if it’s Monday there will be antiques, The Cours Saleya, Nice, France…

The Cours Saleya in the heart of the historic section of Nice, France. Ancient buildings frame this massive pedestrian square. On one side of these buildings are streets winding through ancient Nice, filled with shops and restaurants to explore. On the other side is the Promenade des Anglais, a busy boardwalk and the Mediterranean Sea. At the foot of the square is this prominent ochre colored Italianate building where Henri Matisse lived for much of his life, painting in the inspiring light of the South of France.

On Fridays in the square there is an incredible flower market. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday there is a produce and food market where you can find the freshest produce, a wide array of seasoned salts, herbs, local olive oils and so much more. But, on Monday the Cours Saleya is devoted to antiques or brocante, at the Marché a la Brocante. Dealers set up their stands and provide one of the largest offerings of antiques in the land.

You never know what you’ll find at this market, you can start browsing when it opens at 7:30 in the morning and continue into the late afternoon. Here are some things that caught my eye:

a deconstructed Murano chandelier

Random china and treasures from faraway lands

Vintage designer goods

books

funky shoes

Colorful clothing, bags and furniture made from Indian cottons

Vintage costume jewelry

this and that

antique silver and china

lost art and keys

home furnishings

My daughter and I walked away with a bag of treasures including this great piece. It needs to be reframed but I love this painting on a rough edged sheet of canvas. The colors and motion are perfect for our apartment. I am planning on having it reframed between panes of glass so it appears to be floating on the wall.

After all of that browsing, one has to eat something. The shopping area is flanked by rows of restaurants which make the proposition even more appealing. I’ve tried many of them over the years, and so far my favorite is Le Safari at 1, Cours Saleya.

Le Safari

They make the very best Grande Aioli I have ever consumed! Tender white fish in a stew of potatoes, cauliflower, celery, haricot verts, Niçoise olives, along with clams, prawns and a few snails. With a large side of creamy, garlicky aioli. Really cooked to perfection!