Vide-Grenier du Rove

Treasure Hunting in Le Rove, Emblematic Village of the Côte Bleue

Each year, the village of Le Rove hosts its car boot sale, a popular event that brings together the local community and bargain hunters from the surrounding area in one of the most authentic villages on the Marseille coast. Organized in October, this friendly gathering allows individuals to clear out their cellars and attics, much to the delight of bargain lovers from all over the Marseille basin.

Le Rove, Birthplace of a Millennia-Old Goat Breed

Le Rove holds a unique place in Provençal heritage. It is the only goat breed in France to bear the name of its region. The Rove goat, recognizable by its large, twisted horns with a triangular cross-section, has been present in these hills for over 2,600 years, descended from herds that came from Mesopotamia and Anatolia via ancient maritime routes. At the beginning of the 20th century, nearly 4,000 goats were registered in the commune for only 400 inhabitants. Today, more than 400 Rove goats still graze in the Varune sheepfold and on the slopes of the massif.

Brousse du Rove, White Gold of the Hills

From the Rove goat comes the Brousse du Rove, a fresh raw milk cheese made using ancestral know-how. This exceptional product, recognized by an AOC in 2018 and then by a European AOP in 2020, has become the 51st French dairy AOP. Seven goat farmers and cheesemakers perpetuate this tradition over an appellation area covering 131 communes in the Bouches-du-Rhône, Vaucluse, and Var departments. The specifications require raw milk exclusively from Rove goats fed on pasture.

A Village Perched on the Massif de la Nerthe

Le Rove covers approximately 2,300 hectares, 87% of which has been classified as a protected site since 2013 by the Conservatoire du littoral. The Massif de la Nerthe, a limestone setting covered with Mediterranean garrigue, is home to remarkable biodiversity: Bonelli's eagle, Eurasian eagle-owl, and numerous protected bird of prey species. The rugged coastline offers 10 kilometers of preserved coastline, a succession of calanques, cliffs, and wild coves that form the western gateway to the Côte Bleue.

Exceptional Historical Heritage

The village holds remarkable heritage treasures. The Chapelle Saint-Michel, a Templar edifice from the 12th-13th centuries, has been classified as a historic monument since 1977. The Camp de Laure, a fortress dating from the early Bronze Age (1800-1500 BC), is considered the oldest oppidum in Provence. The Canal du Rove, one of the greatest engineering works of the early 20th century, connected the Mediterranean to the Étang de Berre for maritime trade until its collapse in 1963. The forts of Niolon and Figuerolles complete this exceptional built heritage.

Finds for All Tastes

The stalls at the Rove car boot sale offer the typical diversity of Provençal car boot sales: crockery and ceramics, books and records, clothing and accessories, toys and board games, knick-knacks and decorative objects, tools and small furniture. The village atmosphere and proximity to the coast give this event a special charm, inviting visitors to extend their day with a walk on the trails of the Massif de la Nerthe or a descent towards the calanques.

Le Rove, a Village Alive All Year Round

The car boot sale is part of the festive calendar of a village animated by a Municipal Festival Committee of about fifty active volunteers. Carnival, Sainte-Anne's festival, Goat of Le Rove Days organized by the association Cabro d'Or, Christmas events: the village cultivates its traditions and conviviality all year round, true to the spirit of a commune that has preserved its Provençal identity on the doorstep of the Marseille metropolis.