Bourse aux Jouets de Mailly-le-Camp

The Bourse aux Jouets de Mailly-le-Camp: a family event in the chalky Champagne region

Every year in April, the commune of Mailly-le-Camp (10230) organizes its Bourse aux Jouets, a highly anticipated family event for parents and children of the Champagne plain. This event offers the opportunity to find toys, games, and childcare equipment at reduced prices, in a spirit of solidarity and circular economy.

Mailly-le-Camp, a military commune in the chalky Champagne region

Mailly-le-Camp is a commune of about 3,500 inhabitants, unique in that it houses one of the most important military camps in France. The Mailly camp, created at the end of the 19th century in the vast chalky Champagne plain, is a training center for the French army's armored and artillery forces. Mailly's military history is inseparable from France's history in the 20th century: the camp was occupied by the Germans during World War II and was the scene of a tragic Allied bombing in May 1944.

The presence of the military camp gives Mailly-le-Camp a particular demographic and sociology: a population of soldiers and their families mingle with local civilians in a chalky plain environment with open and bright landscapes. This social mix is reflected in local community events, of which the Bourse aux Jouets is a prime example.

A toy sale for the whole family

The Bourse aux Jouets de Mailly-le-Camp offers a varied selection of items for children of all ages: wooden and plastic toys, board games and construction games, dolls and stuffed animals, illustrated books and children's albums, childcare equipment (strollers, car seats, bouncers, booster seats), children's clothing and shoes, sports and leisure equipment.

The exhibitors, mainly families from the village and the region, offer their items at prices much lower than new ones, allowing families with modest incomes to access quality equipment for their children. The atmosphere is family-friendly and convivial, with parents exchanging advice and good tips between stalls.

April in Champagne: the chalky plain awakening to spring

The sale in April coincides with the awakening of spring on the Champagne plain. The chalky Champagne region, often associated with austere winter landscapes, transforms at this season: wheat fields turn green, almond and cherry trees bloom in gardens, and the long spring days offer soft, clear light over these infinite horizons.

The region around Mailly-le-Camp is crossed by roads and paths that allow you to discover the landscapes of the chalky Champagne region: the ponds of the Forêt d'Orient are only a few kilometers away, as are the first vineyards of the Côte des Bar to the south. Families visiting the sale can combine their visit with a walk in the Champagne countryside.

Practical information

The Bourse aux Jouets is held every year in April in Mailly-le-Camp (10230). Entry is free for visitors. The town is accessible from Troyes via the D977 (about 30 km) or from Châlons-en-Champagne via the A26. For precise dates and exhibitor registrations, contact the town hall or local organizers.