Markets, Paris

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Favorite thing: Notre Dame, Louvre, Sacré Cœur, Champs Elysées. . . . . Yes, all that is Paris, but if you do not spend at least two hours in a marché (market) you missed something which is the real life of Paris and as important as any museum or monument. . . . . .
It is about food markets, the every day’s life markets, where you may catch a bit from local people (I defy you finding real Parisians on Champs Elysées or in front of Notre Dame between 10 am and 8 pm, except shop and restaurant employees). In markets, you hear people speaking French, the Parisian accent, which changes from the upscale 8th or 16th districts to the 19th and 20th popular districts, you see people discussing, bargaining, you can have an idea of what Parisian like to eat, what they buy, and markets are just so lively places. . . . and Paris is very cosmopolite, people from all over the planet live and work here, and in some places, you are in India, North Africa, Central Africa, China, and Central Asia is also beginning to have some districts. . . . that is life, beautiful life of Paris, where all people meet and live together (not always in peace, but not far from. . . ). In one or two generations they will be Parisian and French. . . !
The markets are on the streets, on certain days (in some places, every day), in dedicated market halls, and generally are active from 8 am to 2 pm.
You can of course find every sort of food and products, but be wise a bit, do not look for pork sausages in Muslim corners of markets, or try to find fresh durian in the 16th district. As tourist you may mostly look at all these things and may be here or there, find a Tunisian snack, dry fruits from central Asia, African medicine. . . .
The marché Maubert (first picture), in the St Germain des Prés area (5th district) is one of the oldest Parisian markets, and is now a bit an “upscale market” with luxury products and prices according not to income of people living in the area, but more to the idea people living there make of themselves. . . . . : politicians, journalists, actors, and all sorts of “Parisian night life intellectuals”; so, organic food, and generally excellent products, but hell expensive. (Metro Maubert Mutualité)
On the second picture is Marche de la Chapelle, 18th district, rue de l’Olive, Metro Marx Dormoy; mostly food, with some North African food; familial (and familiar) atmosphere.
The market on Boulevard de Belleville (picture 3) (Metro Belleville) is a very popular one in contrast to the previous one, and if compared to supermarkets, the prices are high, they are very cheap compared to Maubert; and what you find there is almost the same, the atmosphere very nice and popular. The marché Bastille (picture 4), like the previous one is located in the central areas of a broad boulevard; marche bastille, located on Boulevard Richard Lenoir, (Metro Breguet Sabin or Bastille) is about the same style as the marché Belleville. The marche Ordener (picture 5) is a very exotic one, with lost of African food and items to be found; lost of smells reminding some visited places on the planet, or giving the mood to visit these places. . . . (Rue Ordener, rue Myra, Metro Guy Mocquet)
Well, 5 pictures, just 5 different markets. There are more than 80 markets in Paris, and markets are real part of life and to me, at least they are part of a destination when I visit.
The weblink here after is from the official website from the Paris municipality giving the list of Parisian markets, they location, working hours, specialisation, if there is. . . . just learn a little bit French! Travellers are not afraid of (basic) foreign languages. . . . .

http://www.paris.fr/portail/marches_parisiens/Portal.lut?page_id=5675&document_type_id=5&document_id=10926&portlet_id=12148

Favorite thing: Oooh! I could never imagine that supermarkets could be that big. I think we went to Carrefour supermarkets. Bought stuffs.

Many stuffs I was not used to: milk powder (used to drink fresh milk), big onions, big fruits, big vegetables, big and fat chicken. Yes, those, at least, were the biggest onions I've ever seen in my life thus far...

Also, I was impressed by the wide range of items cc stationery. I was a schoolkid. I wanted the perfect paper to write on.. les cahiers (notebooks), apple-fragrant Papermate pens. I knew from TV commercials that I'd better buy Clairefontaine (haha.. who wouldn't have wanted to buy it?). My Mum stood firm.. no stationery bought... Indeed, what would be the benefit of buying a cahier "from Paris" if you are going to use a dozen during the school year... Better use the local production for everything (bad quality paper). So went money to something else: visits of Chartres, Versailles and some of the monuments & museums of Paris.

Fondest memory: That was the first time I saw people reading magazines, comic strips in the shops... Not necessarily Carrefour but also in FNAC...

