Les Puces (Flea Markets), Paris

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If you like to stroll around at markets or are looking for a bargain. Paris has some flea markets, where you can find second hand goods, but new goods as well. Bargaining is part of the job and of course of the fun.

Not far from the Place de Bastille is the Marché au Puces d´Aligre (Place d´Aligre). I visited this rather small and cosy market only once. Other markets are Marché aux Puce de la Porte Vanves (metro Port de Vanves) and Marché aux Puces de Montreuil (metro Port de Montreuil).

The largest flea market of Paris or even of Europe is the Marché aux Puces de St-Ouen (metro Port Clignacourt). This market with about 2500 stalls grouped in 10 market areas is founded in the late 19th century. At sundaymorning I even saw stalls in the street of my Etap-hotel (close to the Port Saint Ouen).

What to buy: You name it .... antiques, all types of second hand goods, clothes, bags and much more.

Marche Aux Puces is billed as the largest flea/antique market in Europe. It was part new stuff (mostly clothes), part antiques, and part garage sale junk.

We got an early start, grabbed some breakfast, and hopped on the metro. Follow the crowds from the metro to the market.

It was great fun to walk around - zig zagging in and out of all the lanes, browsing. My husband bought some really unusual jeans. I really loved the antiques and "junk".

Open Saturday, Sunday, Monday 9:00 - 6:00

Best before noon

Allow a couple of hours to browse/shop.

Lots of places to eat (breakfast, snacks, or lunch) in the area.

What to buy: Some latest fashion clothes, jewlery, antiques, books, etc.

What to pay: Bargain but alot is fixed price.

This other flea market is quite different from the famous "Puces de St Ouen".

It is smaller and has a more pittoresque atmosphere of provincial "brocante", even if most of the vendors are professionals.

I went there in the morning, but around 12 AM it seems that most of the vendors are leaving, and some others were coming for the afternoon.

What to buy: Old jewelry, antiques, furniture, porcelaine, collectibles, books, records, clothes...

What to pay: Try to bargain !

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One hundred years old in 1985, this flea market is the largest in the world according to it's web site. Thre are 2500 shops selling old furniture, books, and just about anything else you might want for your home or your wardrobe. It's a great place for bargain hunters and just for walking around looking at things as well as people. It is said that more than 125,000 people visit the flea market every weekend.

It is opened on Saturdays 9-6, Sundays 10-6, and Mondays 11-5.

There are also many restaurants at the flea market.

What to buy: Furniture, paintings, dolls, toys, books, glassware, clothes, jewelry, etc.

This flea market is the bigger in Paris.
It is located in the suburb city of St Ouen, but it's easily accessible with the subway.

The market is divided into different blocks depending of the kind of thing they sale. Some is in open air market, and some are inside buildings (like the antiques part). This antiques part is very renowned, and most of the buyers are rich americans or japonese.

On the rest of the market you will find a lot of different things, at all prices. Some new and some old, and not always very interesting.

What to buy: - Antiques (furniture, collectibles...)
- Streetwear clothing
- A lot of everything : CD, DVD, Perfumes, old stuff of all kind...

What to pay: Try to bargain !

No matter what you are looking for, somewhere it is waiting for you at the Paris Fleamarket. The last decades it changed from a pure street market into more permanent market with stall up to mall-like buildings.

A word of warning: Don't get involved into the gambling games going on near the ATM.

What to buy: Souvenirs, body safe, leather clothing.

There are three main flea markets in Paris; Porte de Vanves, Porte de Montreuil and the most famousand Europe's biggest market Le Puces in Saint Ouen. Le Puces in Saint Ouen was inaugurated in 1885, and currently has over 2000 shops selling everything imaginable. Metro: Porte de Clingnoncourt, and walk 2 blocks north past very busy shops and small flea markets, until you reach the Marche Vernaison. Porte de Vanves is known for its fine bric-a-brac, and Montreuil in the east, for quality second-hand clothes.
You can also try Marché Bastille on Sunday for food and flowers. Marché aux Puces in Paris officially opens at the weekend only, but travel there on Friday - when stallholders are unpacking - to find treasures.

I finally found the darn place. On my last trip I was pointed towards and outside flea market and missed the big one at St. Ouen completely. There are many difference sections. We went to the higher end one and this on Vernaison, which had more used stuff, bric a brac. Fun to walk around in. We did find some stuff. There was a tapistry place where we were able to get tapistries for about 50% of what they were in town and the museums. Household items, and artwork were plantiful. I ended up buying a painting. Apparently in other sections were clothing.

What to pay: A little or a lot.

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Last visit September 2011

The last time we visited the Marche aux Puces, located near the Porte de Clingancourt metro station, it was rainy and cold, we ended up only staying a short period of time so somehow I had it in my mind that it wasn't a very big market. That opinion changed when we visited in September 2011 on a sunny warm day when all the open air dealers were out in addition to the streets filled with indoor antique shops. It's actually a collection of markets, you can see the markets listed here. According to the website, it's not only the world's largest flea market, it's the place where they coined the term flea market.

We didn't find a lot of tourist souvenirs, the best place we found for that on this trip was near Notre-Dame. But there certainly is plenty of everything else-clothes, both new and old; books, lots and lots of books; junk, food. Then there is the more serious part of the market, the antique stores, we didn't stop at any because we didn't have a lot of time but I suspect most of it wouldn't have been affordable.

The market is open on Saturday, Sunday and Monday from 9.30 am to 6.00 pm

I always check the local flea markets when I visit city, especially in Europe so after a small search I decided to see the most famous market in Paris which is Les Puces de Saint Ouen that most of the people know as Clignancourt market.

The history of the place goes back to 19th century when poor men (the crocketeurs) searching the garbage of the city for junk that could be sold later, usually inside the city walls but many times they were chased out to areas like Clignancourt. It was at the end of 19th century when Clignancourt market formed as an official place for antiques etc

I didn’t get excited with the market because it’s actually a huge market not the colorful small ones I’m used of, especially the clothing part was boring but some of the antiques were really nice although pricy for us. The crowds are big later in the day so watch out for pickpockets.

It's open on weekends 9.00-18.00 and on Monday 11.00-17.00