Car boot sale of Cuxac-Cabardès

Cuxac-Cabardès, at the gateway to the Montagne Noire

Cuxac-Cabardès is a commune in the Aude located at the gateway to the Montagne Noire, the southern foothills of the Massif Central that mark the northern limit of the department. The village is situated on the first slopes of this forest massif, a few kilometers from the pre-montane towns – Saissac, Montolieu, Villardonnel – and about twenty kilometers north of Carcassonne.

The land of Cabardès, of which Cuxac is a part, is a transition territory between Atlantic and Mediterranean influences. This particular bioclimatic character is reflected in its vineyard – a Cabardès appellation with wines combining Atlantic (Merlot, Cabernet) and Mediterranean (Syrah, Grenache) grape varieties – and in its vegetation, where oak and chestnut forests coexist with pines and garrigue.

A car boot sale in June, before the heatwave

The choice of June for the Cuxac-Cabardès car boot sale is judicious: temperatures are mild, days are long, and vegetation is in its full spring beauty. This period precedes the summer heatwave that sometimes hits the Aude plains hard, and benefits from particularly pleasant conditions at altitude.

Private sellers offer a selection of second-hand items:

• Spring and summer clothing and accessories
• Toys and games for children
• Books and hiking guides
• Tableware and kitchen items
• Garden equipment and tools
• Knick-knacks and decorative items
• Items related to rural mountain life

The Montagne Noire, a natural massif

The Montagne Noire is an exceptional natural area overlooking the Aude plain. Its beech and fir forests, its waterfalls, its gorges, and its black stone villages form a remarkable hiking setting. The Pic de Nore, the highest point of the massif at 1,211 meters, offers a panorama of the Pyrenees, the Cévennes, and the Mediterranean on a clear day.

The town of Montolieu, the Aude's "book village" where booksellers and second-hand book dealers have settled since the 1990s, is a few kilometers from Cuxac. This cultural particularity attracts lovers of old books and reading, who often enjoy combining a visit to Montolieu with the Cuxac-Cabardès car boot sale during a day in the Montagne Noire.

A festive event in the heart of Cabardès

The Cuxac-Cabardès car boot sale is organized by the local association with the support of the village inhabitants. The refreshment stand and light catering offered by volunteers allow visitors to pleasantly extend their stay. Entry is free and open to all. The relaxed atmosphere and warm welcome of the Cabardès inhabitants are present for this summer event.