What you can buy
NEW from 1st October 2011. TOBACCO guidelines for personal use - 800 cigarettes (was 3,200), 200 cigars, 400 cigarillos, 1 Kg smoking tobacco (was3 Kg).
ALCOHOL - 110 lts beer, 90 lts wine, 10 lts spirits, 20 lts fortified wine.
Information on shopping at markets and about Brocantes and Braderie (second hand markets) in Calais and North West France - Day-tripper.net, the web magazine which saves you money when crossing the channel to Calais, to buy wine, beer, spirits and food, travelling by ferry or Eurotunnel.
Markets, and Brocante / Braderie (2nd hand markets)
French verb, brader - get rid of.
Markets in France are well worth a visit. They often have a good range of fresh vegetables (often organic) and locally produced goods unavailable elsewhere. Don't be put off by stalls that only sell one or two items - this is usually a good sign they have grown or reared the goods on sale themselves.
Basically there are; weekly markets (marches hebdomaires), monthly markets (marches mensuels) and markets at fairs, many of which celebrate local produce. Look at local departmental websites for local events and markets (usually under "Calendrier des Manifestations").
Second hand markets and car boot sales are very popular in France especially in the summer and before Christmas.
Calais has two lovely markets selling flowers, plenty of fruit and vegetables, as well as meats and farm produce.
There are many different types of markets in France;
Braderie ou Foire (market or fair); Sales to the public of used items. Open to sellers. The best known is the Braderie de Lille.
Brocante; Object d'art and curiosities, bric a brac. You are likely to find professionals and serious collectors at brocantes. Don't forget to visit the antique shops.
Auctions (enchères). Use Page Jaunes to find a local one. www.pagesjaunes.fr
Depôts Vente - shops and warehouses where second hand goods are sold.
Trocs - shops and warehouses where second hand goods are sold.
Déballages - "Unpacking" in english, another market similar to a brocante.
Marché au puces (Flea market); Held in a public place, and where a person buys or sells goods.
Vide Grenier (loft clearance); Private sales, small scale amateur markets.
MarketsCalais has two markets selling fresh produce. Both finish about midday so make it your first stop if on a day trip. There is one in Place d'Armes (centre), where there is a market on Wednesday and Saturday mornings. At Place Crèvecoeur, there is another market on Thursday and Saturday mornings. The Saturday market is worth visiting. Local farmers sell their freshly harvested products, including fresh watercress and leeks. Make sure you visit the covered section of the market. Here you will find dried sausages and mussels, locally produced cheeses, chickens (much tastier than factory farmed), and other local delicacies. Christmas Markets - information on Xmas markets in this region is on our Xmas Shopping page. The Braderie (2nd hand) page also has some seasonal offers. More For further festival and events information in Nord-Pas de Calais contact the local tourist board via the following: Tel: 0033 320 145 757. |
Markets in other towns in North FranceNorth West France - day by day Monday - Audresselles, Outreau, Liques. Tuesday - Le Portel (Boulogne), Wimereux. Wednesday - Calais, Boulogne, Ambleteuse, Equihen Plage, Fiennes, Wissant. Thursday - Calais, St Martin (Boulogne), Outreau (Boulogne), Marquise. Friday - Le Portel (Boulogne), Guînes, Wimereux. Saturday - Calais, Boulogne. Sunday - Boulogne, Condette. We have been unable to verify all this information gathered from web sites and tourist leaflets, many of which are often out of date. We suggest you check with the local Tourist Office before