A brocante is where you go to buy second-hand "stuff". The older, more desirable, and more expensive things would be called antiques in the States. And then there are vendors who sell less old, less fascinating, and less expensive things. But there is everything in between. Generally, the vendors are professionals, but sometimes brocantes are combined with "vide greniers" (literally, empty attics) where the locals (non-professionals) can sell stuff they don't need or want anymore. These are what we would call yard sales or garage sales in the States.
Anyway, brocantes are so much fun to browse through (and photograph) even if you don't buy anything. They can be permanent places of business in their own buildings, or often they are occasionally conducted in the open air at town market spaces. The photos today show two aspects of a brocante recently held at the usual Friday and Sunday market space in Amboise. Old furniture and toys for children are very popular...but not for the kids. Generally, the adults buy them to decorate their homes with things from their childhood (or their parents' childhoods).
