La Braderie – Europe's BIGGEST flea market
by homeshoppingspy • Monday, September 7, 2009 • Decorating and interiors, News, Stylish shopping • 32 Comments
Bethan and I have just got back from a fantastic trip to Lille in France, where we spent many happy hours browsing La Braderie – a massive, annual flea market. We were lucky enough to be practically teleported from London to Lille in just over an hour on the wonderful Eurostar – one minute, we were enjoying breakfast at St Pancras – the next moment we found ourselves standing in Lille town centre, clutching a map and some shopping bags ready for loot.
To begin with, I confess, we had a few map issues. Both of us are a bit ‘geographically challenged’, so we spent a while aimlessly wandering through the outskirts of the market, searching in vain for bric-a-brac. This area of the market was NOT very vintage – think pan pipe CDs, dodgy trainers, manky old nail varnishes, racks of velour tracksuits, smelly hot dog vans etc. Finally, we scraped together enough French (ish) to communicate with a local and were soon directed to the heart of the Braderie. We found ourselves surrounded by beautiful Brocante, and realised we were in Flea Market Heaven.
We kicked off proceedings in the ancient Citadelle, which was full of vintage books, magazines and postcards. I bought a pretty French novel for styling purposes only (my A-Level French is a dim and distant memory!) and Bethan stocked up on gorgeous postcards covered in elegant handwriting. We spent ages admiring some printers’ blocks and found some wicked old hairdressing chairs.
There were so many hundreds of wonderful things, it’s impossible to record, or even remember, them all! There was a lot of taxidermy – interesting, but gross – and we saw lots of lovely rustic wooden wine carriers and old metal watering cans. A gigantic chemist’s chest of drawers caught our eye, and we wished we had a van to transport a lovely cast iron bath back to the UK!
Lunch at La Braderie is a civilised affair – all the restaurants serve moules frites, then collect the shells in massive piles on the pavements and compete to see who has sold the most. We had a delicious meal, a cheeky glass of wine each, admired our purchases, and then headed back into the throng for more bargaining.
We each found some real gems. Bethan had her eyes peeled for a vintage, white bird cage – luckily, she struck gold and found the perfect one. I bought a galvanised wire log basket, and a 1930s clock. But the best buys of the day were two funky 1950s French learn-to-spell school tableaus, with retro lettering.
They were a pair, so we negotiated a deal with the stall holder and bought one each for 10 Euros. Bargainacious. By the time we were back on the luxurious Eurostar, we were completely shattered, but happily laden with vintage treasures. We’re already planning next September’s trip…  – Ellie
wow… this looks amazing! Will have to put it in the diary for next year!! xxx
wow… this looks amazing! Will have to put it in the diary for next year!! xxx
oh WOW! thank you so much for sharing… will DEFINITELY go next year…
oh WOW! thank you so much for sharing… will DEFINITELY go next year…
Oh wow, I adding this to my list of things I must do in my lifetime (and soon).
Oh wow, I adding this to my list of things I must do in my lifetime (and soon).
this’s just amazing! I’m crazy ’bout visiting europe, specially these small vintage bargain shops which i believe to be the best we can get from anywhere’s culture! It also drives me curious about the old times… au revoir!
this’s just amazing! I’m crazy ’bout visiting europe, specially these small vintage bargain shops which i believe to be the best we can get from anywhere’s culture! It also drives me curious about the old times… au revoir!
I LOVED this post! My neice lives in Lille, my husband is French, and I have a really bad case of homesickness for Brittany! Next time I visit my neice in Lille, I will make sure I head to La Braderie.
I LOVED this post! My neice lives in Lille, my husband is French, and I have a really bad case of homesickness for Brittany! Next time I visit my neice in Lille, I will make sure I head to La Braderie.
I love the old, word books. How great!
I love the old, word books. How great!
Great flea market – I am jealous!!!!
Great flea market – I am jealous!!!!
So that’s where my wallet got to
So that’s where my wallet got to
Can I tag along next year!! I will buy the coffee:)
wow, what an amazing trip!!! Sounds like you had such a wonderful time.
xx
callie
Can I tag along next year!! I will buy the coffee:)
wow, what an amazing trip!!! Sounds like you had such a wonderful time.
xx
callie
aaaww I want to lose myself in France too *.*
aaaww I want to lose myself in France too *.*
Wow this is such a great post – right up my alley! Fantastic pictures too.
Wow this is such a great post – right up my alley! Fantastic pictures too.
What time did you get there at? It doesn’t sound like you missed any bargains…I’m signing up for next year too!
What time did you get there at? It doesn’t sound like you missed any bargains…I’m signing up for next year too!
gutted I missed it, will definitely be there next year!
gutted I missed it, will definitely be there next year!
I have just booked to go with 2 girlfriends this September 2010 and after reading your experience we cannot wait!!
I have just booked to go with 2 girlfriends this September 2010 and after reading your experience we cannot wait!!
My partner and I have just returned from a long weekend in Flanders and this years Braderie. It was all we expected and more! The atmosphere was exhilarating, the bargains too numerous to buy and the food to yummy to resist. In all a fantastic trip with something for everyone. Will definitely go again next year.
My partner and I have just returned from a long weekend in Flanders and this years Braderie. It was all we expected and more! The atmosphere was exhilarating, the bargains too numerous to buy and the food to yummy to resist. In all a fantastic trip with something for everyone. Will definitely go again next year.
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