Castres Flea Market (late August)

The back-to-school flea market in Castres

Every year at the end of August, Castres holds a major flea market that closes the summer season of Tarn events in style. Organised by local players and promoted by the Tarn tourism office, the event attracts a wide public: families enjoying the last days of holidays, tourists visiting the old town with its colourful houses on the Agout, and South-Tarn bargain-hunters looking for pre-school-term deals.

Castres, jewel of the sub-prefecture

Castres is the sub-prefecture of Tarn and the department's second city. On the doorstep of the Montagne Noire and the Sidobre, it offers a remarkable setting: along the Agout, the colourful former tanners' houses reflect in the water, lending the city picturesque charm. The flea market continues the tradition of a lively town centre where traders, craftspeople and residents meet for major annual events.

What you can hunt for

A classic late-summer flea market with mainly private sellers: adult and children's clothing, toys, books, baby equipment, small furniture, crockery, antique linen, trinkets, tools, gardening equipment. Beach items give way to autumn articles: jumpers, boots, school bags for the new term. A windfall to kit out the children on the cheap.

Stroll in Castres before or after

Combine the flea market with a city walk: Place Jean-Jaurès, Saint-Benoît cathedral, Goya Museum (one of the finest Spanish art collections in France), the Agout quays, the bishopric gardens laid out by Le Nôtre. Nearby, the Sidobre and its granite chaos offer instant change of scenery.