going. | Town (Miles from Calais) | Market day | Where? | | Aire-sur-la-Lys (39) | Friday | - | | Ambleteuse (15) | Wednesday morning | Place Foche | | Arques (31) | Tuesday morning | Place de la Mairie | | Arras (69) | Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday. | Grand Place, and adjoining Place des Héros. | | Audresselles (15) | Monday morning | Place du Détroit | | Audruick (15) | Wednesday | - | | Béthune (53) | Monday | - | | Boulogne Centre (19) | Wednesday and Saturday mornings | Place Dalton | | Sunday morning | Place Vignon and Place Damrémont | | Boulogne suburbs (19) | Le Portel
Tuesday and Friday morning | Place de l'Église | | St Martin
Thursday morning | Place Aristide Briand | | Outreau Monday and Thursday morning | Place de la Mairie | | Calais | Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday. | - | | Condette | Sunday afternoon (June to September) | - | | Devres (24) | Tuesday morning | Place Léon Blum | | Dunkerque (30) | Wednesday, Saturday. | - | | Equihen Plage | Wednesday afternoon | Place Albert Bécart | | Étaples (38) | Tuesday, Friday. | - | | Fiennes | Wednesday morning | - | | Guînes.(8) | Friday am | - | | Hardelot (29) | Sunday | - | | Hesdin (55). www.tourisme7vallees.com | Thursday. | - | | Le Portel (21) | Tuesday, Friday. | - | | Le Touquet (40) | Saturday, Monday (summer), Thursday | Marché Couvert | | Licques (15) | Monday morning | Place Christiane Collette Evrard. | | Lille (72) | Tuesday - Sunday. | - | | Lumbres (28) | Friday | - | | Marquise (12) | Thursday morning | Place Louis le Sénéchal | | Montreuil (43) | Saturday. | - | | Outreau (21) | Monday, Thursday. | - | | Roubaix (78) | Monday, Wednesday, Friday-Sunday. | - | | St. Omer (28) | Thursday, Saturday mornings | Place du Maréchal Foch. | | Samer. www.ville-samer.fr | Monday morning | Place du Maréchal Foch. | | Stella Plage (41) | Wednesday, Sunday. | - | | Wimereux (17) | Tuesday and Friday morning | Place de la Mairie | | Wissant (10) | Wednesday morning | Place de la Marie Evening Market 7.00 - 10.00pm - July and August. | | Zudausques | 1st Sunday of Month - Organic Market | - |
Markets in towns - NORD, Pas de Calais by day | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | | Audresselles | Arques | Allouagne | Ardres | | Berck | Auchel | Ambleteuse | Arras | | Béthune | Desvres | Annay sous Lens | Avion | | Calais | Estevelles | Arras | Béthune | | Camiers | Frévent | Audruicq | Biache St Vaast | | Coulogne | Grenay | Barlin | Blendecques | | Douvrin | Marck | Beaurainville | Brebières | | Étaples | Oignies | Berck | Bully les Mines | | Hénin Beaumont | Pas en Artois | Billy Montigny | Calais | | Lens | Souchez | Boulogne sur Mer | Calonne Ricouart | | Le Portel | Thérouanne | Calais | Camiers | | Le Touquet | Vitry en Artois | Courrières | Chocques | | Licques | - | Cucq | Drocourt | | Montigny en Gohelle | Divion | Fauquembergues | | Noeux les Mines | - | écourt St Quentin | Haillicourt | | Outreau | - | Hucqueliers | Harnes | | Rouvroy | - | Liévin | Hesdin | | Sallaumines | - | Longuenesse | Houdain | | Samer | - | Mazingarbe | Isbergues | | St Pol sur Ternoise | - | Noyelles sous Lens | Le Touquet | | Vendin le Vieil | - | Oisy le Verger | Libercourt | | Vermelles | - | Oye Plage | Loos en Gohelle | | Wimereux | - | Sains en Gohelle | Marquise | | - | - | St Omer | Noyelles Godault | | - | - | Wednesday | Outreau | | - | - | Wingles | Pernes | | - | - | Wissant | Pont à Vendin | | - | - | - | St Martin Boulogne | | Friday | Saturday | Sunday | - | | Aire sur la Lys | Annezin | Arras | - | | Aix Noulette | Arras | Berck | - | | Avesnes le Comte | Auchy les Mines | Billy Montigny | - | | Avion | Auxi le Chéteau | Boulogne sur Mer | - | | Bailleul s Berthoult | Berck | Bresmes les Ardres | - | | Bapaume | Boulogne sur Mer | Bruay Làbuissière | - | | Berck | Bully les Mines | Calais | - | | Béthune | Calais | Condette | - | | Beuvry | Carvin | Courcelles lès Lens | - | | Bruay Làbuissière | Cuinchy | Cucq | - | | Corbehem | Dourges | Liévin | - | | étaples | Friuges | Rinxent | - | | Fouquières lès Lens | Hersin Coupigny | Wizernes | - | | Guénes | Houdain | - | - | | Hénin Beaumont | Lens | - | - | | Lens | Le Touquet | - | - | | Le Portel | Lillers | - | - | | Lumbres | Loison sous Lens | - | - | | Mazingarbe | Marles les Mines | - | - | | Noeux les Mines | Mazingarbe | - | - | | Sangatte | Méricourt | - | - | | Vendin le Vieil | Montreuil sur Mer | - | - | | Wimereux | Sallaumines | - | - | | - | St Omer | - | - | | - | Vimy | - | - |
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Brocantes - Regular flea marketsBrocantes have more professional sellers about, but are agood place to search for something specific you may be collecting. Lille (Old Town) - Every Wednesday and Saturday. Rue du Solferino - Every Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. Rue du Concert. - Braderie de Lille, the most famous braderie in France. Wazemmes - Every Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday morning. Place de la Nouvelle Aventure, where you'll also find fresh produce and flowers. |
Braderie and Vide Grenier - 2nd hand marketsJust as car boot sales in England are popular, so in France are Braderie (brader - get rid of). Visiting braderie is a popular pastime in France, with many markets, particularly towards the end of the year. Local markets - L'Heritage (large antique shop), 32, rue Victor Hugo. Open Wednesday and Saturday. - Magasin Bric-A-Brac, Ruelle des Rameaux, Nieppe (autoroute Lille-Dunkirk, exit 9). Tel: 0033 320 48 78 74. - Boulogne Shop - Les Petites Puces (Antiquités - Brocante), 71, rue Faidherbe. 62200 Boulogne sur Mer. Useful web sites Good listings. brocabrac.fr / www.info-brocantes.com / www.vide-greniers.org / www.grenier-vide.fr Other useful sites. www.pointsdechine.com |
Depôt VentesDêpots Ventes, shops and warehouses where second hand goods are sold are very popular and common in France. Depôt ventes have web sites which allows for easy checking.  - Easycash, ZC Auchan, ZA Parc la Française. 62231 Coquelles. Tel: 0033 321 85 32 76. www.easycash.fr
 - Emmaus, a charity which collects items from people who are moving or emptying their homes, and resells them. www.emmaus-france.org
 - La Trocante is a chain of shops where you can buy and sell second hand goods. The Calais shop is now closed. The nearest depot is in Saint Omer. La Trocant, 11 avenue du Maréchal Joffre. 62500 Saint Martin au Laert. Tel: 0033 321 88 52 64. www.trocante.fr
 - Troc is another large French chain with 180 shops in France. Items can be bought on line or at their warehouses. Calais Shop - Troc, Zac Curie, Rue Gutenberg. Tel: 0033 321 17 08 38. www.troc.com
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Antique Shops in FranceSome links; Antiquites en France. Useful site listing antique shops in France. www.antiquites-en-france.com Curiositel, more shops. www.curiositel.tm.fr Articite, Shops in the NORD / Pas de Calais region. www.articite.com Salvoweb. Reclaimed items shops in France. www.salvoweb.com |
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Useful Outside linksPlanville guide to braderies in NORD, Pas de Calais. www.planville.com Excellent site full of events and braderie held in Nord Pas de Calais. www.sabradou.com  - French fairs in the United Kingdom (mostly South East). www.frenchfairs.com
A United Kingdom website about car boot sales, including a useful "tips and tricks" section. www.carbootsales.net |
