Brocante and Car Boot Sale of Aubin

The Brocante and Vide-Grenier d'Aubin: Treasure Hunting and Heritage in a Mining Region

The Brocante and Vide-Grenier d'Aubin takes over Place Jean Jaurès each year, the central square of this Aveyron commune of 3,500 inhabitants nestled in the heart of the Decazeville basin. The event brings together private sellers and flea market dealers for a friendly day of treasure hunting, where visitors can find crockery, books, clothes, toys, trinkets, furniture, and collectible items at low prices.

Aubin, One of the Oldest Towns in Rouergue

The history of Aubin dates back to Roman times: according to tradition, a Roman general named Claudius Albinus established a garrison there around 193 AD. In the Middle Ages, the town developed around a fortress and became a trading hub with the creation of fairs and markets as early as the 14th century. The Fort and the Vieil Aubin district, with its steep alleys and half-timbered houses, still bear witness to this era. The Saint-Blaise church, a Romanesque and Gothic building from the 12th century, remodeled in the 15th, houses a wooden polychrome Christ and contemporary stained glass windows created between 1996 and 2004.

The Mining Heritage of the Decazeville Basin

In the 19th century, Aubin underwent a radical transformation with the exploitation of coal and the installation of forges. The Houillères et Fonderies de l'Aveyron (Aveyron Collieries and Foundries), created in 1826 on the initiative of Duke Decazes, made the basin a national industrial center. At the height of mining activity, Aubin had nearly 10,000 inhabitants. The plateau des Forges du Gua retains its listed monumental chimneys, and the Notre-Dame des Mines church, opened in 1949, features frescoes by Gabriel Genieis depicting miners at work. The Lucien Mazars Mining Museum, created in 1979 and renovated in 2000, retraces this industrial epic through a life-size reconstructed gallery.

Place Jean Jaurès, the Beating Heart of Aubin

Place Jean Jaurès is the nerve center of Aubin, where the weekly market is held on Wednesday and Friday mornings, and popular events of the commune take place. It is in this lively and friendly setting that the flea market and car boot sale take place, offering bargain hunters an authentic small-town Aveyronnais backdrop. The neighboring grain halls, with their five stone measures, recall the city's centuries-old commercial vocation.

Finds for All Tastes

The Brocante and Vide-Grenier d'Aubin offers a wide variety of items typical of Aveyronnais rural events: crockery and ceramics, books and comics, clothing and accessories, toys and games, tools and gardening equipment, furniture, trinkets and decorative objects. Flea market enthusiasts appreciate the variety of stalls and the opportunity to negotiate prices in a relaxed atmosphere.

Practical Information for Visitors

Admission is free for visitors. It is advisable to arrive early to take advantage of the best deals. Aubin is accessible from Decazeville (4 km) and Rodez (35 km) via the D840. Parking spaces are available around Place Jean Jaurès and in the adjacent streets. The Lucien Mazars Mining Museum and the Vieil Aubin district are worth a visit before or after your treasure hunt.