Look to your left and you will spot the Central Markets, a sprawling pavilion defined by its pale green metallic framework, grand arched glass windows, and a distinctive multi-tiered roof. The city decided it needed a proper covered market back in eighteen sixty-eight, eventually bringing in engineer Louis-Clément Weinberger to design this beauty. To make room for progress, they actually built this modern iron temple right on top of a thirteenth-century convent.
The structure went up between eighteen seventy-three and eighteen seventy-five, heavily inspired by the famous markets of Paris. It is massive inside. If you check your phone, you can get a sense of that lively, vaulted interior. Picture four main pavilions crossing each other, packed with over two hundred shops and more than seven hundred market stalls.
But the real magic is in the details. The building is framed by fluted columns decorated with vine branches. And if you look closely at the spandrels... those are the triangular spaces between the tops of the arches... you will find all sorts of carved animal motifs. Take a peek at your screen again for a close-up of a sculpted boar head. You will also find deer, ox, and fish, alongside medallions of Ceres, the goddess of the harvest, and Hermes, the god of commerce. A fitting pair to watch over the city's groceries.
The market is open and fully operational on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday mornings. Take your time admiring the ironwork, and whenever you are ready to move on, we will continue down the street to our next stop.
