LILLE FLEA MARKET - Sept. 4th and 5th 2010

It’s Europe’s biggest event at the beginning of autumn. 2 million stallholders, barges, onlookers, bargain hunters of all kinds; young, old, children, families, all come together for two days and nights; along kilometres of pavements, squares, on the banks of the Deûle in the shadow of the city’s old colourful Flemish buildings.

Apart from the electricity and neon lights, it has an overwhelmingly old-world feel, with its noises, music, smells of roast meat and piles of mussel shells, black pyramids that appear at every crossroads.

There’s shouting, haggling and singing, it’s crowded and the friendly spirit keeps you warm.