From mid-November to the end of March, Drôme Provençale lives to the rhythm of the black truffle. Markets on Saturdays, Sundays and Wednesdays, truffle-hunting demonstrations, a traditional mass in January: here, the cold season is the liveliest of the year. And it all happens within thirty minutes of Mas d’Archas.
The Tricastin black truffle, winter’s black gold
The truffle harvested here is Tuber melanosporum, the black truffle, known locally as the Tricastin truffle, after the area surrounding Saint-Paul-Trois-Châteaux. The limestone soils and dry climate suit it particularly well, and the Tricastin is regarded as one of France’s foremost producing areas.
The harvest, known as cavage, runs from mid-November to the end of March. So it is in the heart of winter, when the region is at its quietest, that the local table is at its best.
Richerenches, the largest market in France
This is the best known of them all. Every Saturday morning, Richerenches hosts the benchmark market for black truffles in France. In 2026, the official opening, the Ban des Truffes, falls on Saturday 5 December.
Two markets run side by side. The wholesale market, on the Cours Mistral, is reserved for professionals trading large volumes straight from the boot of their cars. Private visitors are welcome on the Avenue de la Rabasse, for retail sales. The village belongs to the Enclave des Papes, a small pocket of the Vaucluse surrounded by the Drôme, and its Templar commandery is worth the walk in itself. Allow about thirty minutes from the Mas.
Saint-Paul-Trois-Châteaux, the Sunday market
Just twenty minutes away, Saint-Paul-Trois-Châteaux holds its truffle market on Sunday mornings, 10am to 12.30pm, on Place de l’Esplan. For the 2026-2027 season it runs from 13 December to 7 March. Unlike Richerenches, this is a retail market: truffles are displayed in baskets and boxes, and you talk directly with the growers.
Opening Sunday comes with a programme of its own, including a parade and a blessing of the truffle dogs. It is probably the more approachable of the two markets for a first visit. The town is also home to the Maison de la Truffe et du Tricastin, at 2 Rue de la République, where the exhibition covers the truffle’s life cycle, its cultivation, the hunt and its place in the kitchen.
Valréas and the season’s other dates
The third market in the area is held in Valréas on Wednesday mornings, on the Cours Jean-Jaurès. Smaller, with around ten stalls, it has the advantage of falling mid-week, away from the weekend crowds. It is also the first to open, from the beginning of November, and runs through to the end of March. Allow about thirty minutes from the Mas.
Between the three, you can build an entire stay around truffles: Richerenches on Saturday, Saint-Paul on Sunday, Valréas on Wednesday.
The truffle mass, January’s highlight
Established in 1952, the truffle mass in Richerenches is traditionally celebrated in January, around the feast of Saint Anthony, patron saint of truffle growers. Worshippers place truffles in the collection as an offering.
The truffles gathered are then auctioned at the end of the service, for the benefit of the parish. It is a singular occasion, somewhere between religious tradition and a celebration of local produce. As the exact date can vary from year to year, it is worth confirming with the parish or the tourist office before planning the trip.
Truffle hunting with a grower
Watching a market is one thing; understanding where truffles come from is another. Several growers in the region offer truffle-hunting demonstrations: you head into the truffle grove with the dog, watch it mark the spot, and see the truffle lifted from the ground.
Around Suze-la-Rousse, half an hour from the Mas, these outings often come with a tasting at the farm. It is by far the most vivid way into the subject, and it works very well with children.
Buying a truffle: a few pointers
At the markets, truffles are sold by weight, by the gram, according to size. Prices are not displayed: they are agreed directly between buyer and seller. There is nothing intimidating about it, but it pays to arrive early, watch a few transactions and ask questions before buying.
Opening times can vary from one season to the next, and the markets do not all start on the same date, so a call to the tourist office before setting off remains the safest move.
Where to stay during the truffle season
Mas d’Archas is in Allan, three minutes from the A7 motorway, which puts all three markets within thirty minutes’ drive. Our guest rooms are soundproofed, air-conditioned and have a private bathroom. From October to April they are offered at low-season rates.
Back from the market, you will find our evening table, prepared each day with fresh local produce, and a homemade breakfast served from 7am to 10am. If wine interests you as much as truffles, our article on wine discovery in Drôme Provençale rounds out the programme. Tempted? Check our availability or get in touch.