From Lyon to the Auvergne volcanoes via Savoie, twelve picks for the Ascension weekend: Yufrip vintage, 200 sellers in Gerzat, medieval Chilhac, Albertville Olympic Esplanade.
With its twelve départements stretching from extinct volcanoes to Rhône vineyards and high Alpine peaks, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes offers exceptionally varied flea-market territory for the Ascension long weekend. Twelve highlights stand out — from large professional antique fairs in Lyon to village vide-greniers in perched medieval bourgs. Our pick this week: the Yufrip Festival in Lyon, a three-day celebration of vintage, vinyl and second-hand that takes over the 3rd arrondissement — a unique format for the region. For larger gatherings, the Gerzat rugby club's record-setting 200 sellers near Clermont-Ferrand is essential. And for sheer setting, nothing beats the 25th edition of the Chilhac flea market, perched on its basalt cliff above the Allier valley.
Yufrip Festival: three days of vintage in Lyon 3rd (Rhône)
From Friday May 15 to Sunday May 17, Yufrip Festival takes over Lyon's 3rd arrondissement for three full days celebrating vintage and second-hand. Retro fashion, vinyl, vintage homeware, curated thrift stalls and designer pop-ups settle into this lively district between Part-Dieu and Guillotière. The format is closer to an urban fair than a village brocante: curatorial selection, young crowd, strong cultural angle, live programme alongside the stalls. This is Lyon's signature spring second-hand event, ideal for quality retro clothing, niche vinyl or simply a different atmosphere from traditional flea markets. The three-day format lets you take your time.
Gerzat Rugby Club flea market: 200 sellers near Clermont-Ferrand (Puy-de-Dôme)
On Sunday May 17, the Gerzat rugby club runs its annual flea market and vide-grenier at the Georges Fustier sports complex. With around 200 sellers spread across the car parks and grounds, this is one of the largest Ascension-weekend gatherings in the Clermont metropolitan area. Private sellers and professional brocanteurs mix in a spacious open-air format ideal for varied finds: furniture, crockery, books, old toys, knick-knacks and curiosities. Proceeds fund the rugby club's local activities. A solid bet if you're staying around Clermont-Ferrand or Riom: sheer volume of sellers plus reliable sporting-club organisation make it a regional fixture.
RCVS Pont-de-Veyle: 100 to 200 stalls on Avenue des Sports (Ain)
On Sunday May 17, the Rugby Club Veyle Saône flea market stretches 100 to 200 private sellers along Avenue des Sports at the Lucien Morel stadium in Pont-de-Veyle. Clothing, unique objects, crockery, furniture and miscellaneous finds: the chine is varied and affordable. Free entry for visitors, stalls at 2.50 euros per linear metre for amateurs, and a complimentary coffee for sellers. A friendly fixture in the Ain calendar, 25 minutes from Mâcon and 45 minutes from Bourg-en-Bresse. The nearby Saône banks make for a pleasant post-market walk.
25th Chilhac flea market: a basalt-perched medieval village (Haute-Loire)
On Saturday May 16, Chilhac's Comité des Fêtes runs the 25th edition of its traditional vide-greniers through the streets and around Place de Lachaud. Seventy sellers display at 3.50 euros for three metres in one of the most spectacular settings in this selection: Chilhac is a medieval village perched on a basalt cliff above the river Allier, classified as one of Haute-Loire's Petites Cités de Caractère. Twenty-five years on, it remains a benchmark for Auvergne village flea markets — intimate, beautifully framed, authentic. A must if you want to combine chine and heritage discovery in the upper Allier valley.
RAGA flea market on Albertville's Olympic Esplanade (Savoie)
On Sunday May 17, the Rythmik Aéro Gym association holds its annual vide-grenier on Albertville's Olympic Esplanade, the emblematic site of the 1992 Winter Games. The setting is rare: a vast open square facing the mountains, with the Olympic architectural legacy as backdrop. Stalls start at 12 euros for four linear metres, entry is free, and the atmosphere stays family-friendly despite the venue's scale. One of the two big Savoie flea markets of the weekend, ideal if you're heading up the valley or down from Tarentaise. Olympic heritage and chine — a combination you'll find nowhere else.
