The 'Encants de l'Empordà' market in Verges, Girona, attracts a steady stream of visitors every Sunday, drawing collectors and enthusiasts from across Catalonia and France. Organisers Montse and Marga, from the company 2_emes, attribute the market's success to its strategic location.
The market sits on a plain near a key crossroads in the Empordà region, where roads from Figueres, France, Torroella de Montgrí, L'Estartit, La Bisbal, Girona, and Barcelona converge. "It's a busy thoroughfare all year round and, over time, it has become a mandatory stop for antique lovers," Marga said.
Visitors can also enjoy hearty breakfasts at nearby restaurants, which offer morning menus with dishes like pig's trotters, kidneys, or snails. For those preferring pastries, the Espai Dolç bakery is directly opposite the market.
Quality Antiques on Offer
The Verges market is known for the quality of its products. "We do not want junk or second-hand clothes or other items. We are very careful that what is sold here are really antiques, brocante pieces, and vintage items," the organisers stated. This focus on quality is particularly appreciated by stallholders and customers from Northern Catalonia, who note that French flea markets have lost their prestige and now mainly sell second-hand goods.
Louis and Daniela, a retired couple from Le Boulou, Roussillon, often set up a stall in Verges. Louis explained that after retirement, they started selling numerous antiques collected from his parents' large house. Neighbours also gave them items to sell, including high-quality white cotton sheets, old crockery, and furniture. "Many Sundays we fill the van early in the morning, have breakfast in La Jonquera, and come to Verges. Now that we are retired, it is better to do this than stay at home stunned in front of the TV," he added.
Louis praises the market's clientele, many of whom have significant purchasing power, own second homes in the Empordà, and seek quality antique pieces.
A Diverse Range of Finds
Yves, from Toulouse, shares Louis's view that French flea markets have declined, and rising prices due to current conflicts have made antiques inaccessible to many. Yves and his wife, Violete, travel to the Verges market most Sundays to sell a variety of antique items, from chairs to costume jewellery. Items on display can range from crochet tablecloths for €0.50 to old Ducati motorbikes for €800, porcelain dolls, old farming tools like sickles, cameras, crystal tear-drop lamps, and records.
Karina and Aliya, who run an event organisation company for weddings and anniversaries, look for decorative items such as vases, candelabras, and cake stands. "We are big fans of flea markets and know all of them in Catalonia, also the one in Montpellier, but everything there is very expensive. The one in Verges is one of our favourites," Karina said.
Manel, a resident of Empuriabrava and a regular stallholder at the Encants de Verges, says it is impossible to predict which items will attract buyers. "Every day is different, it is always a surprise," he noted. Manel also buys from flea markets himself. "Acquiring antique pieces, sometimes unique, is exciting, it is an addictive habit. Sometimes I have spent sleepless nights because I could not buy an object I was looking for," he admitted.
