Shortcuts
Flea, Antique & Vide-Grenier Markets
Europe doesn’t do Garage Sales, preferring neighborhood Brocantes and Vide-Greniers. Not sure what those are? Read on for Iconic Riviera’s complete guide to the markets happening on the French Riviera:
Brocantes (Flea Markets)
In a Brocante, the exhibitors are professionals. There are therefore objects of greater value than in garage sales. The second-hand dealer sells furniture, everyday objects: lamps, dishes, linens, old tools, books, magazines, postcards, and other collections … In short, all the nuggets from the 1920s to the 2000s!
Salon d’Antiquaire (Antique Market)
Unlike the second-hand dealer, the antique dealer generally sells furniture, works of art or books dating back more than a century. Some antique dealers have their own shop but can participate in large one-off events.
Many antique dealers specialize and offer furniture in the Empire, Directory or Louis XVI style for example. They have an obligation to guarantee the authenticity of the goods they offer for sale.
Vide Grenier / Bric à Brac (Household Sale)
Each village usually does one or two Vide Greniers a year, spring and fall. The sellers are mainly individuals (even if some allow second-hand dealers), and each family fills a table with all manner of fascinating finds, from the most hilarious junk to the most interesting antiques.
This is an unpacking sale where individuals sell items that they no longer need. You will find everything there: clothes, books, video games, toys, comics, decorative objects, childcare equipment… Vide Greneirs are often festive events at very affordable prices.
You will of course find valuables there but also a lot of objects at 1, 2 or 5 euros!
The prices at these bric-a-brac free-for-alls are a fraction of the weekly flea markets, and bargaining is the way to go… if you don’t speak French, start with a ‘bonjour‘ and a smile, then just point and use the calculator on your smartphone to make your offer!
We keep the Iconic Riviera events calendar updated with the dates for these events.
Brocantes (Clearance Sales)
You can also hunt in a clearance sale, historically organized in the open air and bringing together local stores wishing to liquidate their stock (and, sometimes, second-hand stores). The most coveted sale in the open air, is the Braderie de St Tropez, where the local stores put their items on sale before closing up for the winter.
Where to Find the Sales
See below for a list of sales, and check our events calendar for markets and special sales events, plus our guide to the best places to find shopping deals.
If you want even more, this is the government’s official calendar of all local markets: Just look for ‘Vide Grenier’ (selling anything and everything) or ‘Frippery’ (selling mostly clothes) or ‘Brocante’ (which means pricey professional antique dealers which, while interesting, is usually not cheap). Bring some sacks and lots of small bills.
Agay
Antibes
- Antiques: every Thursday and Saturday: Place Audiberti
- Crafts: Thursday to Saturday: Cours Massena
- Antiques: last Sunday of the month: in the Old Port parking at Golfe-Juan
Beaulieu-sur-Mer
Cagnes
Cannes
- Antiques: every Monday: Marché Forville indoor market
- Flea-market: every Friday: Ranguin
- Antiques: every Saturday and Sunday from 7am to 5:30pm: Les Allées de la Liberté
- Artists fair: every Sunday: Les Allées de la Liberté
- Antiques: second Friday of the month: Place Carnot in Le Cannet
- Antiques: every Thursday from 8am to 12pm: market square of Cannes La Bocca
Learn about the best places to shop in Cannes.
La Colle sur Loup
Fréjus
Grasse
- Antiques: every Wednesday: Cours Honoré Cresp
- Antiques: third Saturday of the month: Cours Honoré Cresp
Grimaud
Menton
- Antiques: every Friday from 7am to 6pm: Esplanade Francis Palméro
- Flea market: second Sunday of the month: Esplanade du Bastion
Nice
- Big antiques market: every Monday from 7am to 6pm: Cours Saleya
- Antiques: first Sunday of the month: Quai de la Douane
- Art: second Saturday of the month: Place du Palais de Justice
- Books: first and third Saturday of the month: Place du Palais de Justice
- Collectable postcards: last Saturday of the month: Place du Palais de Justice
Learn more about the markets in Nice.
Saint-Raphaël
- Antiques and bric-a-brac: every Sunday: parking area at Débarquement au Dramont
- Antiques and bric-a-brac: every Tuesday: Place Coullet
- Antiques: first Friday of the month: on the seafront at Agay
St-Tropez
Learn about the giant yearly street sale in St. Tropez.
Valbonne
Vence
Villefranche-sur-Mer
- Antiques and flea-market: every Sunday from 7am to 5pm: Jardin Francois Binon, by the tourism office
Want more? Learn about the best shopping deals and sales on the French Riviera.