Bourgoin-Jallieu vide-grenier on Quai des Belges (Isère)
On Sunday May 17, the Bourgoin-Jallieu vide-grenier sets up along the Quai des Belges in the heart of this lively North-Isère town. A classic urban layout but effective: chineurs and strollers gather along the quayside for a day of bargain-hunting amid many sellers. Snack bar and small catering round out the family outing. Free entry. Bourgoin-Jallieu sits halfway between Lyon and Chambéry on the A43 motorway, making it an easy stopover for transit chineurs. Crockery, clothing, toys, books and trinkets dominate, in the down-to-earth atmosphere typical of Nord-Isère.
Ambert vide ses greniers: 5th edition on Place Charles de Gaulle (Puy-de-Dôme)
On Sunday May 17, Ambert vide ses greniers returns for its fifth edition on Place Charles de Gaulle, in the heart of the Livradois-Forez subprefecture. Organised by Collector63, the event welcomes private and professional sellers for a big day of chine within the Livradois-Forez Regional Natural Park. Ambert, with its distinctive architecture crowned by its round town hall, makes a fitting setting for what has become in five years one of south-eastern Puy-de-Dôme's leading flea-market dates. A good choice if you're staying in the Dore valley or want to pair chine with a visit to Ambert's cheese dairies or the historic Richard de Bas paper mill.
Jaujac flea-market fair: 80 sellers at the foot of the Ardèche volcanoes
On Sunday May 17, the Amicale Laïque of Jaujac runs its annual flea-market and vide-grenier on Place du Champ de Mars. Eighty sellers set up in this Ardèche village nestled in the Lignon gorges, at the foot of the Coupe de Jaujac volcano. Free entry, exceptional natural setting, village atmosphere. Jaujac is one of those chine destinations where the décor matters as much as the finds: basalt lava flow, river, black-stone houses. Pair it with a gorges hike or a visit to the Château du Bruget. Ideal for chineurs who like to combine brocante with wild Ardèche nature.
Broc & Co Scionzier: chine in the Arve valley (Haute-Savoie)
On Sunday May 17, the Broc & Co flea market fits within the Scionzier en Fête festivities. The streets of this industrial town in the Arve valley turn into a sprawling open-air flea market where chineurs and strollers cross paths in a festive mood. Brocante stalls, street entertainment and local food round out the offer. Scionzier sits 25 minutes from Chamonix and right next to Cluses: an excellent base if you're coming down from Mont-Blanc or heading toward Switzerland. Popular atmosphere, embedded in a town-wide celebration, easy access.
Plants Fair and Flea Market of Hérisson-Chateloy (Allier)
On Sunday May 17, the Plants Fair and Flea Market of Hérisson takes place at the hamlet of Chateloy. This medieval village perched above the Aumance is one of the loveliest in the Allier, with its ruined castle and old stone houses. The hybrid format combines a vide-grenier with a plant market, drawing both chineurs and gardeners from Bourbonnais and Berry. Remarkable rural setting, village atmosphere, family-friendly. A well-kept secret of the Allier flea-market calendar: not the biggest spread of the weekend, but probably one of the most charming. Pair it with a visit to the medieval site of Hérisson itself, a few kilometres away.
Vesc vide-grenier: two days in a perched Provençal village (Drôme)
On Saturday May 16 and Sunday May 17, the Vesc vide-grenier stretches across two days in this perched village of the Drôme hills, between Dieulefit and Buis-les-Baronnies. The picturesque atmosphere of this limestone-and-lavender bourg differs radically from urban gatherings: chine happens here at southern pace, with views over Provençal hills and the warmth of ancient stone. Intimate format, mostly private sellers, mixed local and tourist crowd. Ideal for a slow-paced chine weekend in Drôme Provençale, pairing well with Dieulefit's potters or the wine-route villages. A gem for anyone wanting to escape the Ascension-weekend large-format events.
Arpajon-sur-Cère vide-grenier, on the outskirts of Aurillac (Cantal)
On Sunday May 17, the parents' association runs its annual vide-grenier at the Salle de la Vidalie, in aid of the local school. Arpajon-sur-Cère is the second largest commune in Cantal, sitting just outside Aurillac, which ensures solid footfall. The event is more modest than the big Clermont or Saint-Étienne gatherings, but that's precisely its charm: a genuine community vide-grenier, organised by school parents, in a département where such events remain rare. A good choice if you're staying in Cantal for the long weekend or heading down to the Lot via the N122. Family atmosphere, friendly prices, charitable spirit.
Also worth a look this weekend in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
For more regional weekend picks, head to our national agenda. Enjoy the Ascension long weekend, and happy hunting.
