Montbazens Flea Market, Car Boot Sale, and Workshop Clear-out

The Montbazens Flea Market, Car Boot Sale, and Workshop Clear-out: Two Sundays of Hunting on the Aveyron Plateau

Every autumn, the village of Montbazens comes alive for two Sundays in October for its large flea market, car boot sale, and workshop clear-out, one of the most renowned antique hunting events in Aveyron. Organized by the association Anim'a Montbazens, this event brings together nearly 200 exhibitors—individuals, professional dealers, artists, and craftspeople—on the Place du Foirail-bas and Avenue du Colombier, heading towards the industrial zone. From 6:30 AM to 6:00 PM, the aisles buzz with conversations, negotiations, and discoveries: antique tableware, furniture, books, clothing, toys, tools, trinkets, and unusual objects make up a rich and varied display where every hunter can find their treasure.

The Workshop Clear-out: An Original Creative and Artisanal Dimension

The originality of this event lies in its workshop clear-out section, which invites artists and craftspeople to clear out their workshops and offer the public original creations, art supplies, craft tools, and recycled materials. Painters, sculptors, ceramists, seamstresses, cabinetmakers, and creators of all kinds find an opportunity here to sell off stock, prototypes, unique pieces, and end-of-series items at attractive prices. For visitors, it's a rare opportunity to find quality artisanal pieces, fine materials, and professional tools that are unavailable elsewhere. This combination of flea market, car boot sale, and workshop clear-out makes Montbazens a unique event in the Aveyron flea market scene.

Montbazens: Former Stonecutter Town

Montbazens, a commune of about 1,400 inhabitants perched on a plateau between Rodez and Villefranche-de-Rouergue, is a former fortified town whose history dates back to the Middle Ages. In 960, the locality belonged to the Counts of Rodez. A priory dependent on the abbey of Saint-Géraud d'Aurillac was established there, around which the village developed, once surrounded by ramparts, of which the round tower of the Salset-Pouget house and the old Barry gate still remain. Montbazens was famous as a stonecutter town, with over fifty artisans recorded in the Middle Ages, whose quarries still dot the eastern part of the commune. Contemporary sculptor Rémy Teulier continues this age-old tradition.

Remarkable Heritage in the Heart of the Village

The architecture of Montbazens is organized around three beautiful squares, former market places, whose well-maintained appearance is recognized by the Village fleuri deux fleurs (Two Flowers Village) label. The Saint-Géraud church, built in the 12th century, features an imposing 15th-century fortified bell tower and contains modern stained-glass windows, a 17th-century altarpiece restored in the 1990s, and a painting by Delmas from 1852. The Town Hall, housed in the former prior's residence, is an elegant 16th-century Gothic building adorned with a spiral staircase tower and a machicolation. This same building houses the Cavaignac-Gladin museum, which displays a remarkable collection of antique earthenware (Delft, Moustiers, Rouen, Nevers) and Chinese art brought back from Fou-Tchéou between 1905 and 1910 by Jean-Pierre-Georges Gladin.

Finds for All Tastes Over Two Weekends

The event's spread over two consecutive Sundays allows organizers to accommodate a large number of exhibitors and gives visitors the opportunity to return for a second day of hunting. The stalls offer the richness and diversity characteristic of the great rural flea markets of Aveyron:

• Flea Market and Antiques: antique furniture, tableware, earthenware, frames, and mirrors
• Car Boot Sale: clothing, shoes, toys, books, CDs, DVDs, small appliances
• Workshop Clear-out: artisanal creations, artworks, supplies, craft tools, materials
• Collector's Items: postcards, stamps, coins, vinyl records, vintage items

The location on the Place du Foirail-bas and Avenue du Colombier creates a true hunting route through the heart of the village, in a setting of pale stone typical of the Montbazens plateau.

Practical Information for Visitors and Exhibitors

The flea market, car boot sale, and workshop clear-out take place from 6:30 AM to 6:00 PM on the Place du Foirail-bas and Avenue du Colombier in Montbazens. Admission is free for visitors. 30 m² exhibitor pitches are available for €12 per vehicle, with the vehicle remaining in the allocated space. Registration is mandatory with the organizer, Colette Espinasse, at 07 85 32 00 53. Exhibitors from outside the department can arrive the day before between 2 PM and 5 PM, supervised by volunteers. Refreshments and food are available on-site throughout the day.