Foire à tout de Lyons-la-Forêt - May 1st

Car Boot Sale in Lyons-la-Forêt: Treasure Hunting in a Norman Gem

Lyons-la-Forêt is one of the most photographed villages in Normandy. Its 17th-century half-timbered houses, its listed wooden market halls, and its location in the heart of the Lyons national forest—Europe's largest beech forest—have earned it the label "Most Beautiful Village of France." Every May 1st, this postcard setting transforms into a flea market and car boot sale, attracting treasure hunters and strollers from all over Normandy and the neighboring Île-de-France region.

Around 150 Exhibitors in the Square and Streets

The car boot sale takes over Place Benserade and the adjacent village lanes. A hundred and fifty exhibitors—individuals and amateur dealers—offer a wide variety of items: antique tableware, books, clothing, tools, toys, trinkets, and country furniture. The Norman flea market tradition is honored here, with pieces evoking the region's rural life: earthenware, copperware, lace, and farm objects.

An Exceptional Village as a Setting

Lyons-la-Forêt owes its fame to its 18th-century wooden market halls, listed as Historic Monuments, and the remarkable quality of its ancient buildings. Maurice Ravel composed his Tombeau de Couperin here; Flaubert drew inspiration for Madame Bovary. The Château de Fleury-la-Forêt, and the abbeys of Mortemer and Fontaine-Guérard are a few kilometers away. Coming to hunt for treasures on May 1st in Lyons-la-Forêt means combining a passion for flea markets with the discovery of exceptional Norman heritage.

Practical Information

The car boot sale takes place every May 1st, from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., on Place Benserade and in the village streets. Free admission for visitors. Food and drinks available in the village's shops and restaurants. Parking is available on the outskirts of the village; be prepared for a walk from peripheral parking areas on very busy days.