Car boot sale Flea market of Capdenac-Gare

The Car Boot Sale Flea Market of Saint-Julien d'Empare: Bargain hunting in the heart of railway Aveyron

Every spring, the hamlet of Saint-Julien d'Empare hosts its car boot sale flea market in the village square, a stone's throw from the Château de Saint-Julien d'Empare, a historic monument listed since 1977. Organized by the Foyer Rural de Saint-Julien d'Empare, this event exclusively brings together private sellers in a family-friendly and warm atmosphere. The village square is transformed for a day into a vast open-air flea market, where everyone can find bargains at low prices.

Capdenac-Gare: A town born from the railway

Capdenac-Gare is a unique commune in Aveyron, in the Occitanie region, whose very existence is linked to the history of the railways. In 1858, Charles de Morny, Napoleon III's half-brother and director of the Compagnie du chemin de fer de Paris à Orléans, chose the hamlet of Tinsou to build a station on the Montauban-Lot line. Around this station, a town gradually grew, which became a full commune in 1891, supplanting the old parish of Saint-Julien d'Empare. The Capdenac station then became the most important marshalling yard in the southern Massif Central, a five-branched star-shaped railway hub, the turntable for the Decazeville and Aubin coal and steel basin.

Exceptional architectural heritage

The town preserves remarkable architectural heritage from that era. The Art Deco station, rebuilt in 1925, combines stone, brick, and concrete in a style characteristic of the inter-war period. The metal railway bridge spanning the Lot, designed by Gustave Eiffel, testifies to the engineering genius of the 19th century. The bourgeois villas built before the First World War, richly decorated with faience tiles, carved keystones, cast iron railings, and wrought iron marquees, form a unique urban ensemble in Aveyron. The Château de Saint-Julien d'Empare, a medieval building with a central body flanked by towers, has overlooked the meander of the Lot since the 16th century.

Varied finds for all bargain hunters

The Capdenac-Gare car boot sale flea market offers a rich and diverse selection, typical of the fine rural events in Aveyron:

• Antique crockery, faience, and glassware
• Books, vinyl records, and CDs for all tastes
• Clothing and accessories for the whole family
• Toys, board games, and children's items
• Knick-knacks, decorative objects, and souvenirs
• Small furniture and everyday items
• Tools and garden items

Practical information for visitors

The car boot sale flea market takes place on the Place de Saint-Julien d'Empare, in Capdenac-Gare (12700). Entry is free for visitors. The exhibitor spot is offered at a price of €10. Only private individuals are accepted. For any information and reservations, contact the Foyer Rural at 05 65 64 84 18 or 06 86 13 04 02. Capdenac-Gare is served by rail, with the SNCF station located in the heart of the town. After bargain hunting, a walk to Capdenac-le-Haut, an ancient Gallo-Roman oppidum perched on the right bank of the Lot, offers a striking panorama of the valley.