Quai Saint-Jacques Flea Market in Gaillac

Bargain hunting on the banks of the Tarn

The Quai Saint-Jacques flea market is one of the most anticipated events on the Gaillac calendar. It traditionally takes place on the first Sunday of May on the banks of the Tarn, in the oldest district of the town. This unique setting — cobbled quays, medieval pink-brick houses, silhouette of Saint-Michel abbey — gives the event a special flavour.

Quai Saint-Jacques, historic heart of Gaillac

The Quai Saint-Jacques district is the cradle of Gaillac. It was here, by the Tarn, that the Benedictine abbey at the origin of the town was founded in the 9th century, and it was from these quays that the famous barges loaded with Gaillac wine barrels transited for centuries to Bordeaux and England. The Quai Saint-Jacques Association perpetuates this memory by animating the place several times a year.

What you'll find

On the stalls spread along the quay and in the adjacent streets, the spirit is familial and friendly. Exhibitors — mainly Gaillac locals and residents of vineyard villages (Lisle-sur-Tarn, Rabastens, Técou, Senouillac) — display antique furniture, tableware, books, vinyl records, old postcards of the Gaillacois, clothing, toys, vintner tools, old bottles and regional curiosities.

A day in Gaillac country

The setting invites you to extend the visit: Saint-Michel abbey, Wine House, Museum of Fine Arts, and tastings at one of the many estates of the AOC Gaillac vineyard, one of France's oldest.