PACO Car Boot Sale of Gardanne

The PACO Car Boot Sale: A Treasure Hunting Event in Gardanne

The PACO Car Boot Sale is one of the most frequented regular events in Gardanne, a town in the Bouches-du-Rhône department nestled between Aix-en-Provence and Marseille. Twice a month, on the 1st and 3rd Sundays, 64 avenue de Nice transforms into a vast open-air market where bargain hunters, families, and deal seekers gather from dawn to rummage through stalls and unearth treasures at low prices.

Gardanne, a Mining Town with Remarkable Industrial Heritage

Gardanne is a city with a rich industrial past, deeply marked by mining operations that shaped its identity for over two centuries. The Provence mining basin, of which Gardanne was the heart, was one of the main coal extraction centers in southern France. The Biver mining town, with its rows of workers' houses built in the early 20th century around the Ernest Biver shaft, still bears witness to that era. Furthermore, the alumina plant (formerly Péchiney, now Alteo), located in Gardanne since 1893, was the first in the world to use the Bayer process for producing alumina from bauxite. This unique industrial heritage gives Gardanne a distinctive atmosphere, blending working-class memory with contemporary dynamism.

100 Exhibitors in the Heart of Avenue de Nice

Each edition of the PACO Car Boot Sale hosts up to 100 exhibitors in 6m x 3m pitches. The stalls offer a wide variety of second-hand items: clothing and accessories, toys and board games, tableware and decorative items, books and comics, small furniture, tools, trinkets, and collectibles. The atmosphere is friendly and family-oriented, reflecting this Provençal town where popular traditions and neighborhood life blend.

An Accessible and Well-Organized Event

The PACO Car Boot Sale stands out for its meticulous organization. Sellers can keep their vehicles next to their pitch, making setup and packing easier. The site has restrooms and a refreshment stand to cool off. Since February 2026, registration has become mandatory and must be completed before the Wednesday preceding each opening Sunday, in accordance with a municipal decree. The sale of food, cigarettes, alcohol, and weapons is strictly prohibited.

Between Aix and Marseille: An Ideal Location for Treasure Hunting

Located halfway between Aix-en-Provence and Marseille, Gardanne benefits from a prime geographical position that attracts bargain hunters from all over the Aix-Marseille metropolitan area. After a morning of treasure hunting at the PACO Car Boot Sale, visitors can extend their exploration by wandering through the old town streets of Gardanne, visiting the Biver mining site converted into a cultural space, or admiring the landscapes of the nearby Montagne Sainte-Victoire, immortalized by Paul Cézanne. The Gardanne SNCF train station, served by TER Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, provides easy access by public transport.