What's the Difference: Vide Grenier vs. Brocante?
Vide Greniers or ‘Vide’ (lingo for the locals) is really just a neighborhood rummage sale. This weekend tradition is popular among Parisians, who flock to these sales in search of hidden gems. Hint, if you want to spot the pro’s, they will usually be there the first morning before the vide is technically even open - they know that the early bird gets the worm!
A brocante is manned by a much more sophisticated seller (brocanteur / brocanteuse). These folks are well beyond hobbyists, this is often their business, and whether or not they have a physical location, they certainly know what they are doing. Finding a great deal here may be more relative to what you would pay elsewhere rather than finding a Picasso for 5 euros!
Tips for a Successful French Antiquing Adventure:
- Bring small bills and change: While you may get lucky to find a brocanteur that has a credit card terminal, most times you will not. And at a vide grenier, you’ll find prices in the ‘petite monnaie’ range from 1 euro onward.
- Pack your own bags: if you think you may buy fragile items, you may want to get your own bubble wrap. At vide greniers, the spirit is that you are buying from every folk, extras like wrapping and bags are limited!
- Don’t be afraid to negotiate: Haggling is expected at both vide greniers and brocantes. Sometimes just for the sport of it - it is welcome and expected. Keep it reasonable though - there can be a bit of pride with the folks selling, especially brocanteurs and you don’t want to find yourself in a situation where you insult them and they refuse to continue to negotiate! We’ve seen it happen.
- Mind your manners: Your French etiquette applies even at the open market, so be sure to always start with a ‘bonjour’!
While we could ramble on and on about all of the different vides and brocantes we love, today we’re just going to focus on two of our favorites that we think you should definitely drop by should you be in France when they are taking place!
Marché aux Puces de Saint-Ouen
If you’re in Paris over the weekend, look no further than the Marché aux Puces de Saint-Ouen, affectionately known as Les Puces.
This is Paris’ largest flea market, featuring around 1,700 merchants scattered across seven covered markets and five shopping streets. It is the largest concentration of antique and second-hand dealers in the world! They welcome over 5 million people a year and are a must-visit for any thrifting aficionado out there.
To get there you can take line 4 to Porte de Clignancourt, inside the station, look out for the signs pointing you toward the exit for “Marché aux Puces”, and continue following the signs once outside!
They are open three days a week: Saturday, Sunday, and Monday.
Braderie de Lille
Did you know that Lille, a city just north of Paris, hosts the largest flea market in Europe each year? It’s just a one-hour train ride from Gare du Nord to Lille’s city center.
If you are interested in visiting Lille during this highly sought-after weekend, now is the time to start planning. Fail to plan, plan to fail as you can expect more than 2 million people coming in to enjoy this fabulous city-wide event. Everyone will be lining the street with their wares, from the present-day boutiques to antique dealers to folks like you and me.
With over 10,000 stalls it is impossible to get around to everything (it would take a full 40 hours to cover all the streets where the Braderie takes place), so you will want to pick and choose. Consult the map posted on their website to target your area of preference.
- Go early! The morning of the first day is a sweet spot. After lunchtime, the city quickly fills with visitors from all parts of France and Europe to enjoy the weekend. The main alleys are so busy it can be difficult to get around.
- With the number of people in the city for the weekend, finding accommodation can be tough! If you want to make it a weekend visit, secure your accommodation as early as possible!
- If a weekend visit isn't feasible, a day trip is a great option. With frequent trains back to Paris, you can enjoy a full day of exploring.
- Prepare for lots of walking! The entire city center shuts down to foot traffic during the event, so be ready to explore on foot.
- While you are there, indulge in moules frites! If there is one thing our northern neighbors are known for, it is this fabulous dish and they will be everywhere!
They are consumed in such mass, apparently more than 500 tons, that they are thrown onto the streets of the city. Half the fun is watching them pile up. Our advice? Arrive early for lunch to beat the crowds!
Head on over to their website for more information!
