Bourse de Collection de Blaye

The Collectors' Fair at the Blaye Citadel

Every spring, the Blaye citadel, a masterpiece of Vauban's military architecture and a UNESCO World Heritage site, hosts a collectors' fair primarily dedicated to antique watchmaking. Organized by the French Association of Old Watchmaking Enthusiasts (AFAHA), this event brings together passionate collectors and specialized dealers in an exceptional historical setting. You can find pocket watches, Louis XIV clocks, watchmaking tools, specialized books, and other treasures of watchmaking heritage.

A meeting for enthusiasts

The Blaye collectors' fair is an intimate event that brings together fewer than 50 exhibitors, ensuring a remarkable quality of presentation and exchange. Enthusiasts can discover rare pieces and interact with specialists in antique watchmaking. A raffle offers the chance to win valuable prizes, such as a vintage Lip watch. In addition to watchmaking, the fair also features various collections: militaria, postcards, coins, and other collectibles.

The Citadel, a Heritage Setting

The Citadel Square provides a majestic setting for this event. Built by Vauban between 1685 and 1689 to control access to the Gironde estuary, the Blaye citadel is one of the jewels of French military heritage. Visitors can combine the collectors' fair with a visit to the citadel, its underground passages, and its ramparts offering spectacular views of the estuary.