Vide-Grenier de Cornillon-Confoux

The Vide-Grenier de Cornillon-Confoux: Bargain Hunting at the Summit of a Provencal Hilltop Village

Every year, the small hilltop village of Cornillon-Confoux in the Bouches-du-Rhône hosts its annual car boot sale in the streets and on the village square. Private exhibitors set up their stalls in the heart of this authentic Provencal village, between golden stone facades and ancient fountains, offering second-hand items, tableware, books, clothes, toys, trinkets, and curiosities of all kinds. The event, organized in a friendly and family-oriented spirit, attracts bargain hunters from Salon-de-Provence, Istres, Saint-Chamas, and the surrounding communes of the Étang de Berre.

Cornillon-Confoux, the Balcony of the Étang de Berre

Cornillon-Confoux is one of the few hilltop villages in the Bouches-du-Rhône. Located at an altitude of 110 meters, between Salon-de-Provence and Istres, on the north bank of the Étang de Berre, this village of about 1,400 inhabitants offers one of the most beautiful panoramas in Provence. From its narrow streets, the view encompasses the Étang de Berre and the heights of Saint-Chamas, the ridges of the Alpilles with Les Baux-de-Provence to the west, the Montagne Sainte-Victoire to the east, the Luberon to the north, and even Mont Ventoux on a clear day. This 360-degree panorama makes Cornillon-Confoux a true natural viewpoint over Provence.

A Rich and Unexpected Provencal Heritage

The village boasts remarkable heritage that visitors to the car boot sale can discover during their stroll:

• The Church of Saint-Vincent, a 12th-century Romanesque building housing a 17th-century wooden Christ and a 15th-century statue of Saint-Vincent
• The Belfry, a clock tower from 1852 that overlooks the village's main square
• The Château de Confoux, a 13th-century fortress with its Romanesque church, now housing sculptures by Igor Mitoraj
• The Romanesque Chapel of Saint-Vincent, an 11th-century building erected by the monks of Montmajour, associated with a Salian necropolis from the 1st century BC
• The Beehives, dry stone walls with niches for beekeeping, the longest of which measures 60 meters with 56 niches, making it the second longest in France
• The Bories, about fifty dry stone constructions that served as shelters for shepherds
• The four washhouses from the 19th century and the three historic fountains of the old village

Finds in the Heart of Provencal Streets

The stalls at the Cornillon-Confoux car boot sale offer the usual items found at village car boot sales, sometimes tinged with the local Provencal identity:

• Provencal tableware and pottery, earthenware, and ceramics
• Books and works on Provence, the Étang de Berre, the Alpilles
• Clothing and accessories for the whole family
• Toys and board games
• Trinkets and decorative objects
• Small furniture and antique items from Provencal homes
• Tools and utensils from yesteryear

Extend Your Visit: Trails, Bories, and Olive Trees

After the car boot sale, visitors can extend their day by taking the marked trails that crisscross the Pont-de-Rhaud massif through the garrigue, olive groves, and pine forests. The Bories circuit allows you to discover these dry stone huts scattered on the hillside. Lovers of hydraulic heritage will appreciate a walk along the Touloubre, a river that winds below the village. Cornillon-Confoux is also located near Saint-Chamas and its Roman Pont Flavien, the Poudrerie Park, and the villages of the Alpilles.