Interesting markets to visit in Paris
 

Hi,
We are going to be in Paris for 7 nights in May. At the moment I am planning the activities we would like to do during out stay. I am travelling with my boyfriend and we both love wandering around markets (including food markets as well as other types of markets) and I have heard that Paris has some great ones, does anyone have any interesting markets they would recommend visiting while we are there?
Thanks for your help:-)

There are markets every day but maybe Monday all over the city. The Richard Lenoir market near Bastille is a huge one. There is one in the 16th that is very lovely. We like the one at Pl. Monge on Sunday morning. Many of the same vendors turn up at several on different days. There is a complete listing of them if you google.
And there are the market streets--rue Cler, Mouffetard, Buci and others.

One that I really enjoyed but is a bit out of the way is the organic market Saturday mornings on the blvd des Batignolles. I have been told it is the same as the one on Sundays on the blvd Raspail but that the food is a day fresher. Can't vouch for the accuracy of that however.

Place d'Aligre has a large market.

Place des Fêtes has a nice Sunday market where you can pick up food for a picnic and then walk to the top of the Parc des Buttes Chaumont and have lunch.

On my last visit I stayed on the Richard-Lenoir and was disappointed in the market. Although it is large, it was not that interesting.

The best market is almost certainly the one closest to where you are staying because you don't have to cross town uselessly to see it.

This link shows all of the markets in Paris and their days and times of operation: http://marches.equipements.paris.fr/

This isn't exactly the same but I would definitely recommend visiting the Grande Épicerie at the Bon Marché and a trip to visit Fauchon. You should buy something there just to watch them wrap it :)

Here is a link with a little about the food halls:

http://www.marjorierwilliams.com/158...alls-in-paris/

Not "interesting"? I wonder what the expectation for them is? The markets are for the convenience of families obtaining their fresh foods. I find the displays of vegetables endlessly beautiful and amazing. the fish display in the "next" booth, beautiful, and the array of cheeses astounding. I have bought beautifully smocked dresses for my granddaughter, and enough foie gras to qualify for a VAT refund. I find the markets endlessly interesting and beautiful. DDIL found a good enough looking ski jacket to buy when our week turned very cool.

<i>Interesting markets to visit in Paris
Posted by: ReneeLJ on Apr 20, 14 at 3:56am
does anyone have any interesting markets they would recommend visiting while we are there? </i>

Paris is a big city. Where are you staying? As said by
<i>kerouac on Apr 20, 14 at 12:57pm
The best market is almost certainly the one closest to where you are staying because you don't have to cross town uselessly to see it.</i>
My favorite was the one at Place Maubert because it was a two minute walk from my apartment.

Thanks for everyone's suggestions! That has given me a lot of places to look into:-)

I love the Richard Lenoir near Pl Bastille, And for something other than food try antiques at Porte de Vanves!Always find a little treasure!!

Avalon also nailed it--for a Saturday morning especially. Go to Porte Vanves flea market!!

To avoid any possible confusion about Richard-Lenoir, digging into Kerouac's link shows that the market is open Thursday and Sunday only, and pretty much closed up by 2 p.m. The Aligre, which is both open-air and roofed, is open daily except Monday. It offers enticing deli goods but the quality of the vegetables can vary. Weekends add a flea market in Aligre square. A convenient supermarket adjoins the open areas and several shops operate rotisserie chicken ovens on the sidewalks.

I second the suggestion about going to La Grande Epicerie. I had an apartment near there a couple years ago and bought all my food there and at the marché on Blvd Raspail.

Another area I like to shop in is Montorgueil. The market is neat, plus near there you have a bunch of kitchen supply stores (Mora, G Detou!!, etc).

If you are intrigued by the idea of visiting not just Paris but also North Africa, I highly recommend the Barbès market under the elevated section of metro line 2. It is so popular that it creates traffic jams as far away as my apartment, which is a kilometre from there. If you have visited an upper end market like Saxe-Breteuil or Président Wilson -- or even the Bastille market -- you will be additionally astounded by seeing the same products sold about 60% cheaper than at those other markets.

I don't think any of them are that much more interesting than others, some are just bigger (like the Lenoir one). I think place d'Aligre is a little different as it has a lot of real junk and bad food, one may find that interesting. Like they'll sell really bad cheap clothing that has stains on it from being stored for many years incorrectly or faded from the sun. But they all have about the same concept, except for the ones that are organic or the special ones for birds or stamps or flowers.

I don't know what people are really expecting, these are mainly food markets for people living there, and them some have the handbags, shoes, clothing, jewelry.

There aren't many on Mondays, but the flower markets are on Monday (on ile de la Cite or the Madeleine).

<i> I think place d'Aligre is a little different as it has a lot of real junk and bad food, one may find that interesting.</i>

Place d'Aligre and the street leading to it also has vendors of organic food. The covered market has two good cheese purveyors. Around the covered market there are good bakeries and a good wine shop. The neighborhood is becoming more upscale and the market reflects that. I know that because our friends who are selective about their food shopping use it as their local market.

great ideas and suggestions

One of my favorite markets in Paris is the "Marché des Enfants Rouges" or Red Children Market. It is located in the 3rd arrondissement, on 39 rue de Bretagne. It is very simple and charming. You can eat Italian, French, Japonese, Arabic...
The market is covered so you can even go if it's raining.
There: http://www.coompass.com/#!item/1458

Me too Axl. I stayed very near there for a week and went there often. The delis on that particular street were great as well. We are going back to Paris on Friday but staying on rue Lille in St. Germaine de Pres.