Bourse aux Armes Anciennes de Villeneuve

The Bourse aux Armes Anciennes de Villeneuve: A Collector's Gathering in Aveyron

Every March, the town of Villeneuve-d'Aveyron hosts its Antique Arms Fair, organized by the association Passion Mécaniques Militaires 44 de l'Aveyron (PMM44). This specialized event, created in 2024, brings together collectors of antique weapons, military items, and history enthusiasts at the Foyer socio-culturel Raymond Audouard, a heated hall located at 18, côte du Grès.

Villeneuve-d'Aveyron, the Oldest Bastide in Rouergue

Villeneuve-d'Aveyron is a heritage gem of Aveyron, listed among the Most Beautiful Villages of France. Its history dates back to the mid-11th century, when Ozil de Morlhon, a local lord returning from a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, donated his lands to establish a religious settlement, creating a 'sauveté' with narrow, winding alleys. In 1231, Raymond VII, Count of Toulouse, founded the actual bastide, adding an orthogonal plan to the 'sauveté', organized around a central street and a square surrounded by arcades. Villeneuve is thus the oldest bastide in Rouergue.

The village preserves remarkable architectural heritage: ramparts extending for nearly 800 meters, still featuring about fifteen round and square towers, two monumental gate towers (the Tour-porte de Cardalhac at the southern entrance and the Tour-porte Soubirane at the eastern entrance), and a church built in two phases, its 11th-century Romanesque part adjoining a 13th-century Gothic section.

A Specialized Fair for Antique Weapons and Militaria

The Bourse aux Armes Anciennes de Villeneuve is entirely dedicated to the collection of antique weapons and military items. Exhibitors offer a wide variety of pieces:

• Antique collectible weapons: pistols, rifles, regulation revolvers from all eras
• Edged weapons: swords, sabers, bayonets, collectible knives
• Military uniforms and headwear: kepis, helmets, outfits from all armies
• Decorations and medals: French and foreign, military and civilian
• Badges: regimental, divisional, army corps
• Hunting items: antique hunting weapons, accessories, and equipment
• Specialized books and documents: armament works, military histories, catalogs

An Exceptional Medieval Setting for Collectors

The association PMM44 de l'Aveyron (Passion Mécaniques Militaires 44) also organizes exhibitions of antique military and civilian vehicles in Villeneuve-d'Aveyron. The antique arms fair is part of this dynamic of promoting military and mechanical heritage, in a medieval setting that enhances the historical atmosphere of the event.

The Foyer socio-culturel Raymond Audouard offers a heated hall with a refreshment bar and light catering on-site. Parking is available in front of the hall, and the venue is accessible to people with reduced mobility.