I thought I should post about our delightful flea markets before the summer ends. The flea markets here in southern France are called Vide Greniers- literally “empty the attic” and occur every Sunday.. Many villages have an annual flea market. The villagers each get a free spot in front of their house and then professional dealers fill in the market also. It’s a great way to not only shop for treasures, but to discover and explore new villages.
I get the list from the Tourist Office as soon as I arrive and plot out each Sunday”s markets. Usually there are 2-3 within an hours drive. It’s one of our fun adventures during the workshop week- we pick up treasures to use in our art that week (and of course to go home with)!
There are antique postcards, papers, old fashion magazines from the early 1900′s(one of my favorite things to look for), old brass and silver parts, keys, old locks, trims and button, fabrics, white linens, clothes, pottery, old jewelry-the list of treasures goes on and on. And unlike the Paris flea markets things are TRES inexpensive- usually 50cents to 5 Euros.
I’m looking forward to sharing the Vides with all of you coming next year!
Love your blog site. So nice to see you are again happy and active in France. I won’t be coming until October this year and will probably miss you and Dan.
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Dear Suzanne, we will so miss seeing you – so we’ll cross our fingers again for next summer-. Just read all about your bike trip- FANTASTIQUE!!
Dayle, so happy to see this article–YES! The markets are fun. I’ve included a link here http://artsanova.com/rebecca_martinez/stories/the-love-of-shoes/ to a fun pair of shoes I saw at the market there.
Rebecca- thanks for your link- wonderful! Sure miss you- We’ve been keeping our eye out for your prince!
Dayle; Oddly, I did meet a man as I was waiting to be picked up from the airport at home in Sacramento. Last possible minute to qualify for “on my trip” It looked promising but then bombed–oh well! I wasn’t too hopeful.