This is Parisian bargain hunters’ idea of paradise for every budget, just when the arrival of a new season makes you want to redo your entire home décor — and all just 15 minutes by RER from Opéra, Châtelet or Étoile. Beat that!
If you want to hunt down treasures from antique dealers, head to Chatou on the Île des Impressionnistes (Auguste Renoir painted several masterpieces here), where the Chatou Fair, the largest of the Paris-area flea markets, with hundreds of stalls, is set to be more tempting than ever from September 25 to October 4.
What will you find?
Amid this wonderfully eclectic treasure trove, you’ll find both exactly what you’re looking for and things you never knew you needed! 1950s furniture sits alongside 17th-century religious paintings, mirrors from every era, a pair of candelabras, a 1930s chest of drawers, pieces of silverware, faience, postcards, toys, books and jewelry, as well as bags and scarves — and even exquisite lace and fur coats!
The best part? Take advantage of the opportunity to have lunch in the sunshine on boulevard Voltaire, surrounded by dozens of old-school food stalls. Tuck into Corsican charcuterie or Lyon sausages, andouille from Guémené or Vire, Savoy cheeses, and wines from Mâcon, Burgundy, Bordeaux and Alsace. All the treasures of French terroir are there to be enjoyed without moderation. Yum!
We love: this treasure trove runs from Friday, September 26 to Sunday, October 5, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. There’s absolutely no excuse to miss it.
Top tip: A little train awaits you at Rueil-Malmaison RER A station, exit rue des Deux-Gares, and there’s even a valet parking service on site. So chic, my dear!
Foire de Chatou, Île des Impressionnistes, 78400 Chatou, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., September 25 to October 4. Admission €10 (tickets available on site and online), free for under-15s.
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