Javarzay's 43rd flea market and its 300 sellers below the château, the big Beaumontois-en-Périgord clearance sale: eleven New Aquitaine hunting grounds for the June 20-21 weekend.
The solstice weekend lands perfectly for hunters: the longest days of the year, mild weather and the big annual flea markets bringing out their stalls again. From the Deux-Sèvres bocage to the Périgord bastides, New Aquitaine unpacks a dense calendar on Saturday June 20 and Sunday June 21, where prestige gatherings sit alongside niche swap meets and village yard sales. Our pick of the week goes to Javarzay and its three hundred sellers spread out below a Renaissance château. But we also kept a fair for sewing enthusiasts, a two-day charity clearance sale and a self-proclaimed "navel of the world" village that blends hunting, pétanque and a music festival. Eleven outings to fill a car boot and a weekend.
43rd Javarzay Flea Market and Yard Sale at Chef-Boutonne, hunting below the château (Deux-Sèvres)
Sunday June 21, the Football Club Boutonnais stages the 43rd edition of the Javarzay Flea Market and Yard Sale, in the grounds of the Renaissance château of Javarzay, avenue des Fils Fouquaud in Chef-Boutonne. More than three hundred sellers, private and professional, take over this exceptional lakeside setting, making it one of the biggest hunting gatherings in the southern Deux-Sèvres. Entry is free for visitors. With forty-three editions on the clock and a listed heritage backdrop, it is a sure bet on the departmental calendar. The volume of sellers guarantees a varied offer, from old furniture to knick-knacks via vinyl and attic bric-a-brac. Plan the full day: you don't get round three hundred stalls in an hour.
Beaumontois-en-Périgord flea market and collectors' fair, inside the bastide (Dordogne)
Sunday June 21, the Beaumontois-en-Périgord flea market and collectors' fair takes over Place Jean Moulin and the streets of the Beaumont-du-Périgord bastide. Run by the traders' and craftsmen's association (ACEB), it gathers two to three hundred sellers, private and professional, from 6 am to 6 pm. A pitch costs 3.50 euros per linear metre. Hunting inside a 13th-century medieval bastide, under the arcades and along the old lanes, makes a pleasant change from car-park tarmac. It is one of the unmissable fixtures of the Périgord pourpre in late spring. Combine it with the fortified church of Beaumont and a tasty stop at the local markets. Arrive early for the morning cool and the best pieces.
Amicale de la Bretagne yard sale at Saint-Junien, thirtieth edition (Haute-Vienne)
Sunday June 21, the La Bretagne district of Saint-Junien celebrates the 30th edition of its yard sale, on rue des Bienfaiteurs. Run by the Amicale de la Bretagne, this event ranks among the biggest in the Haute-Vienne's second town, with up to two hundred private sellers unpacking clothes, toys, crockery, knick-knacks and everyday objects. Thirty years of existence: a well-rooted community tradition in this working-class neighbourhood of the old glove-making town. The atmosphere is family-friendly, in keeping with these district yard sales that keep local social life alive. Best for those after private-seller hunting, at gentle prices, far from purely professional displays. A bar and catering pace the day.
Chartuzac flea market, one to two hundred sellers in the Haute-Saintonge (Charente-Maritime)
Sunday June 21, the Chartuzac festivities committee runs its annual flea market on the village-hall square and its surroundings. Between one and two hundred private sellers set up for a day of open-air hunting, in this peaceful Haute-Saintonge village. The event stands out for its free pitches, by reservation and up to ten metres. This bargain for sellers makes it one of the favourite fixtures for Charente-Maritime hunters this June. The volume guarantees a varied offer, from furniture to crockery via tools and attic curiosities. It is the country flea market par excellence, friendly and affordable. A bar and catering on site for a break between two finds.
Judo Club Rochefortais yard sale, hunting for the love of sport (Charente-Maritime)
Sunday June 21, the Judo Club Rochefortais yard sale sets up at the Rond-Point du Polygone in Rochefort. The club, affiliated to the French Judo Federation, runs this open-air day to fund its sporting activities and welcomes up to a hundred private sellers. Knick-knacks, toys, books, crockery and attic objects sell at small prices. Catering is handled by the club's volunteers, in the community spirit that gives these events their charm. Rochefort, the former town of the maritime Arsenal, is worth a visit in itself: the Corderie Royale and the Hermione frigate are nearby. Combine it with a trip through this Charente-Maritime town of art and history, to pair hunting with heritage.
