Factory Shops in France

(Factory shops in Belgium and Luxembourg)

Shopping at a factory shop is often a way of getting an item you want but at a much cheaper price. Moreover, a vast range of products is available in one place. Even if travelling through an area on holiday, its worth making a detour for a shopping spree at one or more of the many Factory shopping centres in France. Worth visiting are; Roubaix, Troyes and Metz - Talange (Clothes), Arc (for glass), Le Creuset (for cookware) and Villeroy & Boch (table and glassware).

Factory shopping centres have grown quickly in recent years. Between 1993 and 2005 for example, the selling area virtually doubled, from 123,000 square metres (7 centres) to 235,000 square metres. Together with the projects currently under way, it will have increased by 121% by 2007 (17 centres). There are about 45 Factory shopping centres in the U.K.

In France, where sales are regulated, last years stock can be legally discounted for sale at factory shops all year round, as well as over production and discontinued lines. Seconds can be bought as well, and we found that these were clearly marked. Also available is overstock from catalogue companies (in France the main ones are; La Redoute, Les 3 Suisses, Vert Baudet and Damart.

The next sales in France in NORD (59), Pas de Calais (62) and Aube (10 - Troyes) will start early January 2009 and run for about 6 weeks. In Belgium they will take place in January 2009.

Many centres are open on Sundays during the sales - check the web sites for up to date information.

Sometimes there are Sunday openings - look at the Sunday shopping page for the latest news.

Coach driver? McArthur Glen at Troyes and Roubaix will provide you with a meal voucher

(French Government link for dates in all regions - more)

CREDIT CARDS - we suggest you ring your credit card company before shopping in France - increased fraud means they are turning down shoppers cards if their spending deviates from the norm. Take your mobile - you can often sort the problem out over the phone.

Winter and Summer sales in Troyes.

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Useful outside links

French Government site with information on sales

- Marques Avenue. Branded clothes shopping centre in Calais. www.marquesavenue.com

Cité Europe - A shopping centre in Calais, near the Eurotunnel exit. www.citeeurope.com

- McArthur Glen Factory Shops. Large chain in France. Centre in Roubaix near Lille. www.mcarthurglen.fr

- L'Usine. Another centre close to Lille. www.lusine.fr

- Troyes Magasins d'Usine. Site for the shops in Troyes, one of the main centres for factory shops in France. Full of very useful information for shoppers (in French). You can even search by brand for the shops locally that stock them. About 5 hours drive from Calais. www.troyesmagusine.com

Sales by Paris Touch - Great site for shopping in Paris. www.soldesbyparistouch.com

- Conseils National des Centres Commerciaux. Find a French Centre Commercial. (Click the map of France.) www.cncc.com

- Centres Commerciaux. Lists many Centre Commercial throughout France and Portugal. www.centres-commerciaux.com

- Site des Marques. Useful resource for French brand information. www.sitedesmarques.com

Les Magasins d'Usine. Mostly in French, but comprehensive listings, even if not all places listed are in fact factory shopping centres. www.lesmagasinsdusine.com

- Magasins Usine. Lots of background information. www.magasins-usine.info

- Information about the Factory Shopping concept in France. www.magdus.fr

Superaffaires - Comprehensive list of factory shops in France. www.superaffaires.com

Factory shops (chains) in France

The main chains or centres are;

- Marques Avenue. Centres in Troyes, Paris, Metz, Romans and Calais. www.marquesavenue.com

- Large chain in France. Centres in Roubaix (near Lille) and Troyes. www.mcarthurglen.fr

- Close to Lille. The site was an old Velvet factory. www.lusine.fr.

Smaller chains include;

- Au Fil des Marques, a chain with 16 shops in France. www.aufildesmarques.com

- Chic Outlet Shopping. Centres in Antwerp and Marne-la-Vallée. www.chicoutletshopping.com

- Usines Center (Two centres near Paris). www.usinescenter.com

- Pantheon (First centre opening in Bordeaux - Spring 2008). www.pantheonretail.com

Factory Shops - NORD, Pas de Calais region

Roubaix, north of Lille, has the largest conglomeration of factory shops in NORD / Pas de Calais.

