Car boot sale of Gignac-la-Nerthe

The May 1st Car Boot Sale in Gignac-la-Nerthe

Every May 1st, the parking lot of the Espace Marcel Pagnol, avenue Jan Palach, transforms into a vast open-air market where individuals come to clear out their cellars, attics, and closets. Organized by the COS (Comité des Œuvres Sociales des agents de la commune), this car boot sale has become a must-attend event for the residents of Gignac-la-Nerthe and neighboring towns. Registration, open a few weeks before the event with the COS at the CCAS premises, opposite the town hall, remains accessible at a modest price.

Gignac-la-Nerthe, a Provençal village at the foot of the massif

Located about 10 kilometers northwest of Marseille, Gignac-la-Nerthe is a commune in the Aix-Marseille-Provence Metropolis whose territory covers 864 hectares, at an altitude between 11 and 128 meters. The town gets its name from the Massif de la Nerthe, which borders its southern flank, a chain of limestone hills covered with typically Provençal garrigue. The Châteauneuf-Gignac plain, on which the village rests, is one of the last agricultural plains on the outskirts of Marseille.

A millennial history, from the Roman villa to modern Provence

The origins of Gignac date back to antiquity, when a Gallo-Roman villa was established in this territory during the reign of Emperor Augustus. In the 13th century, the Knights Templar built the Saint-Michel de Gignac chapel on a hill visible from the main road. The first "Maisons-Neuves", the original name of the village, were built in the plain around the Place de la Bourgade, near a stream flowing down from the Nerthe hills. Thanks to the fertility of its lands, the village prospered through agriculture — wheat, olive trees, almond trees, vines, and livestock — and the inhabitants built their own church in 1780. In 1919, the commune adopted the name Gignac-la-Nerthe to distinguish itself from other towns with the same name in France.

Three waves of settlement in the 20th century

The village experienced three major phases of development: from 1911 to 1926 with the construction of the Rove Tunnel, a gigantic engineering work that led to significant Italian and Spanish immigration; in the 1960s with the arrival of the Pieds-noirs from North Africa; and then especially from the 1980s onwards with the peri-urbanization of the Marseille agglomeration. The commune consists of two village centers: Gignac to the east and Laure to the west.

Varied finds for all bargain hunters

As in all car boot sales around Marseille, the stands in Gignac-la-Nerthe offer a wide range of items: Provençal tableware and pottery, books and records, clothing and accessories, toys and board games, knick-knacks and decorative objects, small furniture and lighting, tools and gardening equipment. The May 1st public holiday encourages a large turnout and a relaxed atmosphere, conducive to great finds at negotiable prices.

Access and geographical location

Gignac-la-Nerthe is located between Marignane to the west and Châteauneuf-les-Martigues to the south, with Le Rove to the east. The commune is served by the A55 motorway and benefits from the proximity of Marseille-Provence Airport. The Espace Marcel Pagnol parking lot, avenue Jan Palach, offers a large space suitable for hosting stands and visitors.