The town centre is taken over with every conceivable type of stall you can think of - whether it's fresh fruit, vegetable's, ham, pate's or cheeses being sold directly by the farmer; tables, chairs and beds being sold out of a van, or live hens and chickens clucking in cardboard boxes - you'll be able to buy it all on the market.
If you'd prefer your chickens slightly more prepared, there are also stall-holders selling yummy spit-roasted birds, pork, lamb and potatoes !
As well as selling the freshest and best quality produce, we've also found that the street markets are cheaper than the local supermarkets.
Market times vary but generally start at 6 or 7am and finish at mid-day or 1pm. Regular markets near to the Gite include:
- Josselin - Saturday
- Loudeac - Saturday
- Pontivy - Monday (all day)
- Plémet - Last monday of the month
- Ploermel - Friday
- Merdrignac - Wednesday
- Moncountour - Wednesday
- St-Brieuc - Wednesday & Saturday
- Vannes - Wednesday & Saturday
- Rennes - Mon-Sat in the food halls, Saturday morning aux lices (in the streets)
As well as the regular street markets most weeks you can also find a nearby vide grenier (literally 'empty loft') which can only be described as a cross between an antique fair and a car boot sale. There's usually a very wide range of items on sale ranging from picture postcards to oil paintings, farm ploughs to cutlery and pretty much everything else as well.
Several of the local antique markets (including Pontivy and Rennes) have been featured on BBC TV shows like "Bargain Hunt" and "Sun, Sea and Bargain Spotting" when antique experts pair up with enthusiastic amateurs and attempt to turn their French boot-sale purchases into a tidy profit once back in the UK.
Unfortunately we can't guarantee that you'll find as many collectables as the TV crew do, but we love browsing round ourselves and have picked up many good quality and attractive items so are sure you'll do likewise.
Once you've bought your bargains there's bound to be a cafe where you can sit back, enjoy a drink, and of course a delicious traditional Breton crepe, before you venture forth again !
Other useful websites:
AngloInfo's Street Markets in BrittanyFilo France from France Magazine - comprehensive list of markets by department
Searchable calendar of Vide Grenier's and Brocante's (find by date and area)
Points de Chine calendar of local Antiquité's, Brocante's and Vide-greniers
Les Vallées Gite is on the border of Brittany department's 22 (Cotes-D'Armor) and 56 (Morbihan), and about half hour's drive from 35 (Ille-Et-Vilaine).