Tourist Office; www.roubaixtourism.net. Town Hall; www.mairie-roubaix.fr. Historical information; roubaix.free.fr

Where is Roubaix? (Planville map)

A L'Usine - 228, avenue Alfred Motte. 59100. Roubaix, near Lille. L'Usine is a chain of store factory outlets. This center is based in an old factory and houses aproximately 70 factory and clearance shops. Tel: 0033 320 83 16 20. Open: Monday to Saturday 10.00am to 7.00pm. www.lusine.fr

McArthurGlen factory Shopping Centre, 44 Mail de Lannoy. 59100. Roubaix, (near Lille). Tel: 0033 328 33 36 00 and 10. Fax: 0033 328 33 36 01. Open: Monday to Saturday 10.00am to 7.00m. Occassional Sunday openings - check web site for latest information. Over 55 shops with discounted goods from last season (designer factory shops). Directions; from Calais - A26 to Dunkirk, A25 to Lille, exit 7 towards Roubaix, then Centre Ville or McArthurGlen signs. www.mcarthurglen.fr

Parking is FREE

There is a market in Roubaix on Mondays at rue Rubens from 8.00am to 2.00pm.

- Verrerie Cristallerie d'Arques, ZI, RN 43, 62510. Arques. Tel: 0033 321 12 74 74 / 95 46 96. Fax: 0033 321 12 74 10. www.arc-intl.com Open: Visits at 9.00am, 10.30am, 2.00pm and 3.30pm - Monday to Saturday. Directions; A26, Arques Exit, Calais. Take the tour, which includes a review of the company's history & a display of the making of the crystal. Pre-booking is essential.

Créations Alpac Factory shop. Route Nationale 43, 62120 Aire-sur-la-Lys (near St. Omer). tel : 03 21 95 68 58.Aire-sur-la-Lys (near St Omer)

Huge range of picnic, patio, conservatory and poolside goods. Créations Alpac, RN43, 62120 Aire-sur-la-Lys. Tel: 0033 321 95 68 58.

- Les AUBAINES de La Redoute - Déstockage (Catalogue company). Clothes, fabrics, lots of end of series items, and old stock from this catalgue company. www.laredoute.fr / www.lesaubaines.fr

Arras (Clothes, household linens). Centre Commercial E.Leclerc. 62000.

Lens (Clothes, household linens). 71 boulevard Basly. 62000.

Lille. 298 rue Gambetta. 59000. Tel: 0033 320 15 29 18.

Roubaix (Furniture). 85, rue de l’Alma. 59100. Tel: 0033 320 26 18 71.

Tourcoing. 119 chaussée berthelot. 59200. Tel: 0033 320 69 82 42.

- Excédence. Les Trois Suisses (Catalogue company). www.excedence.com

Nike Factory Store, Tel: 0033 321 35 52 27, Parc la Francaise, 62231 Coquelles, Calais. Open: Monday - Saturday 10.00am - 7.00pm. Save about £30 on U.K. prices for clothes and sports shoes.

- Tradilinge, 8 Chemin de la blanchisserie. 59400 Cambrai. France. Tel: 0327 83 91 56. "Fabricant de linge de maison" (Manufacturers of household linen). Its easy to get to - Just off the A2 autoroute, which is accessible from the A26 towards Reims. www.tradilinge.com

- www.troyesmagusine.com

Troyes - factory shops

Troyes is about 4 hours driving from Calais (250miles). Apart from the centre where there are some shops, most of the factory outlets are on the outskirts of town in two main areas; St. Julien Le Villas (Marque City, Marques Avenue) and Zone Pont Sainte Marie (Mc Arthur Glen).

- Marques City, 114, Bd. de Dijon, 10800. St Julien les Villas. (Zone Pont Sainte Marie). Tel: 0033 325 82 80 80. Fax: 0033 325 82 39 22. Open: Monday 2.00 - 7.00pm. Tuesday to Friday 10.00am - 7.00pm. Saturday 9.30am - 7.00pm. Directions. www.marquescity.com

- Marques Avenue (Two centres, Fashion and home / decoration). Boulevard de Dijon. 108800. Zone St. Julien les Villas; Directions: A5 Autoroute, Exit 21. Map. www.marquesavenue.com

- Mc Arthur Glen Factory Shop Centre - La voie du Bois, 10150. Zone Pont-Sainte-Marie. Troyes. 10150. Tel: 0033 325 70 47 10.

