Car boot sale of La Ciotat

The Car boot sale of La Ciotat: treasure hunting facing the calanques

The Car boot sale of La Ciotat is held at the Parc de loisirs la Guillaumière, boulevard de Lavaux, a spacious and well-equipped site located in this port town in the Bouches-du-Rhône. Individuals offer a wide variety of items at low prices: Provençal tableware, books and comics, clothing and accessories, toys, furniture, trinkets, and decorative objects. Admission is free for visitors, and the site has on-site parking, a refreshment bar, and light catering.

La Ciotat, cradle of cinema and jewel of the Provençal coast

La Ciotat holds a unique place in the world history of culture. It was in this town that the Lumière brothers, Auguste and Louis, shot their first films in the summer of 1895, including the famous L'Arrivée d'un train en gare de La Ciotat. Their family owned the Palais Lumière, a castle built in 1893 at Clos des Plages, where they spent their summer holidays. The Eden Théâtre, founded in 1889, is recognized as the oldest cinema in the world still in operation, a living memorial that perpetuates this exceptional cinematographic heritage.

Remarkable natural and maritime heritage

Beyond its cinematic history, La Ciotat captivates with its exceptional natural heritage. The Bec de l'Aigle, an imposing rocky promontory overlooking the bay, shelters the Parc du Mugel, a listed botanical garden, at its feet. The calanques of La Ciotat, including the calanque de Figuerolles, a listed natural site, rival in beauty with those of Marseille. The Île Verte, the only wooded island in the Bouches-du-Rhône, accessible by ferry, offers a haven of peace with its preserved coves and turquoise waters.

Shipyards and working-class memory

For over a century, La Ciotat was a major shipbuilding town. The shipyards of La Ciotat, which employed several thousand workers at their peak in the mid-19th century, shaped the town's identity and urban planning. Although activity ceased in 1986, the former shipyard site is now undergoing a successful redevelopment into a hub for nautical and cultural activities, demonstrating La Ciotat's ability to reinvent itself while preserving its working-class memory.

A day of treasure hunting under the Provençal sun

The La Ciotat car boot sale offers the ideal opportunity to combine treasure hunting with the discovery of this fascinating town. After finding great bargains at the Parc de la Guillaumière, visitors can extend their day by strolling through the old port, admiring the colorful facades of the old town, or taking a boat trip to Île Verte. May 1st, a public holiday conducive to family outings, is a date particularly appreciated by Provençal bargain hunters to enjoy the Mediterranean spring in an exceptional setting.