Car boot sale of Simiane-Collongue

The Simiane-Collongue Car Boot Sale: Bargain Hunting in the Heart of a Provencal Village

Each year, the association 4 Pattes Sur Mon Cœur organizes its car boot sale on Place Le-Sévigné, in the center of the village of Simiane-Collongue. Approximately 100 private sellers set up their stalls from 6 a.m. to offer bargain hunters a wide variety of items: crockery, books, clothing, toys, trinkets, small furniture, and curiosities of all kinds. Entry is free, and the event runs until 2 p.m., in the friendly atmosphere of village car boot sales.

Simiane-Collongue, Remarkable Heritage at the Foot of the Étoile

Simiane-Collongue is a commune of about 5,800 inhabitants, nestled in a small valley at the foot of the north face of the Étoile mountain range, 15 kilometers south of Aix-en-Provence and 25 kilometers northeast of Marseille. The village owes its name to the powerful Simiane family: in 1684, Jean de Simiane, second president of the Parliament of Provence, acquired the lands of Venel and Collongue, and the fief was erected into a marquisate.

The Clock Tower, also known as the Saracen Tower, overlooks the old village from its rocky promontory. Built in the 13th century, this former watchtower of the lords of Collongue's fortress has a unique architecture, pentagonal on the outside but square on the inside. Below are the ruins of the Chapelle des Pénitents, formerly attached to the Abbey of Montmajour, whose Romanesque remains were the subject of archaeological excavations in 2023.

The Château de Simiane and the Village's Liturgical Treasures

The Château de Simiane, built at the end of the 18th century, is a prime example of an Ancien Régime country house built in Provence. It retains remarkable interior decoration from the 18th and 19th centuries, with ornate ceilings, an imposing staircase, and marble fireplaces. Acquired by the commune in 1979, it now houses the town hall.

The Saint-Pierre Church, built between 1786 and 1790, contains very rich liturgical furnishings, including seven works of art protected as historical monuments. The Saint-Germain Chapel, restored in 1966 by the Abbey Sainte-Lioba, houses an altar composed of classified Roman elements, a testament to the ancient human occupation of this territory.

The Étoile Mountain Range: An Exceptional Natural Setting

The village is one of the main starting points for hiking to the Pilon du Roi, an emblematic summit of the Étoile mountain range, culminating at 710 meters altitude. From this rocky monolith, hikers enjoy a 360-degree panorama encompassing Sainte-Victoire, Mont Ventoux, the Alpilles, the roadstead of Marseille, the Mediterranean Sea, and the Étang de Berre. The marked trails that crisscross the massif offer numerous walking possibilities, making Simiane-Collongue a popular destination for Provencal hikers.

A Village Between History and Nature

The history of Simiane-Collongue dates back to prehistoric times, as evidenced by ceramic fragments dated 5,000 BC discovered at the Col Sainte-Anne. The Romans then developed the region by draining swamps and establishing farms. In the Middle Ages, the fortified hamlets of Venel and Collongue were organized around a common parish. In 1720, the village was severely affected by the plague, which caused the death of over 200 inhabitants. Long agricultural, cultivating garlic, wheat, and wine, the commune has retained its Provencal character while becoming a sought-after place to live between Aix-en-Provence and Marseille.