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The Best Shopping
Centre Sant-Vicens (Perpignan, Languedoc-Roussillon; tel. 04-68-50-02-18): This region of France is next door to Catalonia, whose capital is Barcelona. Catalan style, as long ago evoked by Antoni Gaudí, is modern and up-to-date here with forceful geometric patterns in textiles, pottery, and furnishings.
Mistral Les Indiens de Nîmes (Avignon, Provence; tel. 04-90-86-32-05): Provence has long been celebrated for its fabrics, and one of the best, most original, and affordable selections is found here. Since the early 1980s, this outlet went into the attic, rediscovering old Provençal fabrics and duplicating them in a wide assortment. Fabric is sold by the meter and can be made into anything from clothing to tableware.
Les Olivades Factory Store (St-Etienne-du-Grès, Provence; tel. 04-90-49-18-04): About 12km (7 1?2 miles) north of Arles on the road leading to Tarascon, this store features the region's most fully stocked showroom of art objects and fabrics inspired by the traditions of Provence. You'll find fabrics, dresses, shirts for men and women, table linen, and fabric by the yard. Part of the Olivades chain, this store has the widest selection and the best prices.
Santons Fouque (Aix-en-Provence, Provence; tel. 04-42-26-33-38; www.santonsfouque.com): Collectors from all over Europe and North America purchase santons (figures of saints) in Provence. You'll find the best ones here, cast in terra cotta, finished by hand, and decorated with an oil-based paint. The figures are from models made in the 1700s.
Verreries de Biot (Biot, Eastern Riviera; tel. 04-93-65-03-00; www.verreriebiot.com): Biot has long been known for its unique pottery, verre rustique. Since the 1940s, artisan glassmakers here have been creating this bubble-flecked glass in brilliant colors like cobalt and emerald. These collector's items are sold at affordable prices on home turf. The Verreries de Biot is the oldest, most famous, and most frequently visited outlet. A half-dozen others are within a short distance of the town. If you arrive any day except Sunday, you can actually see the glassmakers creating this unique product.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without
notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before
planning your trip.
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