Today I am in Toulouse and the first place I went was the huge indoor food market named after Victor Hugo, the French poet and author who wrote many books including Les Misérables and The Hunchback of Notre-Dame. Originally when the market opened in 1827 it had the name place du Marché-au-Bois, which translates to wood market. In 1886 on the occasion of the coronation of the poet by the Floral Games it was renamed place Victor Hugo. The Floral Games have been going on since 1324. It is a literary competition celebrating the Occitan poetry. A year before that, seven troubadour-citizens of Toulouse founded what is today the oldest literary institution in the western world. Called the Acadèmia dels Jòcs Florals, or the Academy of the Floral Games, its prime purpose was to organise the annual competition.

It is a culinary extravaganza and shows the love of food culture here in France. Cheese, fish, meats, wine, bread, pastry, and even a stall which sells champagne and oysters. There are over 90 stalls. You will see people enjoying themselves and indulging in the gourmet delights Tuesdays through Sundays from 6am until 2pm.

The building in which is it housed was rebuilt in the 1950’s after the boom of car culture and modernization. It included the first pay underground car-park in Toulouse. It is really not much to look at, but the thing you notice is the number of patrons milling about, eating, drinking, talking, and buying. There is also a big outside place with tables to stand and eat what you have just purchased.

I could get used to having a market like this nearby! The people of Toulouse are lucky to have it. Toulouse is a very walkable city so if you can visit I highly recommend!

Bon Appétit 😌