Car boot sales of Ferrières-Saint-Mary

The April car boot sale on the pétanque ground

Every year in April, the pétanque ground of Ferrières-Saint-Mary (15170) hosts a spring car boot sale. Private sellers set up their stalls on this flat, open space to offer a varied range of second-hand items: trinkets, crockery, clothes, toys, books, furniture, and tools. This early-season event attracts bargain hunters from the upper Alagnon valley and the surrounding areas of Saint-Flour.

Ferrières-Saint-Mary, cradle of the evangelization of Haute-Auvergne

Ferrières-Saint-Mary is a village steeped in history, closely linked to Saint Mary, the first evangelizer of Haute-Auvergne. The Saint-Mary-le-Cros church, classified as a historic monument, is built on an ancient Merovingian mausoleum from the 5th-6th centuries which housed the saint's sarcophagus. The hermitage of Saint Mary, a cave overlooking the Alagnon valley, recalls the hermit life of the founding saint. This exceptional religious heritage gives the village major cultural significance.

The upper Alagnon valley, a natural setting

The commune extends into the upper Alagnon valley, between 658 and 1,183 meters above sea level, offering a wide diversity of landscapes. The Alagnon alluvial forest is part of a Natura 2000 zone, with an educational trail connecting the tourist reception area to the village center. The Conservatoire des Espaces Naturels d'Auvergne has developed an educational orchard there, featuring twelve rare fruit species characteristic of old Cantal orchards.

A spring event at the gates of Saint-Flour

Located near Saint-Flour, a sub-prefecture of Cantal, Ferrières-Saint-Mary benefits from a larger population base for its car boot sale. Bargain hunters from Saint-Flour, Massiac, and the communes of the Planèze do not hesitate to make the trip for this early-season event. The pétanque ground, well-located and easily accessible, offers a pleasant setting for this day of outdoor bargain hunting in the heart of the upper Alagnon valley.