Bric à brac of Illiers-Combray (September)

The bric à brac of Les Vitrines d'Illiers-Combray, an autumn tradition

Every September, the association UCIAL Les Vitrines d'Illiers-Combray organises its grand bric à brac in the lively streets of the town centre of this Dunois city. With a long tradition — the 2024 edition celebrated the 35th edition — this event is one of the unmissable back-to-school gatherings in Eure-et-Loir.

Streets transformed into a second-hand market

The bric à brac of Les Vitrines d'Illiers-Combray takes over the streets of the historic town centre of the commune. For a whole day, numerous tables laden with objects of all kinds transform the main arteries into a true open-air market. Furniture, decorative items, tableware, books, clothes, toys, tools, and various curiosities attract bargain hunters from all over the department and beyond.

A well-oiled organisation

UCIAL Les Vitrines d'Illiers-Combray offers several ways to register as an exhibitor: directly on the website lesvitrinesdilliers.com, at the Bar-Tabac Au Point du Jour (2 rue Saint-Pierre), or on the day from 6 am to 8 am at the Salle des Fêtes (6 avenue Foch). Setup begins at 6 am and sales continue until 7 pm. The price is €2/linear metre, with a minimum of 3 metres.

Illiers-Combray, town of Marcel Proust

Illiers-Combray owes its international fame to Marcel Proust, who spent his childhood there and immortalised it under the name "Combray" in his monumental work "In Search of Lost Time". The town preserves the house of Aunt Léonie, now a Proust museum, as well as the Pré Catelan garden which inspired "Swann's Park". This exceptional literary heritage attracts visitors from all over the world and gives this bric à brac a special flavour.

UCIAL, a player in local commerce

The UCIAL (Union Commerciale et Industrielle et Artisanale Locale) "Les Vitrines d'Illiers-Combray" is the association of traders and artisans of the commune. By organising this annual bric à brac, it contributes to the animation of the town centre, supports the attractiveness of the commune, and unites the community around a popular and friendly event.