Taking so much pride in what they had to offer. Wanting me to try something new. It was marvelous. we also have a Farmers Market that has been open air since the earlt 30's I believe.A few years ago they added on huge modern stores and a gigantic parking structure. It does not have the same charm for me now.
And I do whole heartedly agree about the difference in people when shopping at an open air market like that. As if not being bombarded with all the structues helps one to fell like they have more strength to interact with their fellow people.
Wishing your Village Market a very long life!!!!!!
love
sarah
Greetings and salutations Michel - bon noveau ans - you know what I mean
Its delightlfully hot down here - I guess you must be freezing.
Haven't had time to pursue this activity now that I am paid by someone else - good to see you still have an avid following
Although I may appreciate the convenience of a supermarket, the charms of open air markets are much more agreeable indeed!!! I particularly loved the open air fruit and vegetable markets in Hawaii, where I am originally from. Just to look at all the bright colors, and smell the flowers and fruit made me want to stay all day. There was a bakery nearby and I remember smelling the wonderful aroma of hot bread from the oven.
A pity that the only thing missing was cheese!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
J'aime bien les marchés en plein air. Il y a toujours les choses intéressantes à voir. À Singapour, nous avons souvent des marchés appelés "pasar malam" qui sont ouvert la nuit. À mon avis, les choses vendues ne sont pas de la meilleure qualité, mais elles sont peu coûteuses.
Since moving to Europe, I've become infatuated with these open air markets. It sounds like you had fun!
That's nice that you sing in a choir too... and direct. What choir do you sing in..... and what choir do you direct?
Tous mes meilleurs voeux de longue vie pour ce joli marché !
Goûter le miel = un régal
Grand merci pour votre très aimable carte de voeux.
Très amicalement et bon weekend
J. se rend au marché tous les samedis matins
that reminds me of one of our Train stops in town - Haymarket... I love the whole atmosphere
It is a great way to get out in nice weather and see people and enjoy life! I hope you have a very wonderful weekend my friend 
C~
Je m'occupe de l'université de lie aux Etats-Unis. Je recevrai un diplôme avec un degré de bachlor. J'ai étudié le pyschology. Je volonté pour recevoir un diplôme l'école en Ohio l'école graduée est université de Xavier. Savez-vous de l'une ou l'autre de ces deux écoles ? J'espère me déplacer à New York après que j'obtienne ma maîtrise. J'aimerais habiter en Europe. Particulièrement la France puisque je suis à moitié français.
Amitié Billy
Il y a des marches ici, mais on peut acheter seulement des legumes, des fruits, et des fleurs du region; ils sont ete. (Sorry, I don't know how to make the accent marks.) Judy
merci pour ton commentaire et oui... c'est vrai que je parle le francais mais pas très bien probablement.
hah... tout le monde s'excuse pour leur francais... c'est interessant.
er...
je n'ai pas completement compris ce que vous avez dit dans votre comment.
ahh je m'excuse si mon francais est inpolit ou les verbes ne sont pas um.. conjugue proprement.
la verite est que je n'aime pas beacoup la class de francais ici a l'ecole.
- alice.
How fun! I love to buy local honey. And I love to shop! Sorry I haven't been around to say hi. I am thinking of you!
À bavarder parmi avec les commerçants--j'aime faire ça mais il n'y pas beaucoup d'opportunité pour ça ici en Suède. D'ailleurs, les gens n'aiment pas bavarder en général. Tant pis. Moi, je crois que les marché en plein air sont très charmants. Je me souviens un marché en Apt dans les Lubérons ... c'était typiquement français je crois, et je l'adore! Vive les marché!
I used to love to fairs and open air markets, always looking for some little treasure that someone else has overlooked. Love Marjie
merci!
There must be something wrong with my computer. I can't see the images!
that open air market looks wonderful and exciting! i really hope it continues to prosper and provide a good time for you.
and i'm so sorry about my site giving you problems, i could not figure out what it might be. perhaps it is the music i have playing in the background, or the many pictures that must load. either way, i am sorry that it proves to be quite difficult for you. but i'm so happy that you put up with it and leave me comments, they truly make me smile
<3
When I first read your post, I read Amiens as Arles...it made me think of Van Gogh. Oh you have no idea how much I wish I could go visit your country every time I come here to visit and read your blog!