Dressmakers' and Creative Hobbies Flea Market at La Mothe-Saint-Héray, two days for enthusiasts (Deux-Sèvres)
Saturday June 20 and Sunday June 21, La Mothe-Saint-Héray hosts the Dressmakers' and Creative Hobbies Flea Market, on rue du Maréchal Foch. Over two days, fans of sewing, knitting and DIY swap fabrics, haberdashery, patterns, sewing machines, wool, beads and craft supplies, in this Petite Cité de Caractère of the Deux-Sèvres. The themed format is rare: here, no generalist flea market, but a fair entirely devoted to thread arts and creative hobbies. The town's remarkable heritage setting adds to the appeal. Best for anyone who sews, knits or takes up scrapbooking: you dig out the elusive fabric coupon or the old Singer machine at a small price. A truly one-of-a-kind event in the department.
Secours Populaire grand clearance sale at Oloron-Sainte-Marie, charity hunting (Pyrénées-Atlantiques)
Saturday June 20 and Sunday June 21, the Secours Populaire grand clearance sale at Oloron-Sainte-Marie opens its doors on impasse Marcel Loubens. Over two days, the charity offers clothes, adult and children's shoes, baby gear, toys, household linen and crockery at reduced prices, in the heart of this Béarn town at the foot of the Pyrenees. All proceeds fund the Secours Populaire's local solidarity work. Hunting here means pairing the bargain with a useful gesture, in a spirit of mutual aid. Charity clearance sales often hold finds at unbeatable prices, for those who take the time to dig through the bins. Worth noting for families seeking low-budget kids' kit, and for anyone who wants their hunting to mean something.
Triple Event at Pougné-Hérisson, hunting and music festival at the "navel of the world" (Deux-Sèvres)
Saturday June 20, Pougné-Hérisson, the self-proclaimed Navel of the World village, runs its triple event blending yard sale, pétanque contest and music festival. Sellers, private and professional, set up from 6 am at 2 euros per linear metre, in this offbeat village of the Deux-Sèvres bocage. The day continues with a boules contest then a free musical evening: you hunt in the morning, throw the jack in the afternoon, dance at night. This marriage of flea market and solstice celebration is exactly the kind of village fixture that gives country hunting its flavour. Best for those who want the unpacking to be the start of a real festive day, in a rural setting full of whimsy.
Noth flea market and yard sale, a Creuse village in festive mood (Creuse)
Sunday June 21, the Noth festivities committee takes over the centre of this Creuse village set between La Souterraine and Dun-le-Palestel. Around seventy sellers, private and professional, occupy the village streets from 7 am to 6 pm, for a friendly gathering with the feel of a village fête. A buffet and bar on site keep the day convivial. The Creuse, a rural and low-key department, offers human-scale flea markets where you hunt without the crowds of big towns. It is a chance to discover a quiet corner of the Limousin while wandering between the stalls. Best for those who love village atmospheres and pressure-free hunting, in a department still spared mass tourism.
Villeneuve-sur-Lot summer yard sale, hunting at the racecourse (Lot-et-Garonne)
Sunday June 21, the Saint-Roch Saint-Fiacre association runs its summer yard sale at the Sangruère racecourse, avenue de Fumel in Villeneuve-sur-Lot. From 7 am to 7 pm, private and professional sellers unpack in the open air on this vast site, where some pitches are partly shaded, a precious asset under a strong June sun. A traditional third-Sunday-of-June fixture, this Lot-et-Garonne bastide yard sale draws hunters from the Lot valley. The racecourse offers rare space and easy parking, two welcome comforts for a long morning of hunting. Combine it with a visit to the Villeneuve-sur-Lot bastide, its bridges over the Lot and its well-known markets. Enough to turn the day into a real outing.
Campagne yard sale, Saint-Jean hunting in the Périgord Noir (Dordogne)
Sunday June 21, the Campagne festivities committee runs its annual yard sale for the Saint-Jean celebration, on the Marquises car park, route des Eyzies. Fifty to a hundred private sellers set up from 8 am to 6 pm, at 2 euros per linear metre, in the heart of the Périgord Noir, a stone's throw from the prehistoric sites of Les Eyzies. Entry is free and the day comes with activities and rides for children, in the spirit of the patronal fête. Hunting in the land of Cro-Magnon, between the Vézère valley and the Périgord châteaux, has something singular about it. Best for families wanting to pair hunting with games and the summery atmosphere of a village fête. Catering on site to prolong the pleasure.
Also worth a look this weekend in New Aquitaine
To explore the hunting picks of other regions, head to our national agenda. Safe travels and happy hunting on the roads of New Aquitaine this June 20-21 weekend.
