Car boot sale of Lastours

The car boot sale of Lastours

Lastours is one of the most unique villages in the Aude. Dominated by the imposing silhouettes of the Four Cathar Castles — Cabaret, Surdespine, Tour Régine, and Quertinheux — this village in the Montagne Noire is a major site for Cathar and medieval tourism. Every summer, it hosts a popular car boot sale that takes advantage of this exceptional setting to attract both local and tourist visitors.

The Cathar Castles of Lastours

The four fortresses overlooking Lastours constitute one of the most spectacular medieval sites in Languedoc. Perched on rocky outcrops above the confluence of the Orbiel and the Grésilhou, these castles played an important role during the Albigensian Crusade in the 13th century. Today, they are classified as Historic Monuments, are accessible to visitors, and offer a breathtaking panoramic view of the Montagne Noire and the valley. The car boot sale is held in the village itself, in this dramatic and romantic setting.

A car boot sale between history and conviviality

The car boot sale of Lastours brings together the inhabitants of the village and neighboring towns — Mas-Cabardès, Roquefère, Fournes-Cabardès, Caudebronde — each year for a day of second-hand market. Private sellers' stalls offer a wide variety of items: antique furniture, tableware, clothing, books, tools, trinkets, and decorative objects are displayed in the squares and alleys. The mix of local regulars and passing tourists gives the Lastours car boot sale a unique atmosphere, both rural and cosmopolitan.

Bargain hunting in Cabardès

Lastours belongs to the Cabardès, a transitional territory between the Montagne Noire and the Aude plain, known for its vineyards producing wines that are halfway between the Atlantic grape varieties of the Southwest and the Mediterranean ones of Languedoc. This duality is reflected in the atmosphere of the car boot sale, where items of the most diverse origins mingle, reflecting the cultural and human variety of this border territory.

A day in the Montagne Noire

The day of the car boot sale can be extended with a visit to the Cathar Castles of Lastours, accessible on foot from the village. The hiking trail leading to the fortresses offers stunning panoramas of the Montagne Noire and the Orbiel valley. Local volunteers run a refreshment stand and provide catering throughout the car boot sale.

Access and practical information

Lastours is accessible from Carcassonne via the D101, about fifteen kilometers to the north. Visitors to the car boot sale benefit from free entry. Private exhibitors can register with the town hall or the festival committee.