Meung-sur-Loire market — Sunday morning
Meung-sur-Loire Sunday morning market on Place du Martroi (facing the château) 8am-1pm. Thirty stalls. You'll find: AOP goat cheeses (Selles, Sainte-Maure), seasonal Loiret vegetables (spring asparagus, autumn squash), local sourdough bread, Sologne charcuterie, Orléans honey, bulk Touraine wines. Average shopping basket: €50-70 for the week. Friendly atmosphere, several producers let you taste.
Halles Châtelet in Orléans — all week
Orléans' covered market, open every day except Monday. The city's gastronomic institution. Butchers (Maison Marchais), fishmongers (fresh Loire pike-perch), cheesemongers (regional and national), traiteur, wines, Asian traiteur, wine bar at the heart. Also home to starred restaurant Christophe Hay. More urban than open-air markets, perfect for an improvised lunch.
Beaugency market — Wednesday and Saturday
Small medieval centre market, Place Saint-Firmin. Wednesday 8am-1pm and Saturday 8am-1pm. Smaller than Meung and more authentic: greengrocers, travelling cheesemonger, fruit stall, charcutier. Less choice than Orléans but consistent quality. Ideal for buying fruit and veg for your stay. Combine with a medieval walk (keep, abbey).
Blois producer market — Saturday
Place Louis-XII in Blois, every Saturday morning. Over 80 stalls. Specialty: many short-circuit producers, "Bienvenue à la Ferme" label. Domain wines, local apiarist honeys, family-farm meats, Loir-et-Cher farm cheeses. The market to favour if you want direct contact with farmers.
Emblematic products to buy
If you leave with a case, the essentials: AOP goat cheeses (Selles-sur-Cher for mild, Sainte-Maure-de-Touraine for dry, Crottin de Chavignol for strong). Dry whites (Sancerre, dry Vouvray). Reds (Chinon, Bourgueil). Sologne jams (blackberry, chestnut). Acacia and lime honeys. Orléans crust pâtés. Cotignac (Orléans quince paste). Magnums cheaper than bottles. Plan €100-150 for a complete quality basket.
Annual themed market calendar
April: flower and plant markets, several towns. May: cheese fair at Saint-Aignan. June: evening markets begin (Thursday in Orléans). July-August: gourmet evening markets in Meung, Beaugency, Châteauneuf. September: wine fairs in Orléans. October: apple and cider fairs. November-December: Christmas markets in Blois, Orléans, Chambord. Precise calendar on local tourist offices.