Flea Market, Farmers' Market and Plant Swap - Saint-Martin-Lars-en-Sainte-Hermine

Three in one

Original idea: not just a flea market but a triple event combining bargain-hunters, foodies and gardeners. Programme: classic flea market + local farmers' market + plant swap. 2026: Sunday 26 April.

Appeals to a diverse crowd. Spring festival far richer than a standard flea market, showcasing Vendée agricultural and horticultural know-how.

The flea market

Private sellers: clothes, toys, books, trinkets, small furniture, tools, crockery. Friendly atmosphere, modest prices, bargaining part of the fun.

Farmers' market

Highlight of the day: local producers. Vendée plain cuisine:

• Vendée ham, rillettes, sausages
• Goat and cow cheeses
• Mogettes (white beans), dried pulses
• Honey, artisan jams
• Fiefs Vendéens wines, pineau
• Flour, peasant breads
• Seasonal fruit and veg
• Organic eggs, free-range chicken

Plant swap

Third strand: swap area where gardeners exchange cuttings, plants, seeds, tools. Free-giving spirit: bring surplus, leave with what you need. Ideal for beginners and experts hunting rare or local varieties.

Plain village

~700 inhabitants, Vendée plain, near Sainte-Hermine (4 km), between Luçon (18 km) and Fontenay-le-Comte (25 km). Name from a former local saint. Productive farming area.

Community event

Rare dynamism for size. Reflects evolving values: more ecological, more local, more sustainable.

Tips

Come early for flea, stay for market and swap. Bags, containers, boxes or baskets. Lunch on site possible (producers, food trucks, refreshments). Village centre pedestrianised for the day.

Around

Sainte-Hermine, Luçon (Richelieu's cathedral), Fontenay-le-Comte (Renaissance). Marais Poitevin 30 min for boat rides in 'Venise verte'.