Braderie de Houilles

The town of Houilles in Yvelines (one of the counties neighbouring Paris) is best known as the town where Victor Schoelcher, the man behind the 1848 decree abolishing slavery in France and its colonies, died. It is also home to a famous international pedestrian “corrida”.

But what really makes Houilles famous is its Braderie, which attracts around 2,000 exhibitors and 300,000 visitors to its 6 miles (10 km) of pavements every October.

The Braderie de Houilles sells tons of second-hand items, but there are also many stalls filled with random stuff, including old kitchen appliances, clothes, shoes, furniture, blankets, mobile phone accessories, second-hand toys and more. However, those willing to rummage through piles of junk and knock-offs may find some real bargains.

As the Braderie de Houilles takes place on the same day as the Réderie d’Amiens, you may have to make a difficult choice – or get to one very early in the morning to make it to the other. All in all, the Braderie de Houilles is a great choice for flea market enthusiasts who want to combine a Paris shopping trip with Les Puces de St Ouen-Clignancourt and the Marché aux Puces de la Porte de Vanves.