that sell a variety of French cheese. Also, are there any particular cheeses I should sample? Thanks in advance.

Dear R,

There are about 450 different kinds of French cheese.

Entering "fromage" at www.pagesjaune.fr yields 777 stores selling cheese and 133 shops that sell only cheese.

I can advise you, that you cannot make up for a lifetime of cheese deprivation in only 1 week.

You will get sick.

I assume you're talking about Paris...

There is a great little cheese shop on the Rue St. Louis en L'Ile (the main thoroughfare on the Ile St. Louis). The staff is very helpful and they have a great selection. There are also a great number of boulangerie around where you can buy some bread and then head over to one of the spots on the island where you have a teriffic view of the Notre Dame on L'Ile de la Cite.

Alleosse, 13, rue Poncelet in the 17th is one of the best in the city. The one on Ile St. Louis is also wonderful: La Ferme Saint Aubin, 76, rue St.-Louis en Ile. There are hundreds of varieties of cheese in France so it is hard to make a recommendation without knowing your tastes. I cannot think of one that I do not like.

You can add:

Barthelemy 51 rue de Grenelle 7th
Vacherin, Epoisses, Camembert and Roquefort are good here

Marie-Anne Cantin
12 rue de Champ de Mars 7th
Close to Rue Cler
They are know for their Saint-Antoine

This is a France wide survey of cheese shops, but includes Paris.

http://www2.wbs.ne.jp/~shizlife/Cheeses03.html

From experience, I can recommend Androuet, which has several shops in Paris, rather than the one listed on the above site. Nothing "snobby" about it contrary to what the site writer suggests. Just helpful sales people (though I haven't tested their English) and loads of heavenly cheese.

Sorry, I see that link is baulking. Try this http://www2.wbs.ne.jp/~shizlife/CHEESES.html

And then click on "Shopping for cheese in France."

And so is that pesky link balking! So for Anrdouet, try this:

http://www.androuet.com/

Most neighborhoods have cheese shops with specialists who can help you select cheese. The cheese is usually in better condition, too (that is, it's closer to ideal ripeness, instead of being too unripe as it often is in supermarkets). This is not something that requires a special trip to a special store; there are hundreds of <i>fromageries</i> in Paris that sell nothing but cheeses. Any market street will have them.

And any street market, don't forget them.

There's a very good cheese shop in the Place Saint Ferdinand in the 17th. Don't know the name.

As to cheese you should sample, only you can tell. Taste is very personal. Mind you, if you email me, I'll show you a web site where cheese is being fully discussed.

Ira, you crack me up!

Sheila would it be possible for you to post the web site? Thanks!

The street market near Bastille on Thursdays and Sundays has an excellent and very popular cheese stall. You may have to stand in line for a while, but it gives you a chance to see what's there and to do some people watching.

I remember a nice cheese shop near the bottom of Rue Mouffetard. Try some, and if you don't like them, throw them out and try some others. (We do that with inexpensive wines, too. Seems like we always eat the cheese, though.)

&lt;&lt;Try some, and if you don't like them, throw them out and try some others&gt;&gt;

Better yet, ask for samples. I've never been in a fromagerie - or stall at a street market, for that matter - where that wasn't entirely acceptable.

I can't post the web site, sorry. Fodors will zap me.

Sheila, of course you can..the Editors are too busy voting to notice...