Directions: At the intersection of the A5 & A26 autoroutes. Open: Monday to Friday from 10.00am - 7.00pm, Saturday from 9.30am - 7.00pm. Map. www.mcarthurglen.fr

Directions

By car - From MacArthur Glen to Marques Avenue; (from PONT HOLY MARIE). Follow the D960, then take the left to St Julien les Villas - A5. Follow the by-pass to follow Dijon for approximately 900 metres then turn right towards Troyes - St Julien les Villas. Continue on the by-pass for 1.9kms. At the 1st roundabout. Continue straight ahead towards St Julien. At the 2nd roundabout, follow signs for Dijon. At the 3rd roundabout follow the signs for A5-Dijon. At the traffic lights, turn left towards Dijon. At the 4th traffic light is Center Marks Avenue.

By train from the centre - There is a bus serving both centres at the SNCF Railway station in Troyes. The bus station is 80 metres away in Bld. Carnot in front of the Tourist Office.

For the centres located at Pont Ste Marie: (Mc Arthur Glen and Marques City); take line 1 from the Carnot/Gare stop. Direct access until Pont Ste Marie. Get off at stop "Magasins".

For the centres located at Saint Julien les Villas: (Marks Avenue, Club of the Marks); Take Line 9 (Gare/Blossières). Get off at "préfecture", and take Line 2 to St Julien/Bréviandes. Get off at stop "Magasins of l'Avenue".

News

During this year’s winter sales, shoppers at the factory outlets in Troyes will not only get staggeringly good prices on big brand clothes.

For regional information, visit www.aube-champagne.com

Where to stay

We liked the Hôtel La Maison de Rhodes **** in the centre of the old town. An old building well restored, the rooms and suites are huge and well appointed. Within close walking distance of the beautifully restored old town, we found dozens of restaurants withing a few minutes walk (there is no restaurant in the hotel).

If you are coming all this way to visit the Factory shopping centres located in and around Troyes, why not make a fun break of it all and stay somewhere decent like the Hotel La Maison de Rhodes?

Hôtel La Maison de Rhodes ****, 18, rue Linard Gonthier. 10000 Troyes. Tel: 0033 325 43 11 11. Fax: 0033 325 43 10 43.

www.maisonderhodes.com

Photos

The stunning courtyard of the Hotel La Maison de Rhodes makes this hotel a worthwhile romatic break

The breakfast room - fresh orange juice is served with newly made croissents. Breakfast can also be taken in your room.

The courtyard in the day - tea or coffee (or champagne) can be enjoyed here - ideal after a days shopping.

Metz - Talange (Moselle - south of Luxembourg)

Metz is ideal if you have or are, passing through Luxembourg. Although not as organised as other factory shopping centres, there is a good range of shops here. It is popular with shoppers' from Luxembourg, Belgium and the Netherlands.

Much quieter than other centres and with parking a plenty, its a worthwhile place to stop.

There is a Marques Avenue Centre here as well.

Marque Avenue, Z.I. de Talange Hauconcourt 57525 Talange. Tel: 0033 387 17 35 50.

Link to many factory shops in the Strasbourg area; www.i-strasbourg.com

Dettwiller (shoes)

Heschung Factory Store, Route de Saverne. 67490 Dettwiller. Tel: 0033 388 71 99 96.

Gérardmer (Textiles)

Bragard, Place du Tilleul. 88400 Gérardmer. Tel: 0033 329 63 45 20.

Le Jacquard Français, 35 rue Charles de Gaulle. 88400 Gérardmer. Tel: 00329 60 82 50.

Linvosges, 232, Route d’Epinal. 88400 Gérardmer. Tel: 0033 329 60 05 39.

Ribeauvillé (Alsatian table linen)

Factory Store Beauville, 19 route de Saint Marie aux Mines. 68150 Ribeauvillé. Tel: 0033 389 73 74 74.

