I would like to know more about the markets in Paris. Could anyone tell me about them? I know about the bird market on the Ile and various food markets, but wonder which is best and what other ones are worth visiting.
Thank you!

well, most markets you are probably talking about are temporary vendors who come once or twice a week to a particular location and set up. Some are bigger than others, of course, and some are mainly food, but various other things are often sold by some vendors (clothes, accessories, jewelry, you name it). Every neighborhood probably has at least one.

Then there are a couple of really specialty markets, with is the bird market you name, and a stamp market in the 8th near Clemenceau metro on Sat-Sunday, and a flower market near the Madeleine and an old book market in Brassens park. Those are the only specialty ones I can think of that are regular all year, there may be something like those in a few other locations. There are a couple "art" markets which are current artisans or artists selling their creations (some paintings, misc artwork). I've never found anything particularly interesting at those, but others might. One is on bd Edgar Quinet near Montparnasse tower on Sunday, I think another near Bastille column.

A lot of them are pretty similar, it's the same vendors going to different places, some vary mainly by size.

Here is a list by location on the Paris mayor's website http://marches.equipements.paris.fr/

If you are in an apartment and actually need to shop, generally the "best" street market is the one closest to where you are staying.

If you are just looking, the President Wilson market is one of the best looking with perfectly presented ultra expensive comestibles and another amazing one is the Barbès market under the elevated metro which will make you feel as though you have been transported to the casbah.

I always head to Richard Lenoir at Place Bastille on Thus. and
Sundays. It is my very favorite and I have my special vendors who I always visit even if we are not in an apartment!

Enfant Rouge is a favorite of friendsofmine.It is an old covered market and it also features JUNQUE.Rue Moufftard has music and dancing on Sundays along with food.

As others indicated, you have lots of choices & it depends where you're staying and what your interests are. I go to different markets each time and often enjoy ones in outer arrondissements (La Chapelle, Barbès as Kerouc mentioned, Belleville, Auguste-Blanqui, etc.) for a different feel from those in center of the city. And those are food (mostly) markets. Other specialty markets abound--books, stamps, fabrics, etc. Check my book, Markets of Paris, for a full list of markets in Paris, where, and when they're open. Have fun!
http://www.amazon.com/Markets-Paris-...rkets+of+paris

Ditto <i>kerouac on Feb 22, 13 at 1:14pm
If you are in an apartment and actually need to shop, generally the "best" street market is the one closest to where you are staying.</i>
Thus, my favorite is the market and small shops at Place Maubert, a few blocks from my apartment back in the spring and fall of 1986. I go back every time I am in Paris.

<i>
Emma_Byes on Feb 22, 13 at 5:41pm
Check my book, Markets of Paris, for a full list of markets in Paris, where, and when they're open.</i>
I checked your book preview on Amazon and noticed your almost review of restaurant Roger La Grenouille. This was one of my favorite restaurants in Paris from the mid-1970s. I have had memorable meals and truly remarkable table mates (total strangers) and waitresses in the days when the walls were plastered with currency from around the world and decorated with artful anatomy. I understand that this was the hangout for a medical school in the Latin Quarter. Alas, the Frog has lost that loving feeling. It even has table cloths, white! Not that it is a bad restaurant, it just isn't what I expected on my last visit about 5 years ago.

Thank you, everyone!