From Aillant-sur-Tholon's 600 sellers across six kilometers to Pontarlier's town-wide sale, fourteen stops this August 1-2 weekend in Burgundy-Franche-Comte.
The first weekend of August sees Burgundy-Franche-Comte go all in. On August 1 and 2, the hunt happens at every possible scale. Six kilometers of country roads buried under stalls in the Yonne, a 240-seller clearance sale in the Haut-Doubs, a book market under the arcades of a listed priory.
My top pick is the Montholon Flea Market in Aillant-sur-Tholon. Between 600 and 700 sellers and more than 20,000 visitors make it one of the largest gatherings of its kind in France, and it lands exactly on this Sunday. Belfort, Auxerre and twelve other stops fill out the map, across all eight departments of the region.
The Montholon Flea Market in Aillant-sur-Tholon (Yonne, Sunday August 2)
Every first Sunday of August, the roads of the Tholon valley vanish under market stalls. Between 600 and 700 sellers spread out over five to six kilometers around Aillant-sur-Tholon. More than 20,000 visitors make the trip.
The scale changes everything. You don't walk around a single square here, you cover an entire valley. Plan a full day, wear decent shoes and have a backup plan for parking.
It ranks among the biggest events of its type anywhere in France. The Montholon Flea Market takes over the Tholon valley roads on Sunday.
The Pontarlier Summer Clearance Sale (Doubs, during August)
Commerce Pontarlier Centre runs one of the largest retail events in the Haut-Doubs every summer. More than 240 sellers take over the town center streets: local shopkeepers on one side, travelling traders on the other.
It runs from 8:30am to 6:30pm and access stays free. This is not a classic antiques hunt. You'll find as much end-of-line stock and discounted goods as period pieces, in a lively street atmosphere.
Aim for this one if pure treasure hunting has started to tire you out. The Pontarlier Summer Clearance Sale fills the town center this August.
The 18th Plainefas Car Boot Sale in Saint-Martin-du-Puy (Nievre, Saturday August 1)
Plainefas is a hamlet of Saint-Martin-du-Puy, a village of 400 people in the Morvan hills of the Nievre. Every year, the residents' association stages a car boot sale that far outgrows the place itself. More than 100 sellers set up on the La Chaume site.
The 2026 edition is the eighteenth. Stalls open at 7am and hold on until 6pm, an unusually long stretch for a community-run event.
It's one of the biggest gatherings of its kind in the Morvan. The Plainefas Car Boot Sale occupies La Chaume on Saturday.
The Belfort Flea Market on Place d'Armes (Territoire de Belfort, Sunday August 2)
On the first Sunday of the month, from March to December, Belfort's Place d'Armes welcomes some 150 sellers. Antique dealers, collectors and passers-by cross paths there for most of the year.
The market has run for more than fifty years. Few French flea markets can claim that without having moved venue along the way.
The historic setting does the rest: Place d'Armes opens straight onto the old town. The Belfort Flea Market sets up on Place d'Armes on Sunday.
The Arquebuse Flea Market in Auxerre (Yonne, Sunday August 2)
Every first Sunday of the month, the Lezeteribles association fills Auxerre's covered Arquebuse market hall. Between 100 and 200 sellers offer bric-a-brac, antiques, books, records and assorted objects.
The venue's advantage comes down to one word: indoors. No weather to track, no tarpaulin to unfold in a hurry. That's rare for a gathering this size.
Hunters across the Yonne have known this date for many years. The Arquebuse Flea Market fills the covered hall on Sunday.
The Summer Saturday Flea Markets in Noyers-sur-Serein (Yonne, Saturday August 1)
Noyers-sur-Serein is listed among the Most Beautiful Villages of France. Every Saturday in July and August, around twenty sellers set up between the 14th-century ramparts, the defensive towers and the art galleries.
Twenty stalls is not many. But the walk alone justifies the detour, and the selection matches the surroundings.
