Top 5 flea markets

in Provence

Looking out for, scouring and rummaging around second-hand dealers’ stalls, is very much part of Provencal life and is as much fun as actually finding something. Discover objects that have a story to tell and will charm your home with our selection of events and good addresses!

Shop around during the Fête de la Lavande in Barrême

Make the most of the Fête de la Lavande in Barrême, and wander around in the lovely aromatic scents. And why not find yourself a bargain to light up your home in the flea market or the garage sale. The weekend takes place in a village in the Alpes de Haute Provence on the “Route Napoléon” which goes from Nice to Digne and pays homage to this lovely flower which is part of the spirit of Provence. Every year at the end of July there are many events which include the Marché du Terroir et Produits Dérivés à la Lavande (regional and lavender-based products market), a garage sale and around forty enthusiastic exhibitors. You’ll see them on the Place de l’Eglise and in the street leading to the distillery.

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Welcome to the village-world of antique dealers

Stay tuned for news of the world of art and antiques by taking part in the Foire Internationale Antiquités et Brocante in L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue. The leading antique fair was set up in 1996 and not just in any old village since L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue is the third most important European venue for antiques and second-hand sales. For the event, 200 exhibitors from France and Europe and 250 antiques, art and decoration shops in the town exhibit their most beautiful finds in the Parc Gautier, along the banks of the River Sorgue, in antique villages and along the streets. Each edition groups together over 100,000 visitors including a large number of foreign visitors. And don’t miss the Upcycling Festival, with a programme of workshops, conferences, and events… including its “Brocante du Surcylage” in Parc Gautier. The village antique dealers also stay open every weekend of the year. Pure paradise!

Meet second-hand dealers in Marseille

A group of second-hand dealers from Marseille has settled in the antiques village on Boulevard Fifi Turin – absolute heaven for Vintage fans. It has been an emblematic antiques venue in the Mediterranean city for more than 30 years. Les Puces Fifi is 9 antiques and second-hand dealers in an area of over 550m², who offer a wide range of old and modern furniture. On the first Sunday of each month, a great arrival of Vintage items is organised around a brunch at Mademoiselle Fifi, with nocturnal events and afterwork all year round. Continue on towards the Quartier des Antiquaires, symbolised by a cast iron archway, and its many antique shops, second-hand dealers, book dealers and even art galleries. Wander around this place which is perfect for relaxing and observation with its typical Napoleon III architecture, as can be seen in some lovely Haussmannien buildings with their carved dressed stone facades.

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Saturday bargains and even night bargains in Sommières, Gard

Sommières’ weekly market takes place in a region where the Mediterranean meets the Cévennes, and has many treasures to unveil for delighted art connoisseurs. These large, highly colourful second-hand markets and garage sales take place every Saturday on the village esplanade. The shady alleyways along the river are lovely and bring second-hand enthusiasts to the magnificent arenas of Sommières. In the spring and summer months, the markets come even more alive and you’ll find local products, regional specialities, clothing and all sorts of goods shown in lovely combinations. There’s a food market all year round. A good tip: buy fresh products, sit down on the terrace of a café at lunchtime and eat them with a glass of local wine. Often dedicated to kids, the garage sale in October is the perfect opportunity to spoil them. For night owls, the night markets in the summer every Wednesday evening (July and August) are a relaxed and festive invitation to wander round.

Walk around looking for gems in the Var

A no-to-be-missed fair in the south of France for the last 30 years, Le Grand Jardin in Fayence in the Var is home to patios and farmhouses and sixty or so exhibitors from all over France. It’s a real Ali Baba’s cave, and is considered an exhibition in its own right of the latest antiques discoveries: tableware, furniture, trinkets, silverware, jewellery, pictures, exceptional items and second-hand items are exhibited side by side. On the spot, there’s a restaurant that blends authenticity and Southern cuisine to wake up your taste buds in a country atmosphere. And every Sunday, there’s a marché-brocante in a wooded valley at Le Jas des Robert in Cogolin. Design, 20th-century objects and a whole lot of other things to discover are just waiting for one thing: to find a special place in or outside a new home!