On a clear Sunday morning in Eygalières, the stone-paved centre of this small Alpilles village fills with the kind of stock that serious collectors travel for. The Brocante d'Eygalières runs on the last Sunday of every month, from seven in the morning until five in the afternoon, drawing between 35 and 45 professional exhibitors into the village's compact heart.
The professional-only format is the market's defining quality. La Banaste, the association behind the event, set that standard from the start in 2017 and enlisted Alain Catan — organiser of the respected weekly brocante at Villeneuve-lès-Avignon — to help shape its curation. No amateur sellers dilute the offer. Every stand earns its place.
The stock rewards collectors hunting pieces with a genuine southern French character. Furniture and decorative objects from the 18th and 19th centuries anchor many stands, alongside antique paintings, tableware and silverware. A second current runs through the Provençal specialities: vivid regional fabrics, hand-thrown ceramics, blown-glass bottles, stone sculptures and antique garden furniture. The selection feels rooted in the regional aesthetic rather than assembled for tourist appeal.
Several times a year, La Banaste stages the Belle Brocante des Alpilles, a special edition that expands the market to more than sixty professional exhibitors. On those days, the village goes fully pedestrian. Local shopkeepers join with tastings and small animations, giving the day a festive edge the monthly market doesn't always carry. Large car parks near the village's multipurpose hall keep the practical side manageable even when the streets are at full capacity.
Eygalières itself adds to the draw. The village sits among olive groves, vines and restored stone farmhouses in the classic Alpilles style. A walk up to the Saint-Sixte Chapel — set on the hill above the village and framed by a ring of old cypresses — makes a natural extension to a market morning. Bars and restaurants around the village centre handle coffee and lunch without much searching.
The market suits collectors who want professional curation at an intimate scale, without the crowds of L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue or the larger Avignon-area fairs. For anyone planning a Provence antique circuit, Eygalières slots naturally between a Saint-Rémy-de-Provence gallery visit and a drive east toward the Luberon. The monthly rhythm makes it worth building into a regular southern France itinerary.
Most visitors arrive by car, and the village is about five minutes from Saint-Rémy-de-Provence. For those travelling by bus, the stop Eygalières – Général de Gaulle is approximately 150 metres from the market site, served by bus line 706. Eygalières – Stade, roughly 200 metres away, adds services on bus lines 7502, 7800 and 7801. An alternative stop, Eygalières – Fontinelle, sits at a similar distance and serves bus line 7801.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: When does the Brocante d'Eygalières take place, and how long does it run?
A: The market runs on the last Sunday of every month, from seven in the morning until five in the afternoon, in the centre of Eygalières village.
Q: Are all the sellers professionals, or can anyone set up a stall?
A: Only professional exhibitors are admitted — no amateur sellers. The organisers, La Banaste, established this standard from the market's beginning in 2017, keeping the quality consistent across the 35 to 45 stands that typically fill the village centre.
Q: What kind of stock will I find, and does it have a regional character?
A: The offer divides roughly into two streams: 18th- and 19th-century French furniture, antique paintings, tableware and silverware on one side, and Provençal-specific pieces — regional fabrics, hand-thrown ceramics, blown-glass bottles, stone sculptures and antique garden furniture — on the other. The selection is grounded in the southern French aesthetic rather than generic flea-market stock.
Q: What is the Belle Brocante des Alpilles, and how does it differ from the monthly market?
A: Several times a year, La Banaste stages this special edition, which expands the market to more than sixty professional exhibitors, closes the village streets to traffic and brings local shopkeepers in with tastings and animations. It is a noticeably larger and more festive day than a standard monthly edition.
Q: Can I reach the market without a car?
A: Bus line 706 stops at Eygalières – Général de Gaulle, about 150 metres from the market site. Additional lines serve the Eygalières – Stade stop, roughly 200 metres away. That said, most visitors arrive by car given the rural Alpilles setting — confirm current timetables before planning a bus journey.
Add a review