Slot it in on Saturday morning, ahead of Sunday's markets elsewhere in the department. The Summer Saturday Flea Markets liven up the medieval village on Saturday.
The La Charite-sur-Loire Book Market (Nievre, Sunday August 2)
La Charite-sur-Loire is a UNESCO World Heritage site as part of the Santiago de Compostela pilgrimage routes. The town also carries the 'City of the Word' label. A book market was the obvious next step.
On the first Sunday of the month, booksellers set up under the arcades of the Priory on Place Sainte-Croix. Antiquarian and second-hand books, comics, posters and old documents all get leafed through before they get bought.
It's the most specialized stop of the weekend, and probably the quietest. The Book Market opens at the Priory on Sunday.
The UCIA Car Boot Sale in Vitteaux (Cote-d'Or, Sunday August 2)
Vitteaux's trade and crafts union runs its large car boot sale every summer in the municipal park, on the Avallon road. Between 100 and 200 sellers, private individuals and professionals mixed together, at two euros per linear meter.
No booking required. Pitches are handed out on a first-come basis from 6am. Regulars know this and turn up early.
Food stands, a bar and entertainment round out the day. The UCIA Car Boot Sale fills the municipal park on Sunday.
The Alise-Sainte-Reine Car Boot Sale (Cote-d'Or, Sunday August 2)
Hunting for bargains a few steps from the statue of Vercingetorix: Alise-Sainte-Reine offers a backdrop few car boot sales can match. The Alesia Auto Sport association places sellers at the Theatre des Roches, on Allee Felix Kir, in a green and shaded setting.
Fewer than fifty sellers, private and professional alike, at two euros per linear meter. Entry stays free for visitors.
A buffet and bar operate on-site, with free coffee for early sellers. The Alise-Sainte-Reine Car Boot Sale runs at the Theatre des Roches on Sunday.
The Montrond Flea Market (Jura, Sunday August 2)
Montrond is a hilltop village perched above the Arbois valley. Every summer, in August, its streets host a flea market where antiques, second-hand goods and bric-a-brac share the space.
The view over the Jura vineyards makes the difference. You climb up to hunt, then stay for the panorama.
Small format, countryside mood, no queues anywhere. The Montrond Flea Market takes over the village streets on Sunday.
The Lons-le-Saunier Monthly Antiques Market (Jura, Saturday August 1)
On the first Saturday of the month, from March to November, Allee des Tilleuls and Place au Cygne host the Jura Antique Dealers Association. Around 25 professional sellers, from 8am to 4pm, free entry.
Only twenty-five stalls, but every one of them run by a professional. The sorting has been done upstream, which changes the nature of the visit.
Local hunters have made it their date for years. The Lons-le-Saunier Monthly Antiques Market stretches along Allee des Tilleuls on Saturday.
The Musical Car Boot Sale in Jougne (Doubs, during August)
The Jougne music society runs one of the oldest antiques fairs in the Haut-Doubs every August. Around fifty sellers share the grounds of the Salle Roland Tempesta, on Place du Champ aux Dames.
The name is accurate: live music runs through the day. On the food side, pea soup, snails and crepes hold the catering stand together.
This is the festive version of the hunt, halfway between a car boot sale and a village fete. The Musical Car Boot Sale occupies Place du Champ aux Dames this August.
Also worth a look
- The Gray Municipal Car Boot Sale (Haute-Saone) gathers private sellers around second-hand goods on Sunday: clothes, toys, books, trinkets and tableware. It's the only date recorded in the department this weekend. See the listing.
- The Anzy-le-Duc Flea Market and Car Boot Sale (Saone-et-Loire) starts at 6am on Sunday, run by the festivities committee of this historic Brionnais village. See the listing.
On August 1 and 2, all eight departments of Burgundy-Franche-Comte have something running. Six kilometers of stalls in the Yonne on one side, twenty sellers in a medieval village on the other: the gap is enormous, the urge to go hunting stays identical.
Fancy looking elsewhere? The full weekend agenda covers every region.