Yes, just pick what you want to read and you may sit in FNAC shelvings reading it without being warned... Still did that sometimes, in Brussels' GB-Carrefour and Brussels FNAC. That was compared to our supermarkets in Tana where we had employees all over the shops... looking at what you do, preventing you from reading your favourite magazine... And yes, FNAC impressed me for many reasons. It's still one of my fave amongst the many department stores... always things to discover there...

Also, a supermarket I really liked to go to: Monoprix.. I don't know why... maybe because it was smaller? The one I was used to is still on Rue Alésia (14ème).

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Favorite thing: The Flower Market located on Ile de la Citi was established in 1808, it is the oldest flower market in Paris and well worth visiting as it is full of colour and free entry. Possibly you may like to buy some flowers for your room or take as a gift for someone who has assisted you in Paris.
Open 7 days a week it is only a few hundred metres from Notre Dame and the Palais de Justice, both must see highlights when in Paris.

Place Louis Lepine, 75002

Favorite thing: Be sure to visit your neigborhood grocer if you want to buy bottled water or some fresh fruit. You'll recognize many of the same fruits that you get at home. And you may see some new type of fruits as well, many coming from Morocco. Many Parisians either go to the street markets or to the Monoprix for their fruit and vegetable shopping but sometimes these little groceries fulfill their needs. So follow suit. You get to know the grocers too.

Fondest memory: A fond memory is walking down rue Bellechasse early one weekday morning around 8:30 a.m. or so. The local grocer was now setting up his fruit stands outside his shop. It makes me think of how this is a typical Parisian scene. Below is the photo.

Favorite thing: my first visit to Paris and only spent a day but i enjoyed most of it.I really liked the sunday markets and the oysters i had in the morning!!There are lovely bakeries around where you can taste delicious crossant and cakes.The 2 markets i went to
are in RUE DAGUERRE and RUE DE BUCI.
Pro's: "so many eat-in places you will be spoiled for choice"
Con's: "You can pay up to 2.80 euros for a can drink in the centre"

Favorite thing: Visit Rue Moufetard, my favourite street. The Metro station is called Place Monge and you will see this on the attached Metro map on line 7 (the pink one) just below the river (cut & paste the following URL into your browser):-
www.hotels-unis.com/img_com/Anglais/metro/metro.htm

Rue Moufetard is a gorgeous bistro and shop-lined street that used to be part of a Roman road.

See my travelogue on Rue Moufetard.

Favorite thing: ...find neighborhoods where you feel almost like a local. On our first trip, purely by accident, we stayed in a fairly non-touristy part of town, about halfway between Bastille and Place de Republique. (1998 trip) The market that travels up-and-down Boulevard Richard Lenoir was gorgeous. I enjoyed just walking around 'our block' and buying necessities at the local bakery, pharmacy, film developer, and telling the lady who ran a tiny but immaculate meat market how lovely her store was arranged. How can I forget walking through the Marais and seeing teenage students as they rushed to start school in a truly ancient building,(muttering the same complaints as my son, no doubt.) One afternoon we saw a father with two little children, backpacks and all, balanced on a little motorscooter. Sure, we had to take the Metro to see the famous 'sights' but I can't imagine missing out on these simple glimpses of daily-life. (Click to enlarge the photo to catch the full image)

Fondest memory: Our first night ever in Paris (1998), jet-lagged and leg-weary from walking, we stopped at a cafe that was open for early dinners. (We aren't usually the 'early-bird' kind of folks, but you can only stave-off that jet-lag for so long.) The special that evening was braised veal chops. As we were finishing off our meal, the owner's (?) German Shepherd came and sat nearby, gazing longingly as we sopped up gravy with our bread. We fed him the last few scraps, and he laid his head on my lap as if I was part of his 'family.' I couldn't tell you the name of the place -- it was not ancient nor new, or even it's location for sure other than it was on the right bank (we were headed back to our hotel from a stroll across the river and around Notre Dame). It was extremely inexpensive compared to some of the more well-known places we dined later in the week. But it was our first meal in Paris, and could not have been more perfect.

Favorite thing: Walk this Street......Rue Mouffetard is a remnant of an old Roman road. Some buildings date from the 12th century, and many have distinct histories; in a sense, Rue Mouffetard represents the history of Paris. The market fills the lower half of the street every morning, and people come to do their daily shopping. The vitality is reminiscent of a scene from the Middle Ages. After the market closes, restaurants open up, offering a wide variety of ethnic foods and more stereotypically French food at cafes and creperies.

Fondest memory: Just walking down the street. Take your time. When you get to the end, turn around and do it again.