Vide-Grenier du Fourmigo d'Arles

The Vide-Grenier du Fourmigo: Bargains and Traditions in the Pays d'Arles

The Vide-Grenier du Fourmigo is an annual event organized by the Lou Fourmigo taurine club on the site of La Monumental de Gimeaux, in the hamlet of Gimeaux in Arles. Every year, this event brings together dozens of private sellers offering their finds to bargain hunters: tableware, clothing, toys, books, trinkets, small furniture, and objects of all kinds. Registration is by phone, and pitches are offered at €10 for a car and €15 for a van or trailer.

Gimeaux, a Hamlet Steeped in Camargue History

The hamlet of Gimeaux is located about six kilometers west of the center of Arles, on the edge of the Regional Natural Park of Camargue, along departmental road 570 leading to Les Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer. Formerly owned by the Hospitallers of the Order of Saint John of Jerusalem, attached to the commandery of Trinquetaille and the grand priory of Saint-Gilles, Gimeaux retains a strong rural identity, marked by taurine traditions and livestock farming. La Monumental de Gimeaux, the arena of the Lou Fourmigo club, hosts campera fiestas, bullfighting shows, and popular events throughout the year.

Arles, a Jewel of World Heritage

Arles is a city of art and history inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1981 for its Roman and Romanesque monuments. The arena, a 1st-century amphitheater capable of holding 21,000 spectators, the ancient theater, the Constantine Baths, the Alyscamps — an ancient and medieval necropolis — and the cloister of Saint-Trophime, a masterpiece of Provençal Romanesque art, bear witness to the city's splendor through the ages. Arles is also the city where Vincent van Gogh stayed in 1888-1889, and it hosts the world-renowned Rencontres d'Arles, an international photography festival, every summer.

A Friendly and Family Event

The Vide-Grenier du Fourmigo takes place from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., with sellers able to set up from 7 a.m. Admission is free for visitors. On-site, a refreshment stand offers drinks and sandwiches throughout the day, and restrooms are available. The atmosphere is warm and relaxed, in the spirit of popular events in the Pays d'Arles where conviviality is a shared value.

Bargain Hunting Between Camargue and Alpilles

Located at the gateway to the Camargue, near the Alpilles and the Crau plain, the Vide-Grenier du Fourmigo is a great opportunity to combine a day of bargain hunting with the discovery of the exceptional landscapes and heritage of the southern Bouches-du-Rhône. Nature lovers will appreciate the proximity of the regional natural park, its pink flamingos, white horses, and black bulls, living symbols of the Camargue.