Lille

This Lille town is full of unique treasures

Lille in Northern France is home to what is probably France’s largest—and perhaps the world’s biggest—market sprawl. For one weekend a year, the city hosts its famous Braderie market. The city's proximity to Calais and trainloads of British tourists ensures that you'll be competing for the bargains against avid purchasers with pounds sterling to spare. The thousands of stalls extend nearly 40 square miles across the city, selling antiques, crafts, furniture and miscellaneous treasures. Although professional vendors and dealers will have prime positions along the main streets, venture onto the narrower side streets for a more flea-market feel. La Braderie also creates a party atmosphere in the city with musicians and street performers taking advantage of the million or so who traveled to be here on this festive weekend.

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