Car boot sale Libres Chats en Bastide in Villefranche-de-Rouergue

A solidarity car boot sale for the bastide's cats

Every spring, the association Libres Chats en Bastide organizes its charity car boot sale in Villefranche-de-Rouergue, in the heart of this royal bastide in Aveyron. This solidarity event brings together private sellers and visitors around a common cause: the protection of stray cats that inhabit the medieval streets of the city. All profits from the event are donated to the association to fund its actions of sterilization, identification, and veterinary care for the city's felines.

Libres Chats en Bastide: an association committed since 2015

Founded on October 19, 2015, the association Libres Chats en Bastide works daily for the management and protection of stray and abandoned cats in Villefranche-de-Rouergue. Its volunteers capture stray cats to have them sterilized and identified, before releasing them back into their living environment. Socializable kittens are cared for by a network of foster families for adoption. The association has also collaborated with the municipality to install cat shelters in several neighborhoods of the city, promoting harmonious coexistence between residents and the bastide's felines.

Villefranche-de-Rouergue: treasure hunting in an exceptional bastide

Villefranche-de-Rouergue is a royal bastide founded in 1252 by Alphonse de Poitiers on the banks of the Aveyron. Labeled a City of Art and History, it captivates with its perfectly preserved checkerboard layout, its majestic Place Notre-Dame lined with Gothic arcades, and its Collégiale Notre-Dame whose 58-meter bell tower dominates the city. The car boot sale takes place in this remarkable architectural setting, offering treasure hunters a stroll between finds and medieval heritage in one of the most beautiful bastides in southwestern France.

Finds for a good cause

Like any car boot sale, the event offers a wide variety of second-hand items at low prices:

• Tableware, glassware, and table settings
• Books, comics, and vinyl records
• 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

The originality of this car boot sale lies in its charitable dimension: each purchase directly contributes to the well-being of the bastide's stray cats. The association also has an information booth where visitors can learn about its actions, make a donation, offer their volunteer help, or inquire about cat adoption.

How to support the association

Beyond the car boot sale, the association Libres Chats en Bastide welcomes donations via its HelloAsso page and its Facebook page. Volunteers are always welcome to participate in sterilization campaigns, monitoring cat colonies, or supporting foster families. Every gesture counts to preserve the quality of life of stray cats in Villefranche-de-Rouergue.