Buying Antiques for your French home

Finding a unique and charming antique or decorative item is one of the joys of being a French property owner – Karen Tait explains how and where to find vintage treasures in France…

While stores like IKEA are a budget-friendly source of furnishings in France, most British owners like to inject a touch of character and history into the decor of their French home, especially if it’s a period property. The ideal place to find older furniture and objets d’art are France’s many antiques fairs and flea markets. These vary from enormous annual events like the Lille Braderie to smaller village affairs, including vide-greniers (literally ’empty attics’).

Also check out brocante shops, a charming place to while away some time browsing their treasures (even if you’re not looking to buy something!) as well as secondhand stores such as dépôt-ventes and the Emmaus charity branches across the country. Buying secondhand is a sustainable way to shop and can save you a lot of money when kitting out your French property too.

Here are some of france’s best-known antiques markets.

Not surprisingly, the capital is a veritable treasure trove for chineurs (bargain hunters) with a choice of atmospheric year-round flea markets (puces) as well as antique boutiques. On the outskirts of Paris, Les Puces de St-Ouen is one of the largest antique markets in the world, consisting of numerous individual markets and alleyways, each with its own specialty. The Clignancourt section is known for its high- end antiques. In southern Paris, the Puces de la Port de Vanves has a smaller, more intimate setting, offering a diverse range of antique furniture, jewellery and collectibles.

Only an hour from the Channel Tunnel, the beautiful city of Lille is transformed into a vast antiques and secondhand market every September. The Braderie de Lille is one of the largest flea markets in Europe, with every street and alley full of stalls offering everything from artisan creations to high-and antiques to house clearances as well as a wide array of other goods. It’s a great day out even if you’re not antique-hunting and you’ll also be treated to the sight of mountains of mussel shells on the streets, the result of thousands of delicious moules frites lunches!

The second largest market in northern France after Lille, the Grande Réderie d’Amiens is held twice a year in April and October. A huge event which started in 1909, it takes over the streets of the town – to find a real bargain, arrive at 2am when the first stalls open!

Northern France has several antiques markets, including the Foire aux Puces de l’Ascencion in Crèvecoeur-le-Grand (May), accompanied by fireworks and a classic car parade; Montreuil- sur-Mer, twice a year including Bastille Day with fireworks; Maroilles, known for its stinky cheese (June).

In the south of France, this charming town criss-crossed by the River Sorgue, with its lovely old waterwheels, is known as the Venice of Provence. It’s also famous for its antiques shops and large Foire Internationale Antiquités et Brocante held over four days (March/April in 2024), and there’s also a smaller flea market every Sunday. The town attracts dealers and antiques- lovers from around the world, and most of the antiques shops offer international shipping.

Just across the Rhône river from its better-known neighbour Avignon, Villeneuve-lès-Avignon is a picturesque medieval town which hosts one of France’s most respected antique fairs along the walls of Fort St- André. As well as the biannual Brocante Passion in May and October, there’s a weekly Saturday market.

Avignon itself holds a monthly antiques trade fair, Avignon International, and Provence in general is known as a place to find ancient treasures. Many towns host antique markets, including Arles (first Wednesday of the month), Uzès (Sundays) and Carpentras (Sundays).

In the old town of the Riviera capital Nice, Cours Saleya is famous for its colourful daily flower and fresh produce market, as well as summer arts and crafts evenings. Every Monday, however, it’s transformed into a huge antiques market, the perfect place to find unique vintage jewellery, ceramics and artwork. There’s also an antiques district by the port.

France’s second largest permanent flea market, Les Puces du Canal in Villeurbanne comprises 200 permanent stores plus space for hundreds of outdoor traders. Open year round on Thursday, Saturday and Sunday, it’s a melting pot of secondhand and vintage goods, including antique and upcycled furniture, artwork and design pieces, alongside bars and restaurants. Famous for silk- making and other textiles, Lyon has a particularly vibrant vintage clothing scene. There’s also an antiques district in the Auguste Comte quartier, which is home to the Tapis Rouge antiques event every October.

Set in this lovely lakeside town in the Alps, the Brocante d’Annecy is held on the last Saturday of the month in the old town. As well as the usual furniture and paraphernalia, you’ll found items with a more Alpine flavour such as old skis and snow-shoes, cowbells, fishing gear, rustic wooden utensils, agricultural items, and vintage kitchenware like milk jugs and butter moulds.

The thriving city of Montpellier in Occitanie has a vibrant antique scene, with shops and markets catering for a wide range of interests, especially along Rue de l’Ancien Courrier. Some of the most popular flea markets are the Marché aux Puces de la Paillade (Sundays), Les Dimanches de Peyrou and weekly Marché du Lez, and there’s also a twice- yearly Grand Bazar in spring and autumn.

In France’s mustard capital, you’ll find a charming antique district around Rue des Forges, with antique shops specialising in furniture, art and vintage collectibles. The Burgundy capital holds an antiques market every Sunday on Place François Rude in the historic centre, selling everything from furniture to rugs to porcelain.

The Grande Foire à la Brocante de Pézenas, or Grand Déballage (grand unpacking), is held twice a year (May and October), stretching over two kilometres along the Route National 113. The southern town is a mecca for antiques buyers with many permanent shops.

Discover more antiques and flea markets at:

• brocabrac.fr
• vide-greniers.org
• francebrocante.fr
• chineo.fr
• lesvidegreniers.fr
• flanerbouger.fr
• lespepitesdefrance.com
• antiquites-en-france.com
• anticstore.com
• salons-antiquaires.com

DID YOU KNOW?

You can even find a market offering a unique mix of antiques and ham! At Chatou near Paris, the Foire à la Brocante et aux Jambons has evolved from a centuries-old ham fair to offer a unique blend of antiques and local culinary delights.

Interested in reading more real life stories?

French Property News magazine is a must-buy publication for anyone serious about purchasing and owning real estate in France, which offers a unique combination of legal, financial, and tax advice along with in-depth location guides, moving real life stories, the best properties currently on the market, entertaining regular pages, and the most recent property news and market reports.