Tuesday 9 August 2016

French Buying Trip: from Provence to Brittany in spite of La grève!


One of the perks of dealing in authentic French armoires is that we get to travel in and around France on a regular basis. Our most recent buying trip was something of an epic, which took in Provence, Languedoc-Roussillon, Midi-Pyrénées, Poitou-Charente and Brittany.

We started in Arles, in south west France, a regular haunt for us due to the fantastic brocante. This area is known for the stunning Camargue nature reserve, home to the famous white horses and one of the best places to see flamingoes in the wild.


We had intended to stay in Arles for a couple of days but we didn't chose our dates very well. We arrived just as the country descended into a wave of strikes affecting trains, planes and petrol stations. Known as 'La grève', access to fuel became almost impossible and we were advised to stay put until the situation improved.

There are, however, worse places to be stranded! Arles is a beautiful town with some breathtaking Roman structures, such as the amphitheatre.



We finally hit the road a week later than anticipated, stopping at the beautiful town of Moissac on the river Tarn.



Our next stop was to Marans - another regular haunt for us, and to an amazing warehouse full of fabulous antiques. Particularly good for french armoires, we were spoilt for choice!






A favourite part of any buying trip is rummaging around at a brocante. Not always the cheapest places to buy any more they do however offer a fascinating insight into the wonderful world of French vintage. There are a few bargains to be had if you're prepared to look hard enough.





We ended in our trip in beautiful Brittany, staying in a gorgeous cottage right by the sea. So many people overlook this part of France which is a shame as it has many stunning unspoilt  towns and amazing beaches, most of it you'll have completely to yourself.








Who Are We? 


Dazzle Vintage Furniture is an online boutique specialising in authentic French armoires, antique mirrors and decorative accessories. We personally source all our items in France, scouring flea markets, fairs and antiques shops in Brittany and Provence.

WEBSITE: http://www.dazzlevintagefurniture.com/

TWITTER: @DazzleVintage

INSTAGRAM: http://instagram.com/dazzlevintagefurniture