Shopping

Markets
Flea markets
Market days in Alsatian towns and villages (maps)
Various specialty markets in the Alsace and Germany


Online price-comparison sites for France
Kelkoo - Tous les prix - Shopping.com - Les comparateurs


Factory shops
Initially restricted to employees, today outlets are open to the public, selling products from the previous season or surplus stock. They offer 30-60% reductions all year round and additional reductions in the winter (from mid January to mid February) and summer sales periods.

Outlets in the Haut Rhin (South Alsace)
Outlets in the Bas Rhin (North Alsace)

Further afield:
L'Usine - Roubaix, near to Lille: several high-street names, plus mail-order companies such as Vert Baudet or Lilflandre.

Troyes: 250 boutiques selling designer names in 2 areas; Marques Avenues and Mac Arthur Glen.

Malls can also be found in Metz, Paris Quai des Marques (near to Franconville in the north-west suburbs) or in the centre of Romans (Drome), the historic centre for luxury shoes.

La Vienne (Poitiers), le Limousin (Central/South-west), Quimper, Gien and Lunéville are are the places to head for if you are looking for tableware and porcelaine, while Lorraine (North-east) is great for crystal and Lyons for silk.


Sales dates
In France, sales are restricted by law to two 6-week periods per year; in Summer and Winter. Details of the official sales dates for the Haut Rhin (68) are published on this government site (recherche: 'les soldes').