-matt
Hello sweety hope all is well with you and yours. I posted the news pictures of my grand baby shes 1 year 2 months old now ...how time flys ... God Bless and keep you and your safe
Wow...I'm impressed with what your choirs sing. I'm in the adult choir of St. Stanislaus Church. There are ab out 24 of us. We sing every Sunday and all major feast days. We will be doing alot of work preparing for the Easter Triduum. We sing religious songs....sometimes in Latin. They have in the past song the Halleluiah Chorus.
PS: thanks for stopping by and commenting. Yes, I think of Pompii. M
Looks and sounds like fun.
To answer your question... Hubbard choses all the colors of paint for our house. He has admired the colors you use in your home, too!
oh, je comprends maintenant.
merci.
alice.
Every Wednesday afternoon in our town we have a "farmers market." It is much like your open air market, except there is only fruits and vegetables and honey and flowers usually. In the city of San Luis Obispo, about 30 miles north, their farmers market is on Thursday nights. It is almost like a carnival. There is music and all kinds of cooked food to eat as well as many things to buy. However it is very crowded, which I do not like.
Carol Suzanne
The pictures remind me of the market on the French side of the island of St. Martin in the Caribbean. We like to go there when we are on that island. It is fun to talk to the people who are selling their goods there and to look at the things they have to sell.
Dear Michel~
About the comments on my blogs: First of all, thank you for your compliments on my artistry. I do love to create and explore new mediums.
and about not reading all of my blogs: you are perhaps the most faithful of my readers so there is no need to apologize. I think that you were one of the three people that I first subscribed to and it has brightened my days these past years to read your thoughts and to get to know your family and life.
Hugs,
Lisa
I can see your pictures now! WEE!
What a lively place! 
Hello sorry you didnt see the pics my server was down its back up now hope you get a chanch to see my baby God Bless hugs
Wow! What a great idea! Kudos to the people who thought of this event, and I'm happy that you've gotten to attend it. It really brings out a lot of life, laughter, and creativity when there's a venue for such interactions. I'm sure even the shy people got a kick out of this.
What a wonderful way to make shopping more enjoyable!
The fires of January are linked with the start of the period of carneval, I think.
Other ritual fires have different origins. Some of them have more origins.
Wow.. open markets! Nice...
We have a small open air market here in downtown Chattanooga. We love nothing better than spending Sunday afternoon wondering around looking at all the wonders. We never fail to bring home something. Once again Old Friend I find that I've traveled with you. Thank you so much for your wonderful card. It came right at New Years just as you said.
thanks for checking in on me. This sounds like fun ! We do have days in the week when farmer bring their stuff to with a few blocks of where I live. The food is fresh and priced reasonably, but i dont go there as often as i should ..... even though it is usually a very pleasant experience!
I still read dear. I just don't have time to comment.
Je visiterai la France pour la coupure de ressort. Je volonté autour de Paris. Je ne sais pas où en France vous êtes. Mais jugeant de certaines des images j'ai vu sur votre emplacement de xanga, il est un endroit beatiful à vivre.
Yes, I hope the market does have a long life! We have farmer's markets here where you can buy mostly produce and dairy products and we also have "flea markets" where you can buy clothing, toys, household goods, etc. It would be nice to have a market that combined them both, it sounds like your market is just that. We would have to wait for the Spring, though. Brrrr, it is cold right now. Thanks for your good wishes for the Patriots. Next weekend, my Pats against Neil's Steelers. A tense day! The children are split, Leah for the Pats and Josh and Katie for the Steelers. Too bad they will have to go to bed!
But doesn't the subscribers mean that they read anytime you write a new entry? Anyway, I study psychology in Tennessee, and now I shall go to graudate school in ohio soon. Is the town you are in pretty?
Oh, that does look like fun!
j'aime les nouveux coleurs de votre site
huygens va decouvrir les gens verts!
The flea markets here are wonderful. There is one once a year that goes for one hundred miles. From Kentucky through Tennessee. Lots of people take a long weekend and take the entire route just to buy. They are such fun...It would be wonderful to see what yours are like too.
Love, Brenda
We have a Farmer's Market here in our county from March through October. I love going to that and truly miss it! I can't wait for to start up again.
Lancaster Pennsylvania where many Amish live is FULL of great open air and farmer's markets. We go to Lancaster 2-4 times a month *only an hour drive time away*. Again I am waiting eagerly for Spring for when the markets start up again. :^)
ive always loved open markets. your journal is fantastic in a completely different way than the others ive read and thank you so much for making it billingual. take care
There are open markets all over the US. I think we have been in some in just about every state. We visited Ecuador in 1990 ....A lot of wonderful open air markets.
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