In the absence of tourists, locals save the crowds at the weekly Mende market

The Saturday morning food market in Mende is mainly attended by locals. Midi Libre – Corentin Migoule

La fouace de Maxime Lacan lauréate du concours Lozère gourmande en 2024. Midi Libre – Corentin Migoule

Dans la préfecture de Lozère, la fréquentation du marché alimentaire du samedi repose davantage sur les locaux habitués que sur les touristes, trop rares aux yeux des commerçants.

Despite idyllic weather that the organizers of the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games undoubtedly envy, the last weekly Mende market of the month did not attract crowds this Saturday July 27, 2024 A constant since the beginning of summer according to exhibitors who are desperately looking for tourists. "It’s sure there are fewer. people. Much fewer tourists especially!", confirms Maxime Lacan, boss of La Fouace d’Oltbra.

And the last one to theorize: "I think that savings are lacking for many people. Those who were able to go on vacation went to Spain to seek the sun."Holidaymakers, mainly French, represent only 30% of its clientele. Maxime Lacan therefore relies on the locals, faithful to the post, to sell his large loaves designed in the shape of a crown.

The hope of a flourishing August

On Place Urbain-V where she enjoys a prime position taking advantage of the shade of the cathedral, Élodie is living her second summer at the farmers' market as an employee of the stand “Le marché du soleil”. The low attendance also jumps out at her: “The attendance has dropped sharply. There are very few tourists.” Consequence: turnover is plummeting and Élodie is already looking ahead to a month of August that she hopes will be more prosperous.

Like Maxime Lacan, the young woman offers her best smile to the locals who are regulars at the market and need to be pampered. A rather elderly clientele who fill their baskets early in the morning and rush to lock themselves in when the heat arrives. Not far from Élodie's stand where oriental pastries rub shoulders with olive oil and dried fruits, a colleague rants about his location, which is too far out of the way for his taste. He too is impatient at the idea of ​​turning the page on “July” to open the all-important one of August.