Foire à Tout de Foix

The Foire à Tout de Foix, a spring event at the foot of the castle

Every March, the town of Foix – prefecture of Ariège – hosts its annual grand car boot sale. This popular event spans the town's squares and streets, transforming the historic center into a vast treasure hunting ground. Private individuals and professionals alike exhibit their finds, second-hand items, and trinkets in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere.

Foix, medieval prefecture of Ariège

Foix is a town of about 9,000 inhabitants, the capital of the Ariège department (09000), Occitanie region. Dominated by its medieval castle with three towers – an emblematic monument visible from the entire valley – the town occupies an exceptional site at the confluence of the Ariège and Arget rivers. Its medieval heritage, its old cobbled streets, and its lively town center make it the cultural and administrative capital of a department proud of its Pyrenean identity.

A centuries-old fair tradition

Foix has always been an important center for trade in the Ariège Pyrenees. Since the Middle Ages, fairs have been held there regularly, attracting merchants and buyers from all over the region. The contemporary car boot sale perpetuates this tradition by adapting it to current practices: private sellers unpacking the contents of their attics, flea market vendors, collectors, and the simply curious gather for a day of popular market trading.

March in Ariège: an ideal month for treasure hunting

The month of March marks the end of winter in the Ariège Pyrenees and the arrival of warmer days. It is the ideal time to kick off the season of fairs and car boot sales, as people bring out the items accumulated during the cold months. The Foire à Tout de Foix traditionally opens the calendar of Ariège events, launching a spring-summer season rich in local happenings.

Practical Information

The Foire à Tout de Foix takes place in March in the town center of Foix. The exhibitors are mainly private individuals. Entry is free for visitors. For any information, please contact the Foix town hall (05 61 05 42 00) or the organizing associations.