Heading to Paris for 5 nights soon and want to spend our Sunday at the flea market. I know the flea market is HUGE and need some advice on where to focus my efforts. I am interested in small paintings, jewelery, antique sconces, small mirrors, etc. Any ideas for what areas of the market I should be focusing on? Not looking for major furiture pieces or anything, but would be fun to look at them. Please let me know if you have thoughts on where I could find nice shops and if you have any specific recommendations. Thanks!

I assume you mean Clignancourt, there are other markets, such as Port de Vanves.

I also assume Clignancourt, but I'd also go to the Vanves market for a couple of hours on Saturday morning.
There are "malls" in Clignancourt that I think you will have better luck (if any) than the individual shops that usually specialize in only one type of item--mirrors, Belle Epoque, etc.
The prices are eye watering.

I'd put Clignancourt in the search box here.

One good thread:

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...saint-ouen.cfm

Here is a site in English. If you click on the names of the shops, it tells a little about each, as well as what is in each market.

Gretchen, what do you mean by malls? I've been taking clients there for years, and I have yet to see a mall.

Yes, sorry for not clarifying. I am going to Clignancourt.

toupary- do you mind posting the link to the site in English? I don't see it. Thanks.

Michael- thanks for the thread. For some reason the photos won't load on my computer, but maybe it will work at home.

I think it may mean the more permanent stores/stalls.

Here is the page in English; click on "markets" to see the individual "markets" that comprise St. Ouen/Clignancourt:


http://www.parispuces.com/en/Default.asp


I wrote about one of my visits here; see entry post 11/30/06:

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...paris-1006.cfm

I'd just look at their website and check through the stores to see what you like, not sure what else people can tell you to do if you don't want to go there, and then walk around looking for what appeals to you which is all I did when I went. I had no particular agenda, though, and didn't buy anything. It's really second hand shops, not a flea market in the usual sense. YOu obviously want expensive antiques, I guess.

I don't know what malls means in reference to Clignancourt, either.

another URL, http://www.les-puces.com/

I need to update my report (in the first link by Michel_Paris) some day, because it changes constantly.

What your valuables and wallets very well - we were standing right next to a booth where the owner' son or whatever quite visibly put his hands in someone's back pocket - this is a really cramped crowded place - lave nothing of value in a back pocket or bag that can be opened from the back.

I mean a large "market" that may have 2 or 3 floors and has many individual little "stalls" inside. It is similar to what we call an antique mall here.

As an alternative/add-on, across street from Louvre is the Louvre des Antiquaires, which is a three story building with multiple antique dealers, but can be beaucoup €€

http://www.louvre-antiquaires.com/

Also, Village St Paul in Marais has some shops.

My apologies, Betts123 (and thanks for posting the link, ekscrunchy -- it's the one to which I referred). I was out all afternoon until now. I have a bad habit of citing a link, then forgetting to post it.

Here's another one that also has an English version.

http://www.marcheauxpuces-saintouen.com/1.aspx

If you google "puces de saint ouen," you'll find all sort of sites and articles in French and in English.

And I second Michel_Paris. Village Saint-Paul is wonderful.

I think this little known place worth visiting: the Treasure Cove!
http://dousson.com/index.php?cmd=about_us

Have a look !

I think if you have five nights in Paris and plan to spend a day at the puces, there will be more than enough to see. Even if you see nothing you want to buy, it's a fun experience, and the way thousands of Parisians spend their weekend.

I think you will find better quality there. Taking a trip outside Paris to the "Treasure Cove" might prove to be a wild goose chase.

You do need to be sure to actually get TO the puces. There is a huge area near the metro that is "flea market" but not THE flea market. Just keep going to the SaintOuen marche.