My fascination with brocantes, vide greniers, foires and the entire “flea/antique” market scene here in France continues.  I confess that before moving to Paris I rarely darkened the driveway of a garage sale and avoided flea markets with a passion.  Now? well, I’ve bookmarked the site: https://vide-greniers.org/ which lists every sale across France by region, by town and by type of event!  Needless to say I consult this site on a regular basis, especially as we move into the spring and summer months.

I think my fascination is owed in part to the fact that I can occasionally find items at these sales that are, in fact, older than Canada.  And some of these items aren’t even expensive!  I’m also fascinated by the countless photo opportunities in the seemingly random arrangement of often incongruent, and sometimes even bizarre, items.  From spare hands to oil paintings, carpets to doors, stuffed animals to bathtubs….you just never know what treasure you might find at a vide grenier (literally “empty the attic” sale) or brocante in one of the small country villages!

The photos in this particularl gallery are from the Foire de Chatou, the semi-annual antique and brocante held on a small island where the impressionist painters used to while away hours at their art.  I didn’t buy anything as the prices are quite high given the proximity to Paris (it’s a short metro ride away) but I did have fun with my camera.