Saint Avold (Continental Quilts)

Dodo Factory store, 25 rue Foch. 57500 Saint Avold. Tel: 0033 387 91 16 16.

Saint Louis les Bitche (Glass)

Saint Louis Factory store, Cristallerie de Saint Louis, Rue Goetlosquel. 57620 Saint Louis les Bitche. Tel: 0033 387 06 40 04.

Strasbourg

Aussedat Rey, 139 route Wantzenau. 67015 Strasbourg. Tel: 0033 388 31 00 31.

The Goldsmith Deetjen, 9, rue Poincaré. 67304 Schiltigheim. cedex. Tel: 0033 388 62 26 46.

Turckheim(cooking utensils)

Staub Factory Store, 2 rue Saint Gilles. 68230 Turckheim. Tel: 0033 389 27 77 71.

Other Factory shopping centres nearby (in Germany);

Zweibrucken, Germany (about 100km north of Strasbourg). www.zweibrueckenoutlet.com

Metzingen (about 140km from Strasbourg). www.metzingen.de

Paris

- Quai des Marques. www.quaidesmarques.com

Fraconville. Quai des Marques. 395, avenue du General Leclerc. 95130. Fraconville. Close by A15 autoroute. Tel: 0033 1 44 54 84 00. Open: Monday to Saturday.

lle-Saint-Denis - Quai des Marques Saint-Denis. 9, Quai du Chatelier. 93540. lle-Saint-Denis. Tel: 0033 1 48 09 04 05.

- Usines Centres in Paris.

1) Roissy. Usines Center Roissy. 134, avenue de la plaine. Paris Nord 2 - BP 70164. 95952. Roissy CDG. Tel: 0033 1 48 63 20 72. www.usinescenter.biz (Departement Val d'Oise).

2) Villacoublay. Usines Center Villacoublay, Route Andre Citroen, 78140 Velizy Villacoublay. Tel: 0033 1 39 46 45 00. Open: seven days a week. Directions: from the A6 autoroute. Take the A86 direction Versailles. Exit Petit-Clamart, then direction Z.A Villacoublay. villacoublay.usinescenter.com

- La Vallée Village, 3 Cours de la Garonne. 77700 Serris (Marne Vally). Tel: 0033 1 60 42 35 00. Fax: 0033 1 60 42 36 00.

Directions: By car: A4 motorway, exit 12.1 from Paris (14 from Reims) then follow "Centre Commercial/Entrée A" signs. By train: Express Subway RER A at "Val d'Europe" station, or Thalys/TGV/Eurostar at "Marne-la-Vallée-Chessy-Parc Disneyland®" station. By shuttle: from RER Express Subway station (simply call 0033 1 60 42 35 01), or from Paris, Cityrama (upon reservation on 0033 1 44 55 60 00).

Cityrama shuttle; 3 times a week, a Cityrama shuttle links the heart of Paris to La Vallée Village. Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays leaving the Cityrama agency, place des Pyramides, at 10.15am and returning at approximately 4.00pm. Fares: 15 € round trip - adult, 10€ round trip – children, ages 3 to 12. (Free for children under 3). Reservation required up to 5.00pm the day before departure, at hotels and Cityrama agencies 0033 1 44 55 60 00.

From Disney's Hotels; La Vallée Village is linked to the Disney hotels by the dedicated La Vallée shuttle bus. Information is available from the concierge at each hotel.

To find out more; www.lavalleevillage.com / www.chicoutletshopping.com

Famous brands

Les Chocolat de Beussent, 66, Route de Desvres, Beussent. 62170. Tel: 0033 321 86 17 62. www.choco-france.com

Fresnoy-Le-Grand

- Le Creuset Factory Outlet, 880, rue Olivier Deguise, Fresnoy-Le-Grand (near St. Quentin). 02230 France. Tel: 0033 323 06 22 45. About an hours drive from Amiens. Le Creuset has been making its cast iron pans here since 1925. Apparently each one is handcast from a single mould that's destroyed afterwards. Opening Hours: Tuesday to Saturday, 9.30am to 12.30pm & 2.00pm to 6.45pm.

