Laissac Market Hall

While grand monuments tell us the history of a city, local markets are the ones that take us on a tour of regional flavors. In Montpellier, a Mediterranean destination at the crossroads of taste, eating well is almost an art form. To ensure success, one must begin by carefully selecting products from the best local producers. Just like here, at the famous Halles Laissac. The relationship between this temple of gastronomy and the eponymous district has lasted for more than 140 years, needless to say it was marked by ups and downs. As early as 1850, residents strongly demanded the creation of a new market hall by sending a petition to the municipality. Their request was heard, but due to insufficient financial means for its realization, the project was only adopted in 1876. Alexandre Laissac, mayor of Montpellier at the time, had the honor of inaugurating this brand new covered market with its polygonal shape, made of iron and cast iron, on January 26, 1880. After almost a century of good and loyal service, the halls, deemed too dilapidated, were finally destroyed and replaced by another circular building in the 1960s. With no aesthetic charm and its 300-space parking lot spread over several floors, the building was very poorly received by the neighborhood residents. So much so that they nicknamed it the “architectural wart” until its demolition in 2016. After three years of construction, the new Halles Laissac 3.0 opened their doors in 2018. More spacious, brighter, and more modern in its Baltard-inspired style of glass and iron, the structure offers a beautiful return to its roots. In total, 24 stallholders, compared to 17 previously, offer the best of their produce every day with a shared concern for quality. All under a sublime canopy reminiscent of a melon, created by Mona Young-Eun KIM, a former Korean student of Fine Arts. Conviviality, sharing, singing accents, and colorful dishes, the Halles Laissac truly place us at the heart of the Mediterranean.