The Loveliest Flea Market in France

France is riddled with flea markets; or Brocantes, as they are more romantically called. Name a town or city in France and you can pretty much guarantee there is a bustling market taking place most weekends where you can buy anything from a kitchen sink, a copper pan to wash up in it and even the food to go with it. France does flea markets! With so many to choose from and each having its own unique flavours & characteristics – its jolly difficult to pick a favourite. Being a chap who loves the sunshine, the warmth and smell that Provence supplies in endless measures, its hardly surprising that the markets of the South of France have that magnetic pull that lures me every time.

It is exceptionally rare for a dealer to share any of their sources with the outside world. Most of us spend our lives closely guarding our hard earned secrets – not wishing to share hidden wells that are the natural source of our stock… but there is something so beautiful about French flea markets that they simply cannot be kept secret and hidden. They are too good not too…

Villeneuve-les-Avignon rests on the opposite side of the river Rhone to its much bigger and grander brother, Avignon. Its a delightfully sleepy little town, with its roots dating back to the 11th century. It has a beautiful old fortress from the 14th century and lovely wine bars from the 21st. In fact, everything you could want! But, more relevant to this post, it has the proud honour of hosting a weekly flea market every single Saturday (from around 7am – 1pm).

To be fair, its much more than a flea market…its really an antiques market or ‘up market brocante’. The sellers are mainly professional dealers and one sees the same faces most visits. By 9am most are fully set up and smiling under the Provencal sun – or sheltering from its mistral winds – chatting away, tucking into a hearty mid morning snifter and sharing tales and stories of their latest finds.

Furniture, chandeliers, ceramics, pots and pans, paintings, prints and frames, mirrors, stuffed teddies and all sorts line the pavement and car park that host the 100+ plus dealers. There really is something for one and all. There is no need to worry about asking for directions – you cannot miss it!

Enjoy…