Foire à la Brocante de Tournemire

Foire à la Brocante de Tournemire: A Legendary Event Since 1987

Since 1987, every July 13th and 14th, the small village of Tournemire (12250) transforms into a vast open-air treasure market. The Foire à la Brocante de Tournemire, organized by the Comité des fêtes, has become over the decades one of the most renowned flea market events in the Aveyron department. In 2026, it celebrates its 40th edition, a remarkable longevity for this village of a few hundred inhabitants nestled at the foot of the Causse du Larzac, just 2.5 kilometers from Roquefort-sur-Soulzon, the world capital of Roquefort cheese.

Two Days of Treasure Hunting at the Foot of the Larzac

The fair takes place over two full days, July 13th and 14th, in front of the historic Tournemire-Roquefort SNCF station—built in 1874 by the Compagnie des chemins de fer du Midi—and along the Avenue du Couvent. The stalls stretch for nearly 755 linear meters, offering visitors a generous and varied treasure hunting route. Exhibitors, a mix of professional dealers, antique dealers, and individuals, offer a wide range of items: antique furniture, tableware and ceramics, trinkets and decorative objects, old books and documents, tools and craft items, toys and games from yesteryear, silverware, antique linens, and all sorts of curiosities.

A Festive and Gastronomic Program

The Foire à la Brocante de Tournemire is not just about treasure hunting. The Comité des fêtes organizes an annual program of food and entertainment that greatly contributes to the event's conviviality. On the first evening, a sardinade (sardine barbecue) brings together exhibitors and visitors for a meal accompanied by a DJ. The next morning, a country breakfast with bacon and eggs welcomes early risers from 8 am, followed at noon by roast chicken served after an aperitif. A refreshment stand remains open throughout the event, allowing visitors to cool off between finds.

Tournemire: An Exceptional Village Between the Larzac and the Soulzon Valley

Tournemire is a village in southern Aveyron located at an altitude of 498 meters, crossed by the Joulbas and Brias streams which join to form the Soulzon. The village boasts remarkable heritage: the Cirque de Tournemire, classified as a Sensitive Natural Area, covers 130 hectares and marks the spectacular boundary between the foothills of the causse and the Larzac plateau, with geological formations over 280 million years old. In 1986, the discovery of a fossil skeleton of a plesiosaur brought Tournemire international scientific fame: the specimen, named occitanosaurus tournemirensis, dating back 180 million years, is the most complete ever found in France and is exhibited at the Maison du Plésiosaure, near the town hall.

Architectural Heritage Steeped in History

The village preserves the remains of a seigneurial castle mentioned as early as 1198, which belonged to the Tournemire family—whose name means 'Turn and look'. The Couvent des Sœurs de Notre-Dame (Convent of the Sisters of Our Lady), built in the 19th century on the site of this former castle, hosted the famous opera singer Emma Calvé as a student. The Saint-Martin de Lodies church, built between the late 18th and early 19th centuries, completes this religious heritage. The Tournemire-Roquefort station, built in 1874 at an altitude of 497 meters, with its two historic platforms, is the emblematic location where the flea market is held.

Practical Information for Exhibitors and Visitors

The Foire à la Brocante de Tournemire welcomes visitors for two days, the first day from 9 am until the evening (flea market allowed until 10 pm), the second day from approximately 8 am to 6 pm. Admission is free for visitors. Dealers wishing to book a spot (minimum 5 linear meters) can contact members of the Comité des fêtes: Emeline at 07 88 35 13 83 or Adrien at 06 86 64 44 89. For meal reservations: Rémi at 06 32 16 62 83. The proximity of Roquefort-sur-Soulzon and the Millau Viaduct allows combining a visit to the fair with the discovery of these major tourist sites in southern Aveyron.