THE FRENCH BROCANTE EXPERIENCE – Vintage shopping in Normandy with European Vintage Emporium
Fancy spending a day hunting for vintage and antique treasures in the French countryside?
European Vintage Emporium offers private guided vintage shopping trips in Normandy, France, taking you to brocantes, vide-greniers and other local markets where you can discover the sort of objects that rarely make it into conventional tourist shops.
We’ll use our local knowledge and experience to help you find interesting markets and worthwhile objects, while you concentrate on the fun part — looking, browsing, haggling and discovering things you didn’t know you wanted.
These aren’t standard organised coach tours. They’re private, flexible shopping experiences designed around you and your interests.
Based in rural Normandy, we’re ideally placed for exploring the markets, villages and countryside of this part of France.
Whether you’re a serious collector, an interior designer, a dealer, a vintage enthusiast or simply someone who loves rummaging through French markets, come hunting with us.
WEEKDAY BROCANTE DAYS – Relaxed weekday vintage and antique shopping trips
Weekdays can be a wonderful time to explore French brocantes and antique markets without the crowds of a major weekend vide-grenier.
Our weekday shopping trips typically run from approximately 09:00 to 14:00 for a half day, or 09:00 to 18:00 for a full day.
We’ll plan the day around the markets and locations that best suit what you’re looking for, whether that’s French furniture, ceramics, decorative antiques, vintage collectables, unusual objects or simply things that catch your eye.
You don’t need to know the difference between a brocante, vide-grenier or antique dealer before you arrive. That’s part of what we’re here for.
Weekday prices
Half day: from €250 for the first person + €100 per additional person
Full day: from €450 for the first person + €200 per additional person
These are private trips, with the group normally limited to four people unless you have your own transport.
WEEKEND VIDE-GRENIERS – Early starts. Better finds.
If you’re serious about finding bargains, the weekend is where things get interesting.
French vide-greniers are often early-morning affairs, with sellers setting up before most people have even had breakfast. The best pieces can disappear quickly, so getting there early can make all the difference.
Our weekend trips typically start at around 06:00, with half-day experiences running approximately 06:00–11:00 and full-day trips approximately 06:00–16:00.
We’ll help you navigate the markets, identify interesting objects and make the most of the time available.
And yes, coffee is usually a very good idea at six in the morning.
Weekend prices
Half day: €250 for the first person + €100 per additional person
Full day: €450 for the first person + €200 per additional person
If you’re the sort of person who enjoys rummaging through hundreds of objects in search of one little treasure that everyone else has overlooked, this is probably your kind of morning.
MORE THAN JUST SHOPPING – Make your Normandy visit your own
Your trip doesn’t have to consist entirely of antique markets.
If you’re visiting Normandy for several days, tell us what else you’d like to see. We can help incorporate other French villages, historic sites, countryside, markets and places of interest into your plans.
Perhaps you’d like to combine a morning at a vide-grenier with a beautiful Normandy village, a historic site or somewhere good for lunch.
If you’re staying for more than one day and would like a guide, get in touch and tell us what you’re interested in. We’ll see what we can put together.
We speak English, French and German, so you can enjoy the experience without worrying about navigating everything in a foreign language.
The result can be much more than a shopping trip.
It’s a chance to experience a little bit of everyday French life while hunting for something wonderful to take home.
READY TO GO HUNTING? – Book your French vintage shopping experience
Ready to explore the brocantes and vide-greniers of Normandy?
Tell us when you’re visiting, how many people are coming and what sort of things you’re hoping to find. We’ll check what’s happening locally and discuss what might work best for you.
Our guided shopping experiences are private, with groups normally limited to four people unless you have your own transport. Guides speak English, French or German.
Bookings are confirmed once full payment has been received, with payment available through PayPal or Stripe and major credit cards accepted. Cancellation charges apply according to how far in advance a booking is cancelled; if we ever have to cancel a trip ourselves, you’ll receive a full refund.
Planning something a little different?
Get in touch.
We can discuss your dates, interests and requirements and see what sort of Normandy antique and vintage shopping experience we can create for you.
Come hunting with us. You never quite know what you’ll find.
Email us in the first instance and let’s chat: mail@europeanvintageemporium.com or use the contact form.
