Pentecost weekend hunting in Nouvelle-Aquitaine: militaria, surf and 200 stalls at Crozant

From the Basque coast to the Limousin via Périgord and Vienne, Nouvelle-Aquitaine spreads a rare three-day spread: large Pentecost village sales, a first-ever militaria fair in Neuville-de-Poitou, the historic Biarritz surf clearance and hunting beneath a medieval fortress in Crozant. Our pick of the weekend: the Pentecost Fair of Saint-Pardoux-l'Ortigier, marking its 11th edition on Sunday beside the village pond — between 100 and 200 exhibitors, free pony rides, local Pays de Tulle straw wine. For urban hunters, Poitiers opens the weekend on Saturday with its city-centre antiques fair.

11th Pentecost Fair of Saint-Pardoux-l'Ortigier (Corrèze)

Sunday May 24, the association L'Ortigier en Fête hosts its Pentecost Fair on the shaded site of Espace Henri et Martine Dumont, by the village pond. The event brings 100 to 200 exhibitors around a fair combining regional produce, wines, plants, flowers, fine craft and a flea market. Free pony rides for children, Pays de Tulle straw wine at the bar: a complete format, anchored in Corrèze village life, perfect for the Pentecost long weekend. Twenty minutes north of Brive.

Crozant flea market: 200 stalls beneath the medieval fortress (Creuse)

Sunday May 24, the Comité des Fêtes deploys its annual Crozant flea market along the main street, below the medieval fortress ruins dominating the confluence of the Creuse and Sédelle rivers. Around 200 private sellers and dealers set up from 6 am in this listed monument site, painted by Monet and the whole Crozant School. One of the most spectacular hunting settings in the Limousin. On-site catering, parking in the village.

Parc Castaigne Bric à Brac in Angoulême (Charente)

Sunday May 24, the Sillac Grande-Garenne residents' committee runs its annual Parc Castaigne Bric à Brac, allée Castaigne. Between 50 and 100 private sellers and dealers take over this urban park — one of the prettiest green spaces in Angoulême — from 6.30 am to 6 pm. Family atmosphere, accessible prices, good variety: this neighbourhood yard sale-flea market remains one of the major Angoulême rendez-vous of the season, to combine with a stroll through the comics city.

41st Baignes-Sainte-Radegonde flea market under the medieval covered market (Charente)

Sunday May 24, the Baignes festivities committee hosts the 41st edition of one of southern Charente's oldest hunting events, on the place des Halles and in the streets of the village. Four decades have turned it into a ritual for hunters on the Cognac-Bordeaux diagonal. The architectural setting — medieval covered market, village lanes — gives the sprawl a character hard to find elsewhere. Private sellers and professional dealers mingled.

Poitiers flea market: Saturday in the city centre (Vienne)

Saturday May 23, the Poitiers flea market takes over the centre of the Vienne prefecture. Professional dealers and private sellers gather for this major urban Haut-Poitou hunting event. Free entry, atmosphere of a city of art and history with 735 years of university tradition. An ideal chance to combine hunting with a heritage walk in a pale-stone city, between Notre-Dame-la-Grande and the Palace of the Counts of Poitou. The urban format sets it apart from the weekend's other rural events.

First Neuville-de-Poitou militaria fair (Vienne)

Sunday May 24, Neuville-de-Poitou hosts its very first militaria fair in the main town of the Neuvillois, 20 minutes north of Poitiers. Collectors and enthusiasts of uniforms, insignia, medals and military equipment are expected for this inaugural edition. This kind of specialist rendez-vous remains rare in Haut-Poitou: a chance for regional collectors to test a new venue, and for the curious to approach a highly codified hunting theme. Entry expected free or modest.

Sainte-Orse yard sale, 80 stalls in Périgord blanc (Dordogne)

Sunday May 24, the Sainte-Orse animation committee hosts its annual yard sale in the village centre of this small Périgord blanc commune. Over 80 exhibitors are expected with furniture, crockery, clothes, toys and second-hand bric-à-brac. A locally cherished human-scale format, with a well-established reputation in the department. Take-away fast food on site, relaxed Périgord village atmosphere.

Eymet yard sale and flea market: 200 stalls in the bastide (Dordogne)

Sunday May 24, the Portes Sud Périgord Tourist Office runs the Eymet Yard Sale and Flea Market along boulevard National, avenue du Maréchal de Lattre de Tassigny, the Gare park and avenues du Général de Gaulle and George Duby. More than 200 private sellers and dealers take over Eymet's arteries from 7 am to 6 pm, in this medieval Périgord pourpre bastide with strong Anglo-Saxon attachments. Free entry, on-site catering. A rare volume for a Pentecost Sunday.

Gaillan-en-Médoc craft market and yard sale (Gironde)

Saturday May 23 and Sunday May 24, Gaillan-en-Médoc combines for two days a craft market with a yard sale in northern Médoc. The mixed format attracts both hunters and lovers of unique contemporary pieces. Festive and rural atmosphere, perfect for a Médoc weekend between estuary and vineyards, one hour from Bordeaux. Northern Médoc fine-craft makers are well represented.

Biarritz Surf Gear Clearance: three days at Halle d'Iraty (Pyrénées-Atlantiques)

From Friday May 22 to Sunday May 24, the Biarritz Surf Gear Clearance brings together at Halle d'Iraty the major brands of surf, bodyboard, skateboard and board sports clearing their stock at slashed prices: wetsuits, boards, accessories, technical clothing and streetwear. The unmissable Basque coast event for enthusiasts, with massive turnout over the three days. Not a traditional flea market, but a singular second-hand and textile-equipment destocking format that earns its place on the agenda.

Pentecost yard sale in Pissos (Landes)

Sunday May 24, the Pissos festivities committee with Le Bouchon des Deux Leyre hosts its Pentecost yard sale behind the church and on the village square, in the Landes de Gascogne Regional Nature Park. The yard sale fits a full festive programme: musical aperitif, pétanque, clay-pigeon shooting, hike, tea dance, young-bull running and fireworks. Authentic Landes village fête format, for those who want to live Pentecost in Gascon-village mode rather than coastal.

Pentecost yard sale in Chamborêt (Haute-Vienne)

Sunday May 24, the Chamborêt yard sale returns for its annual Pentecost rendez-vous in this 800-inhabitant village of the Pays de Bellac, north of Limoges. Private sellers, bric-à-brac, clothes and second-hand objects animate the village in the festive Pentecost atmosphere typical of the Haut Limousin. Authentic rural format, ideal for avoiding large crowds and hunting quietly in early afternoon.

For more regional weekend picks, head to our national agenda. Enjoy the Pentecost long weekend and happy hunting.