Go Euro Antiques! – Go Lille Braderie! Every first weekend of September, Lille in northern France is the capital of antiques bargain-hunting! The Braderie de Lille is Europe’s largest flea market.
News-Antique.com - May 20,2009 - During the weekend of 5th and 6th September 2009 more than one million visitors will once again stroll up and down the city streets, entertained by music and the numerous performances that take place continuously from 2pm on Saturday to 11pm on Sunday. Enjoying a dish of “Moules and Frites” (mussels served with chips) has become a deeply-rooted tradition and is the subject of a contest between the town’s restaurants to see who can build the highest mountain of empty mussel shells!
Lille Braderie offers:
33 continuous hours of treasure hunting, bargaining and fun.
100 km (60 miles!!) of stalls.
10,000 exhibitors
Over one million visitors.
Over 500 tons of mussels to be consumed.
In France, “brader” means “to sell at a low price” and it is well known that you can sell and buy anything at the Lille flea market such as antiques, clothes, jewellery, decorative objects, etc!
Transformed into one gigantic pedestrian zone, the city offers treasure hunters and visitors alike a vast number of stalls and buying opportunities in a friendly atmosphere governed by the rhythm of the swarming crowd. Ever since the Middle Ages, the tradition has lived on, and today, the Lille flea market remains the most awaited event of the fall season.
Finding your way around.
Antiques (furniture, bibelots, crockery, collections, etc.) can be found on the Esplanade (alongside the Deûle canal, in front of the Champ de Mars).
In addition to Boulevard Louis XIV, rue Debierre and rue du Réduit, Boulevard Jean-Baptiste Lebas is exclusively reserved for antiquarians.
Nothing compares to the Sunday morning atmosphere in Wazemmes when the flea market blends with the lively, colourful market of the Place de la Nouvelle Aventure.
Along Boulevard Victor Hugo and in the Moulins district (rue d’Arras, rue de Douai, rue de Cambrai et rue de Maubeuge), the inhabitants hold a true garage sale.
The narrow streets of Old Lille are divided between the stalls of designer shops and those of private residents.
Finally, between the Porte de Roubaix and the Opera, the Arts district welcomes about thirty professional antique dealers from England and Burgundy. You will recognize them by their flags flying on rue Léon Trulin, rue Anatole France, rue des Arts and rue de Roubaix.
Getting around Lille
During the flea market access to the heart of the town is impossible by car. Therefore, it is best to take the train and use public transportation. Regional trains, the subway, buses and trams will get you where you want to go.
Where is Lille?
Lille is in northern France, about 50 miles from the ferry port of Dunkerque or 70 miles from the ferry port of Calais and the Euro Tunnel terminal road/rail link, which connects to Folkestone, England. Alternatively, direct high-speed passenger rail services operate from St. Pancras station London, England to the centre of Lille in just 90 minutes or less.
Want some help planning your visit? You can email ronheath@gbaw.co.uk for free help and advice.
