I am very excited about getting back to Chatou next week. As you may have gathered, this is absolutely my favourite antique and brocante fair of the year, or rather twice of the year, since it runs in March and in September.
Chatou is the reason that I time my brocante tour and my Luxury lifestyle tour at the end of September, since we spend a whole day here on each tour. And one year I even had the opportunity to make a video about the fair, which remains one of my favourite videos on our YouTube channel. You can see it again at the end of this post.
But this year, we have a special reason to be excited. I am thrilled to tell you that the Chatou fair is awarding a prize to My French Country Home! I was so surprised when the email came in a couple of months ago, and in fact I even called them to ask it they had made a mistake! But they answered very kindly that the St Roch Prize is awarded to someone who has made a special effort to promote French antique dealers …. so I guess we fit that description, and I am very grateful and honoured.
So here are ten reasons why I love Chatou, and of course if you have been to the fair at Chatou I’d love to hear from you , and hear why you enjoy it too!
- Chatou is so close to Paris, and so easy to get to
- At Chatou there is such a huge selection of vendors
- I can find so much! From a tiny objet to a full size piece of furniture or a divine painting…
- At Chatou there are so many places to stop for a coffee… or for lunch … or for a glass of champagne
- If I buy something huge it’s easy to arrange shipping
- It lasts for 10 days so if I want to go back and see it all again I can
- I love to chat with the antique dealers
- The vendors go to so much trouble to make their stands stunning , and they turn up with their dogs too!
- On week days it’s less busy and we can take our time
- The vendors come from all over France with their best pieces to show
Who knows maybe I’ll see you there!
20 comments
What a great looking fair! Congrats on the award!
Looks like a wonderful fair and a wonderful time. Something I know I would love and thoroughly enjoy.
Congratulations on the award ~ well deserved.
So happy to be going next week – timed our trip perfectly to include a day there. We have been once before and really enjoyed it!
This is now on my list of things to do when we come back to France! Congratulations!
Absolutely enchanting!! *sigh* franki
Looks wonderful! I’m definitely adding this to my list of places to visit when I’m in Paris.
Oh. My. Gosh.
Sharon, thank you for letting us know about this wonderful french fair. In the future if I come to the fair–may I go with you? Also, is there shopping on-line for US customers? Thank you again for your very special Blog site. Take good care. Laura
We timed our most recent trip to France last March to coincide with the Chatou Fair because I knew of it’s reputation. Irreverrently referred to as “Ham and Antiques”, it really is as wonderful as you say, and for all the same reasons. We made three excursions to the Fair from Paris on the RER, a simple journey, where a tram shuttled us to site. I confess to returning each time with items not only for clients (the ostensible reason for going) but for myself as well, shipping some things back to the US and tucking others in my carry-on. The dealers are lovely and enjoy chatting about their wares, which cover everything from rustic to the most urbane. It is certainly worth the trip and while it won’t happen this autumn, I WILL plan a return trip to Chatou for the September experience next year.
A French Fair – I can only dream. I’ll have to watch your video and hold on tight to my chair so I won’t fall out.
Oooh, that long side table in your first big photo. All those apothecary drawers. Be still, my heart.
Congratulations on an honor well deserved.
Congratulations Sharon on your award!!
Thank you for sharing your video of Chatou Fair and personal insights -such beautiful objects and it all looks so civilized.
I think I will plan on visiting Chatou in the future, when I go back to Paris. xo
Congratulations on your recognition. Your love of these fairs has always rang through on your blog, so well deserved. This trip remains on my bucket list!
I’ve always love living vicariously through you in this video Sharon. What a treasure trove place this is. X
Thank you for the video; really enjoy the trip through your fair over my lunch hour today. Your voice is so relaxing.
It looks like a really charming event with lots of treasures waiting to be found. Congratulations for your award!
very good. Thank you for sharing!
[…] we go off brocante, food, and wine touring with Sharon Santoni of My French Country Home, we are spending the day at Versaille. Since we are both history buffs, it’s not just about […]
Thanks for sharing this update. I’ll look forward to it.
I was waiting for this for some time. Thanks for updating me.
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