If you fancy second-hand goods, and mussels, and that French flair.
If you haven’t paid a visit to Lille yet, consider it now. You will of course find your typical French attractions from eclairs to that little cute bistro – also cheese, and cream, and butter, and smokers in excess. If you go at the right time, you’ll also experience what is probably the biggest flea market in Europe: Braderie de Lille.
Flea markets are generally a thing in Lille. You might stumble upon some just about any time you find yourself in the city. But! Around end August – beginning September is indeed the right time to see the greatest of all. The whole city centre transforms itself into an endless street market where you can practically find whatever you’ve been looking for all your life. Especially if you’ve been looking for something old. That PLAYMOBIL figure that disappeared under your bed in 1991 maybe?
So lose yourself in the junk and the unexpected treasures, also in the street musicians and food vendors. Don’t disregard the beautiful architecture around you in the process. Skip your ordinary croissant and go for a marveilleux or a kouignette instead – although I’d blatantly go for two of the latter. And whatever happens, finish off by following the odour to one of the mussel shell mountains. This is where those “moules au vin” you had earlier ended up. I mean the shells.
Braderie de Lille
https://www.braderie-de-lille.fr/
Image is my own.
I walk fast. 