For a market with great food and a great atmosphere, try the one in La Rochelle, a beautifully maintained harbour town on the Atlantic coast in western France. We stumbled across it as we strolled through the deserted streets of the old town on a quiet sunny Sunday morning. As we moved further away from the harbour, we noticed the narrow streets becoming livelier, filling with people carrying bags of fruit and vegetables, bunches of colourful flowers and the obligatory baguette, its top - as so often is the case - missing, presumed eaten already. Housed in and around an ornate 19th century market hall surrounded by bustling restaurants and cafes, this market has it all. Amazing fresh and varied seafood (cooked and uncooked) laid out artistically on ice beds, meats, charcuterie, cheese, fresh fruits and vegetables, flowers, cakes and pastries, chocolates and some of the nicest and most enticing traiteurs we've seen in France for a long while. Made ravenous by the smell of baking wafting about us, we set about buying up a picnic to eat at the harbour's edge, watching the yachts bobbing up and down in the gentle sway.The food was delicious. The memories linger on.

Every morning at the Place du Marche, La Rochelle. To stay, try Masqhotel (17 Rue de L'ouvrage à Cornes, 17000 La Rochelle; www.masqhotel.com), a conveniently situated modern hotel.
Google map: bit.ly/edRwUa

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La Rochelle is a beautiful port town - I recommend a lunch in one of the portside fish restaurants (Place de La Chaine) followed by an icecream from Ernest's, where you'll be faced with a tough choice with seemingly endless flavours. After a visit to the picturesque old port, walk down to the Port des Minimes, one of the biggest leisure ports on the Atlantic coast where you'll be faced with a sea of masts. The aqaurium is also worth a visit, as is shopping under the arcades, and if you have time take a trip to the neighbouring Ile de Re for pleasant beaches. Out of season is the best time to visit these places as in the summer they are both rammed with holiday-makers.

La Rochelle and Ile de Re airport can be reached on Ryanair and Easyjet flights. La Rochelle port is the town centre.

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