Celebrating Contemporary Ceramics in Biot Terre de Provence Market

The Biennale Internationale de la Céramique runs from July 7 to October 1, 2023. The artistic festival includes Greek ceramists presenting their work in the Hedberg-Torun exhibition rooms in Biot until September 24. At the same time, roughly 50 ceramic artists from Provence, Alpes, and Côte d’Azur will exhibit their creations at the Musée d’histoire et de céramique biotoises in Biot.

Terres de Provence Pottery Market

On July 9, visit the Pottery Market in Biot. The theme is “Autour de la Terre,” a festival and artisan market featuring 30 exhibitors in the village streets. Ceramics have been part of Biot’s history since the 16th century. It was the largest jar-making center in the Mediterranean basin.

Visit Biot to see these exhibitions and the Terre de Provence Market and discover unique ceramics and techniques, including sculpture, wheel throwing, raku, faience, and porcelain.

Practical Information

Musée d’histoire et de céramique biotoises is open Wednesday to Sunday from 10 am to 6 pm.
9 rue Saint-Sébastien – 06410 Biot
Telephone: +33 (0)4 93 65 54 54
Website

Terres de Provence Marché des potiers 9 am to 7pm. Entry is free.

©Terres de Provence

Pottery in Provence

The village of Caromb in the Vaucluse is a place you pass through on your way to somewhere else. Caromb has a quiet mystique, and like many Provençal villages, it is bathed in the dappled light of ancient plane trees. According to local legends, Caromb was once the haven of alchemists, though today, the only real alchemist is the ceramicist and potter Jean-Noël Peignon.

Due to the abundance of clay (argile), many small towns produce their unique earthenware in the region, the most famous being Moustiers, Biot and Vallauris. These old French pottery centers have existed for centuries and still create pottery in workshops. However, today other villages scattered across the Provençal landscape produce exceptional pieces prized for their functional use and decorative ability to transport their owners to the idyllic French countryside. In the south of France, where the history of earthenware is long and cross-cultural, pottery has become an essential component of what is considered French Country style, an expression of a particular way of life.

Read More About Pottery

Carolyne Kauser-Abbott

With her camera and laptop close at hand, Carolyne has traded in her business suits for the world of freelance writing and blogging. Her first airplane ride at six months of age was her introduction to the exciting world of travel.

While in Provence, Carolyne can be found hiking with friends, riding the hills around the Alpilles or tackling Mont Ventoux. Her attachment to the region resonates in Perfectly Provence this digital magazine that she launched in 2014. This website is an opportunity to explore the best of the Mediterranean lifestyle (food & wine, places to stay, expat stories, books on the region, travel tips, real estate tips and more), through our contributors' articles.

Carolyne writes a food and travel blog Ginger and Nutmeg. Carolyne’s freelance articles can be found in Global Living Magazine, Avenue Magazine and City Palate (Published Travel Articles).