A lovely way to spend time in the South is looking for an antique or brocante treasure to take home. Small antique stores, bustling weekly markets, and groups of antique dealers selling together, this is our favorite pick of addresses. What would you like to find..? Read on to discover where to visit for buying antiques in France, particularly the glorious South!
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Villeneuve les Avignon
This beautiful high-end brocante takes place every Saturday of the year, in a sandy square. Vendors set up for business before 7 a.m and stay until around lunchtime. Aim to arrive around 8 a.m, enjoy the morning and take your time. Stop for coffee and even have lunch at the fair. A 100% authentic place for buying antiques in the South of France.
Every Saturday, 7 a.m to 1 p.m.
1 Place Charles David, 30400 Villeneuve-les-Avignon
Barjols Antiques
Around 10 antique and brocante dealers grouped together for easy shopping. You can park directly outside the warehouse and enjoy the wide variety of goods, from antique tableware and paintings to vintage clothes and handbags. A well-known name between aficionados and dealers who specialize in buying antiques in France.
Daily, 10.30 a.m to 6 p.m.
Les Carmes, Route de Draguignan, 83670 Barjols
Carpentras
Set in the heart of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region, Carpentras hosts a great weekly antiques fair with a broad selection of about 150 vendors. A great town to wander around in and soak up the local southern culture.
Every Sunday, 7 a.m to 6 p.m.
Allée Jean Jaures, Carpentras 84200
Antiquités Alric, Villecroze
A beautiful antiques and home decor store run by a charming couple. Fabrice and his wife Nathalie converted this authentic manoir house in Villecroze’s village center into a shop, selling their carefully curated wares both upstairs and downstairs. There’s no way you’d want to leave empty-handed.
Daily, from 9 a.m to 7 p.m (excluding Sundays and Mondays).
7 Place de l’Église, 83690 Villecroze
www.antiquites-alric.fr
Cours Mirabeau, Aix en Provence
Once a month, on a Sunday, the Cours Mirabeau in Aix’s town center becomes an open-air antiques fair. This lasts all day so you can take your time browsing and stop for a meal or an ice cream, at one of the city’s many attractive restaurants. Brocante shopping in a fantastic leafy setting.
One Sunday every month, 8 a.m to 8.30 p.m.
Cours Mirabeau, Aix en Provence 13100
Cours Saleya, Vieux-Nice
A big and bustling antiques fair with lots of silverware, tableware, books, textiles. Because it is Nice, prices are a little higher but it’s still well worth spending some time shopping here. Stop for coffee or lunch and make a day of it.
© visitthefrenchriviera.com
Mondays, 7 a.m to 7 p.m (throughout the year except on Mondays preceding a national holiday).
Cours Saleya, 16300 Nice
Les Puces de Nice
Set the city port, les Puces de Nice can always be counted upon for a good selection of antiques. The set up is akin to a mini version of the Paris flea markets with different vendors displaying their wares. An ideal place to buy antiques if you’re in the area.
Daily, 10 a.m to 6 p.m (except Sundays and Mondays).
12 Quai Papacino, 06300 Nice
Isle-sur-la-Sorgue
Considered by many to be the antiques’ Mecca of the South, this pretty little town is home to a very large number of antique dealers, who open every weekend. Also each Saturday and Sunday there is a brocante fair along the streets. While this is considered one of France’s best places of buying antiques, be wary of high prices!
Sundays, 8 a.m to 6 p.m.
Avenue des Quatre Otages, 84800 L’Isle-Sur-La-Sorgue
This article originally appeared in the July/August 2019 issue of
My French Country Home.