The Le Creuset factory outlet sells top quality enamelled cast-iron kitchen items at a 35-40% discount on the normal retail price.

Every November there is a special sale. www.lecreuset.fr / www.lecreuset.co.uk

Rest of France

Bayel, near Bar-sur-Aube in the Aube department - handmade crystal

1) Aube Crystal, Bayel. Call 0033 3 25 92 03 79

2) Cristalleries Royales de Champagne, B.p. 1 - La Voix Basse, 10310 Bayel. Call 0033 325 92 37 60. www.aube-champagne.com

Dijon

- Maille Dijon Mustard shop, 32, rue de la Liberté. 21000 Dijon. Tel: 0033 380 30 41 02. Open Monday to Saturdayfrom 9.00am to 7.00pm. www.maille.com

Grasse - Perfume

Fragonard Perfumery, 20, boulevard Fragonard. BP 22060. 06130 GRASSE. Tel: 0033 493 36 44 65. www.fragonard.com

Galimard Perfumery, 3, route de Cannes. 06131 GRASSE. Tel: 0033 493 09 20 00. www.galimard.com

Limousin - China

In the Limousin capital city of Limoges alone, there are six factory stores which sell the china that has been famous for centuries. Here are four of them:

1) Magasin d'usine Bernardaud. 30, rue Altert-Thomas. 87000 Limoges. Tel: 0033 5 55 77 39 66. www.bernardaud.fr

2) - Ancienne manufacture royale de Limoges. 7, place des Horteils. 87700 Aixe-sur-Vienne. Tel: 0033 5 55 70 44 82.

3) Le Pavillon de la porcelaine - Musée Haviland. ZI de Magré-route de Toulouse. 87000 Limoges. Tel: 0033 5 55 30 21 86.

4) Royal Limoges, 8, rue Donzelot 87000 Limoges. Tel: 0033 555 33 27 30. www.royal-limoges.fr

Lorraine - Crystal

Here are just a few of the fine crystal shops of Lorraine - you'll find more listed in the booklet "La Route du Cristal en Lorraine."

1) Magasin d'usine de Daum. 17, rue des Cristalleries. 5400. Nancy. Tel: 0033 383 32 14 55.

2) Compagnie Française du cristal. 54112. Vannes-le-Châtel. Tel: 0033 385 25 41 01.

3) Cristallerie de Hartzwiller. Av. de la Valle. 57870. Hartzwiller. Tel: 0033 387 25 10 55.

4) St-Louis. rue Goetlosquel. 57620. Saint-Louis-les-Bitche. Tel: 0033 387 06 40 04.

Lyon - Silk

Atelier de Soierie (Silk Trade Workshop) in rue Romarin, a sort of factory/shop owned by the Brochier company – a supplier for major designers in Paris – where one can buy unique items at exceptional prices (discarded cuttings). 33, rue Romarin-69001 LYON. (a few metres from the place des Terreaux, near Hotel de Ville) Tel: 0033 472 07 97 83. www.atelierdesoierie.com

Romans - Shoes

Luxury shoes from Romans have earned a reputation all over the world. The Romans tourist office publishes a guide to the discount shops located near the factory shops and also offers "Mode & Culture" weekend tours which include accommodation, meals, museum visits and shopping expeditions. The Factory Shopping Centre was opened after the collapse of the old shoe making factories here to help mitigate the losses in employment. Most are situated in the Cote des Cordeliers.

Great place for lunch

Saladerie, Salon de Thé. 10, Place Charles de Gaulle. 26100 Romans. Tel: 0033 475 72 50 08. Great range of salads and freshly cooked food.

Watch out! There is a lady selling cheese in the market ripping people off. Buy a piece of cheese and find yourself 55 euro lighter. Watch out for "free gifts" put in the bag before weighing. These are usually goats cheese (cheap). The rate per 100 grams is displayed but is shockingly high - 10 x that in the supermarkets. She will helpfully offer to accept less. Stand your ground. Even if a trader has cut the cheese or taken some money, refuse to complete the sale and threaten to call the police. In my case, it was my 93 year old mother in law being taken for a ride before I turned up.

