Military Fair of Saint-Julien-en-Saint-Alban

The Military Fair of Saint-Julien-en-Saint-Alban by Les Soldats d'Ardèche

Every year in August, the village hall of Saint-Julien-en-Saint-Alban (07000) hosts the Military Fair organized by the association Les Soldats d'Ardèche. This fair dedicated to military antiques and militaria brings together collectors, specialized dealers, and military history enthusiasts from Ardèche and neighboring departments of Drôme, Gard, and Haute-Loire. It is one of the few events exclusively dedicated to militaria in the department.

The fair features exhibitors offering a wide variety of items: antique weapons (legally declared), militaria (helmets, equipment, uniforms), badges and decorations, military figurines, models, medals and orders, military history books and documents, postcards of conflicts and regiments, and collectible items related to French and international military history. The event takes place indoors, ensuring optimal comfort for exhibitors and visitors regardless of the weather.

The Association Les Soldats d'Ardèche

Les Soldats d'Ardèche is an Ardèche-based association dedicated to the preservation and promotion of military heritage. Located at 280 rue Lucie Aubrac in Saint-Julien-en-Saint-Alban, it brings together enthusiasts of military history, collectibles, and historical reenactment. The association can be reached by phone at 06 73 92 07 74 and by email at [email protected].

By organizing this annual fair, Les Soldats d'Ardèche contributes to the local cultural life while creating a meeting and exchange space for the militaria collector community in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region and neighboring Occitanie. The association ensures compliance with the regulatory framework governing the sale of weapons and military items, in accordance with current legal requirements.

Saint-Julien-en-Saint-Alban, an Ardèche village in the heart of Bas-Vivarais

Saint-Julien-en-Saint-Alban is a commune in the Ardèche department (postal code 07000), located about twelve kilometers east of Privas, in the Ouvèze valley. This charming village is nestled in a landscape of hills and vineyards typical of the Ardèche Bas-Vivarais region, near the Gorges de l'Ouvèze and the Coiron plateau.

The village boasts remarkable historical and scenic heritage. Its stone streets and houses bear witness to centuries of rural Ardèche history. Accessible from Privas (D2) and from the Rhône valley via the RN86, Saint-Julien-en-Saint-Alban benefits from a central geographical location in the Privas basin, making it a convenient meeting point for collectors in the region.

Militaria: A Fascinating Collecting Universe

Militaria is an extremely rich field of collection that encompasses all objects related to military history: soldier equipment, regulation period weapons, military uniforms and headwear, regimental and rank badges, decorations and medals, archive photographs and documents, models, and figurines from all periods. World War I, World War II, and colonial conflicts are the most represented themes in French collections, but the Saint-Julien-en-Saint-Alban fair also features items covering other periods of military history.

The Military Fair of Saint-Julien caters to both experienced collectors looking for specific items and beginners curious to explore this world. Exhibitors, often specialized in precise areas (a regiment, a period, a type of object), are usually happy to share their knowledge and advise visitors. It is also an opportunity for owners of inherited items to have them appraised by experts.

Practical Information and Access

The fair is held at the village hall of Saint-Julien-en-Saint-Alban, from 8 AM to 4 PM. Admission is free for visitors. For any information, contact the association Les Soldats d'Ardèche at 06 73 92 07 74 or at [email protected].

From Privas, take the D2 east (12 km). From Le Pouzin, follow the Ouvèze valley via the D2. From Valence or Montélimar, take the RN86 then the D2 towards Privas. Parking is available near the village hall.