The Marché aux Puces de la Vieille Ville enjoys a picturesque location in the old town of Nancy in eastern France, near the Basilica of Saint Epvre. This flea market has been a regular monthly event in this city since the 80's and it seems that it will continue to be so for many years to come. It is a very popular event among the locals and many generations of families have enjoyed the atmosphere and the interesting goods that this market always offers. It also attracts visitors from further afield on the Sundays it is held.
The Marché aux Puces de la Vieille Ville has an early start, so eager shoppers and those in search of certain collectibles will need to set an alarm clock to be among the first to arrive! However, it stays open until early evening, so if certain items are not on the shopping list, one can enjoy a leisurely Sunday and arrive at any time to browse this market. Visitors can expect to find silverware, cutlery sets, china, photographs, frames, small works of art, carvings and other ornamental pieces, vintage books, smaller furniture items such as chairs and small desks, glassware, globes, and more. As an added bonus, there is usually a city market on Sundays as well, so this is a great town to visit for those who enjoy browsing a good market.
One of the reasons for the continued popularity of the Marché aux Puces de la Vieille Ville is its adaptation to the changing demographics of its visitors. Over the years, with more students and shoppers on a budget, the prices set by the vendors have varied accordingly. Many of the vendors set up their stalls regularly every month and have been staples of the flea market for years. Others come and go, bringing a wide variety of characters and goods to the event. The number of vendors is usually between 40 and 50, although sunny Sundays are always the busiest, with the most vendors and shoppers. So it is worth checking the forecast before planning a trip here.
For lovers of vintage furniture, especially from the mid-century period, Nancy is a destination not to be missed. In fact, Jean Prouvé, one of the greatest French designers whose pieces still fetch tens of thousands of dollars at auction, was born in this city. He studied and founded his interior furniture factory here. It is therefore not uncommon for some of Jean Prouvé's pieces to end up in secondhand furniture stores like Emmaus or even on the street to be picked up by garbage collectors, as has happened several times. So if you're visiting Nancy, don't miss the opportunity to try your luck at the Marché aux Puces de la Vieille Ville or to wander the streets on bulky goods collection day. You never know, you might get your hands on a Jean Prouvé piece.
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