Everything I wanted to buy at the brocante de Montsoreau - July 13, 2025

Serious regrets for leaving that nightstand behind

Hello and welcome to this week’s edition of The Bell!

I had such a good time at the brocante de Chinon last time we were in France that I’m making it a priority to go to a regional one every single Sunday this visit, if possible.

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Btw: Become a paid subscriber to see everything I wish I bought at the brocante de Chinon.

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This Sunday, we went to Montsoreau. Like Chinon, it’s nestled on the banks of the Loire river. The whole thing was smaller than Chinon: spread over a smaller piece of land and with fewer vendors. It was more congested, though, because the brocante takes place at the same time as the town’s Sunday food market. And the street the brocante is set up on is more narrow than Chinon. Anytime I stopped to consider something or chat with the friends we ran into, I felt like I was blocking someone’s way.

Despite that though, we had a great time. It was a beautiful day, warm but not brutally hot, and I found a lot of treasures. But I also sadly had to leave a lot of treasures behind.

Linens

Kitchen towels

More kitchen towels. A lot of people don’t like the beige ones but I think this is so pretty.

Cotton napkins

Cotton shift nightgown with lace trim

Cotton eyelet “broderie anglaise” shirt

If you like high quality textiles, French brocantes are THE place to find them at a good price. From table linens to kitchen towels to adult and children’s clothing, you’ll see it all. Unlike a thrift store, the clothes are often in excellent if not perfect condition, and the sellers take great pride in washing and ironing them beforehand before bringing them to market.

Out of all the linens I saw, I most regret not getting the set of four, striped, primary colored napkins. They would be so cheerful on a summer table!

Outdoor decor

Outdoor dining set

Pair of mossy, patina’ed cement planters

Decorative cement planter

This is why people come to the brocante with a wagon! (We’ll definitely be bringing one next time.) I would have snapped up all these cement planters, but I especially like the simpler set of two. What would you put in there? I’m thinking boxwood.

And I also liked the unique cutout pattern of the outdoor dining set. It reminded me of mosaic tiles from the Mediterranean areas, and it cast such pretty shadows on the ground.

Side tables

Lightweight, would slot in anywhere. An easy yes.

This chevron pattern is so special.

Love this sturdy guy. He would add the warmth of antique furniture to a small living space where you can’t have large-scale furniture, or equally a new house with very contemporary design.

Ughhhh I love you, why did I leave you behind???

Perfect for your kids to do their homework.

A theme tends to emerge in what I like at every brocante I visit, and this time it was small tables. There were a ton on offer, and they’re so useful! Small, lightweight tables can be a cocktail table by a chair, and end table by a sofa, an accent table, a nightstand, or in some cases even a desk. They’re easy to rearrange, take outside, carry up and down stairs.

Each time we visit a brocante, I leave with one biggest regret over not buying something. At Chinon in May it was the necklace. At Montsoreau this week it was the nightstand! We just got a new, king bed at our house in France and the nightstands we were using before are too wide. This guy would have been perfect for one side—I love its three drawers and cute hardware. Sigh. I’ll look for it in Chinon next week and maybe I’ll get lucky. (The vendors often cycle between several brocantes in the region.)

Other wooden homewares

These are the perfect design: hats on the top, coats and scarves below, umbrellas in the bottom. Efficient use of space. Why did these go out of style?

I’m seeing this footstool reupholstered in tartan! Or gingham.

My brother put coat/hat racks back on my radar recently and now I can’t stop thinking about how practical and well-designed they are. The perfect marriage of function and beauty, and space-efficient on top of that. We need to bring them back!

And like the small tables, this small footstool is of a size that could serve multiple purposes. Obviously as a foot rest by a chair, but also as extra seating for a party, and it seems sturdy enough to be a step stool in a pinch.

Art

Love that these guys are a pair without being identical.

Always interested in a seascape, and I’m also kind of into the archer sculpture on top.

Both of these paintings make me feel peaceful. You can just picture yourself sitting by the water.

Miscellaneous decor

We can always use a gold-framed mirror, and this one is particularly sweet.

Never used (tag still on) crystal ice bucket / wine cooler. The price tag says €230 (around $265), expensive for a brocante, but a similar brand new one can run you around $900.

A bell!!! Tbh I should have bought one. I was overwhelmed by choice. Ring for your butler, your husband, your children, whoever you need to summon… in style.

There was a pair of these glass hurricanes. Pop a fat pillar candle in there: the easiest way to add some chic to your living room.

Tabletop silver

This must have been silver plate or another metal based on the price, but a round platter always comes in handy.

I would put rolls or sliced baguette in this bowl, on the dinner table.

Mix and match your own set of silverware!

I wasn’t blown away by the silver selection at this brocante, though they did have a ton of great cutlery. My husband prefers using stainless except for special occasions though, and we have some silver cutlery sets already, so I didn’t pick any up. No big regrets in this section.

Let me know: what would you have bought? Or most regretted not buying?

Talk to you Friday with this week’s recs—and a post for paid subscribers showing what I did buy. ;)

xx Jane