School Car Boot Sale — Fons

The School Car Boot Sale in the Medieval City of Fons

Every year, the Fons school and its partner associations organize a car boot sale in the historic heart of this medieval village in the Lot. Fons is an exceptional city whose history dates back to the 10th century, when the powerful lord Ramnulf founded a monastery affiliated with the abbey of Figeac. The car boot sale thus takes on a particular significance when held in this remarkable architectural setting, 17 kilometers north of Figeac.

Fons, Royal Medieval City of Quercy

Fons is one of the best-preserved medieval cities in the Lot. Its very name comes from the Latin "fons", meaning spring, in reference to the many springs that irrigated the territory. As early as the 13th century, consuls representing the merchant bourgeoisie obtained a charter of customs from the lord prior (1296, revised in 1311). Having become a royal town in 1323, Fons was devastated by the Hundred Years' War, captured by English troops in 1359, 1369, and 1377, then ravaged during the Wars of Religion in 1562. The great plague of 1628 carried away more than half of its population. Despite these trials, the village has retained remarkable architectural heritage: its Romanesque church, its priory, and its cobbled medieval streets. The city is today a major tourist destination in Quercy, on the route to Rocamadour and Figeac.

A Car Boot Sale in a Unique Architectural Setting

Organizing a car boot sale in the streets and squares of Fons is a special experience: exhibitors' stalls are set up among the old stone houses of Quercy, under the gaze of facades dating from the 12th to the 15th centuries. Individuals offer clothing, crockery, books, toys, tools, and trinkets of all kinds. The beauty of the site attracts local visitors and passing tourists, who take the opportunity to discover or rediscover this off-the-beaten-path medieval city.

An Event for the School

Like many car boot sales organized by or for rural schools in the Lot, this event has a strong solidarity dimension. The profits help to finance educational activities, school trips, and artistic or cultural projects for the pupils of the Fons school. In this village of just a few hundred inhabitants, the school is a symbol of essential community life.

Access to Fons

Fons is accessible from Figeac (17 km) via the D2 then the D940 or D662. From Cahors, you can reach Fons via the D811 and the D662 (approximately 65 km). The village is located in the Célé valley, not far from the tourist route connecting Figeac to Cahors. Entry to the car boot sale is free for visitors.