Shops

Magasin d'usine - Accessoire Diffusion. 23 côte des Cordeliers, 26100 Romans-Sur-Isère. Tel: 0033 475 05 34 07.

Magasin d'usine - Alain Manoukian. 34 avenue Félix Faure, 26100 Romans-Sur-Isère. Tel: 0033 475 02 79 20.

Magasin d'usine - L'Atelier Des Marques. 17 Place du 75e RI, 26100 Romans-Sur-Isère. Tel: 0033 475 05 18 38.

Magasin d'usine - Charles Jourdan. Galerie Fan'Halles - Côte des Cordeliers. 26100 Romans. Tel: 0033 475 02 32 36.

Magasin d'usine - Espace, Côte des Cordeliers. 26100 Romans-Sur-Isère Tel: 0033 475 02 87 97.

Magasin d'usine - Robert Clergerie. Rue Pierre Curie. 26100 Romans. Tel: 0033 475 05 59 65.

Magasin d'usine - Stéphane Kélian. 11, place Charles de Gaulle. 26100 Romans. Tel: 0033 475 05 23 26.

Contact the Romans tourist office at:

Office du Tourisme. 17, place jean Jaures BP 13. 26100. Romans. Drômes. Tel: 0033 4 75 02 28 72. Fax: 0033 475 05 91 62.

Marques Avenue - Romans. Tel: 0033 144 54 84 00. Directions: 60 Avenue Gambetta. 26100. Romans-Sur-Isere. www.marquesavenue.com

October 2007 - I made a note when visiting the factory shopping centre in Romans, where I saw some Mephisto shoes. A French brand, they are a bit pricey but last for years and are very comfortable. At one of the shops they cost 155 euro, about £116 (exchange rate 1.33 euro to £1.00). The price in the U.K. is ... £149, a saving of 22%.

- Mephisto Shoes. A popular French brand with a loyal following. www.mephisto.com

Tips when shopping at Factory shops / Centres

If making long journey, ring before going to check on opening times and availability of stock.

Try before you buy as size labels can be misleading (the reason why they are being discounted for example). Write down size information as many items are from other countries.

Check stitching and linings.

Check every aisle in the shop and be prepared to rummage.

Ask, the shop may well have something you are after at the back.

If you like something buy it - don't hesitate. It may not be there, or replaceable when you return.

Haggle, especially near the end of a sale. Factory shops are there to clear stock and use the sales to do just that.

Check web sites - special "sale days" often give great value (i.e. buy one get the second at 20% off, buy two get the third item free etc.).

Go to the information centre if there is one and ask what shops have offers on.

What to get and where

China - Limousin (Bernardaud, Royale)

Clothes - Calais, Roubaix (Lille), Metz, Paris, Troyes.

Chocolate - Eupen, Ostende in Belgium, Beussent. www.choco-france.com

More About Chocolate in France and Belgium

Cookware - Fresnoy-Le-Grand (Le Creuset), Turckheim (cooking utensils).

Household linen, Textiles - Cambrai (Tradilinge), Gérardmer (Bragard), Lyons (silk), Ribeauvillé (Alsatian table linen), Saint Avold (Dodo - Continental Quilts).

Home decoration - Troyes (Marques Avenue).

Perfume - Grasse (Fragonard and Galimard).

Picnic, patio, conservatory and poolside goods - Aire-sur-la-Lys (Créations Alpac).

Shoes - Dettwiller, Romans.

Skiing - Lange at Messancy in Belgium, Salomon at Mc Arthur Glen in Troyes and Degre 7 in Grenoble.

Table and Glassware - Arques (Arc International), Bayel (Handmade crystal), Villeroy & Boch, Lorraine (Crystal), Nancy (Daum), Saint Louis les Bitche (Glass).

Factory Shopping centres in Belgium

Luxembourg

Belgium Tobacco	Vouchers calais	Route 66 Luxembourg	Calais Supermarkets	Tobacco Exit-5	Auchan Calais
Cheers Wine Calais	Advertise	Mini cruises	PIDOU winebeer calais	Boursots Wine Ardres	Boozers in Calais