Car boot sale of the Comité des Fêtes de Saint-Genis

The Saint-Genis car boot sale at the Riou lake

The Comité des Fêtes de Saint-Genis organizes an annual car boot sale at the plan d'eau du Riou, a leisure site in the commune of Garde-Colombe. This green and shaded setting, by the water, offers a pleasant space for a spring or summer bargain hunting day in the Buëch valley.

Garde-Colombe, a new commune in the Buëch

Garde-Colombe is a new commune in the Hautes-Alpes born in 2016 from the grouping of Lagrand, Eyguians, and Saint-Genis. Located between Serres and Laragne-Montéglin, this commune in the Buëch valley combines rural heritage, lavender landscapes, and a Provençal climate. The hamlet of Saint-Genis retains its village identity and associative dynamism.

What to find at the stalls?

Exhibitors offer a wide range of second-hand items: old crockery, trinkets, frames and mirrors, books and magazines, toys, clothes, small appliances, tools, sports equipment, vinyl records and CDs, home linen, and decorative objects. In the Hautes-Alpes, you can also regularly find typical mountain objects: old agricultural tools, cowbells, Savoyard furniture, vintage skis, snowshoes, and hiking equipment. Prices, generally very attractive, make these car boot sales an economical and ecological alternative to buying new.

The Hautes-Alpes, land of flea markets and car boot sales

The department of Hautes-Alpes, the least populated in metropolitan France, compensates for its low density with a particularly dynamic associative life. From March to October, car boot sales and flea markets punctuate the life of Alpine villages, offering as many opportunities to hunt for treasures as to meet neighbors. The summer season, with the influx of tourists and vacationers, multiplies the opportunities: passing visitors gladly stop to rummage through the stalls, sometimes discovering unsuspected Alpine treasures. The exceptional mountain setting of the department adds a unique dimension to these events, between grandiose panoramas and the pure air of the summits.

An ideal setting for bargain hunting

The Riou lake offers a relaxing environment appreciated by families. The car boot sale stalls are set up around this area, offering a pleasant hunting route punctuated by shade and coolness. Exhibitors offer everyday items, clothes, toys, and trinkets at low prices.