Open Season – vintage bargain hunting in the Alsace

The Alsace is a magical mountainous region in France, snuggled up by the German and Swiss borders. It is famous for its delicious local Tarte flambée puff pastries and sparkling Crémant wine. Its countless mountains and forests provide the backdrop to many a beautiful UNESCO protected village or town, but also to a secret world of flea market culture, just waiting to be explored.

A world full of countless vintage bargains longing for a new loving home. From furniture to prints and paintings, crockery, clothing, accessories, records and books, as well as some eye-catching religious paraphernalia and an abundance of rare 1930s and 1940s Vogues, you name it and the locals are likely to have it up for sale on their stalls.

What makes these flea markets so extra special is the amazing environment they are set in. Dull mountain treks are a thing of the past – now the more glamorous vintage traveller can enjoy the mountain air, tone those thighs and find long lost treasures at dizzying heights, but at firmly down to earth prices.

In the midst of this Alsatian flea market culture you could find yourself at a market on a football pitch, in the leafy mountains, in a UNESCO Gothic/Renaissance town or even an entire fairytale-like village with each and every inhabitant selling unwanted rarities from their very gardens, backyards or doorsteps.

These are all very happy, community spirit affairs, the plentiful homemade food is yummy and there is never a tourist in sight. And it also provides an ideal opportunity to brush up on any dodgy French skills with attempts at bargaining.

Admittedly, this year’s ‘Open Season’ is slowly coming to a close, but there are still a few more marché aux puces dates to add to your diaries. For more information on the Alsace go to www.tourisme-alsace.com or www.visit-alsace.com  and for flea market dates go to www.alsace-dir.com/agenda/marche-aux-puces,15,1.html

by Isabelle Held


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