Vide-Grenier de Maussane-les-Alpilles

A car boot sale at the foot of the Alpilles

Each year, the Place de l'Église in Maussane-les-Alpilles transforms into a vast second-hand market. Private sellers set up in the heart of the village to offer treasure hunters and visitors a wide selection of pre-loved items in a friendly, family atmosphere. Dominated by the imposing Sainte-Croix church and the remarkable Fountain of the Four Seasons, the square provides an exceptional Provençal setting for this outdoor flea market day.

Maussane-les-Alpilles, capital of AOP olive oil

Maussane-les-Alpilles is a village of 2,400 inhabitants located on the southern slope of the Alpilles massif, in the Regional Natural Park of the Alpilles. First mentioned in 1186 as "Malmussana", the village owes its current fame to its exceptional olive oil production. With an annual production of 400,000 liters and nearly 37,000 olive trees, Maussane-les-Alpilles is the leading producer of AOP olive oil in France. The AOP Vallée des Baux-de-Provence appellation, obtained in 1997, distinguishes three products: "olives cassées vertes" (green cracked olives), "olives noires piquées" (pricked black olives), and olive oil, made from five local varieties (Salonenque, Aglandau, Grossane, Verdale, and Picholine).

The Sainte-Croix Church and the Fountain of the Four Seasons

The Sainte-Croix Church, overlooking the car boot sale square, was built thanks to the patronage of Joseph Laugier de Monblan, a local lord who bought the land in August 1750. Consecrated in September 1754 by Jean-Joseph de Jumilhac, Archbishop of Arles, this imposing three-nave church features a beautiful classical facade. Its pulpit and porch are listed as Historic Monuments. With the construction of the church, the center of the village shifted around this square, which remains the natural heart of Maussane to this day.

On Place Laugier-de-Monblan, the Fountain of the Four Seasons, inaugurated between 1864 and 1869, is a remarkable sculpture attributed to Louis Astruc, who also built the village's Napoleon III washhouse. This monumental fountain, surprising for such a small village, testifies to Maussane's olive oil prosperity in the 19th century.

What to find at the car boot sale

The stalls at the Maussane-les-Alpilles car boot sale offer the typical variety of Provençal second-hand markets:

• Tableware, earthenware, and decorative objects
• Clothing and accessories for the whole family
• Toys and games for children
• Books, vinyl records, and collectibles
• Small furniture and tools
• Trinkets and Provençal curiosities

Moulin Cornille and the olive oil tradition

Take advantage of your visit to the car boot sale to discover the Moulin Cornille, built in 1685 and acquired by the olive oil cooperative in 1924. This mill perpetuates traditional pressing methods and produces a quality "fruité noir" (dark fruit) AOP-certified olive oil. In the 19th century, Maussane had over 650 hectares of olive groves and no fewer than 12 oil mills, a testament to centuries of olive oil activity.

A Provençal village to discover

Nicknamed the "village of a thousand fountains", Maussane-les-Alpilles boasts a rich heritage beyond its church and fountain. The Napoleon III washhouse from 1865, the Planet washhouse from 1920, and numerous ancient fountains line the village's narrow streets. Every Thursday morning, the Provençal market animates the streets with its colors and flavors. Nearby, the village of Paradou (1 km away) and the town of Les Baux-de-Provence offer unforgettable excursions into the heart of the Alpilles.