Saxe Bretuil or Les Puces?
 

On the Saturday morning of our week stay in Paris we will have some time to either go to Saxe-Bretuil Open Market (7e) OR Les Puces Flea market (18e) ... which one would you recommend?

We are not planning on buying any Antiques... but is Les Puces more than antiques? I also plan on going to the R.Lenoir Market in Bastille on Sunday a.m. Is this market much like the Saxe-Bretuil? If so, maybe Les Puces would be better for us on Sat?

THANKS!

Saxe-Breteuil is a neighborhood market where people go to buy mainly food. It's not a flea market. So if you want a regular neighborhood food market, go to Saxe-Breteuil. If you want a flea market, go to Les Puces.

I was a little dissapointed with the Saxe Breteuil market - but we went on a Wednesday & perhaps it's a smaller market then.

Stu Dudley

It's not ever a particularly inspiring market. Very pedestrian. But after Provence and the Dordogne, I'm spoiled.

StCirq, Stu - would you recommend the Bastille Sunday market over the Saxe-Bretuil? As I understand it, they are both food markets, is that correct? Are they similar?

Does anyone recommend Les Puces? Is it at least interesting to stroll through? I know its subjective... but if you have any opinions... thanks.

We were disappointed with the Wednesday Saxe Breteuil market as well but we returned for the Saturday market and it was a much better market. We were there last spring/summer.

We also went to the Les Puces last summer and didn't find it worth it. We have been there in the past and actually bought a piece of antigue. If you do go, be careful with your money and valuables.

I never go to Les Puces because I can get very much better deals in the Dordogne if I'm interested in brocante or antiquité items and I have zero need to bring old stuff back to the States at this point. And I'm more likely to go to Belleville or even the rue Buci or Mouffetard these days for food items. But I can't speak for you. They're all "interesting" if you don't regularly hang out at French markets. Just pick one that's close by where you'll be and go.

I thought the R Convention market on Sunday was much better than Wednesday's Saxe Bretuil. Never visited the bastile market.

My wife prefers the Sunday Vanves flea market. I tag along & hurry her up. I "passed" on her visit to Cligencourt.

Stu Dudley

Richard Lenoir is my favorite in Paris. If you want a flea market I'd do Porte de Vanves over St Ouen. You could do Vanves on a Sat AM , it's best day and Lenoir on Sunday . The Marais is interesting on Sundays and you'd be right there, It's only a 10 minute walk from RL to Place de Vosges

Les PUces and a street market are just not the same thing, that's all. So go based on whether you want to go to a roving street market or not. Time could be another factor, also. I didn't find Les Puces particularly interesting to stroll though, no. But I don't like stuff like that and don't like shopping. I do find roving street markets more interesting than that, yes, so I personally would rather go to the Richard Lenoir market or any other one (and it takes a lot less time) than Les Puces.

Les Puces is mainly antiques, as far as I'm concerned. That doesn't necessarily mean furniture, but you don't find official vendors there selling contemporary stuff that I noticed. It's permanent stores, also, it isn't some roving temporary flea market thing.

Avalon - is there a market in the Marais on Sundays? or do you suggest it because the stores are open there on Sunday? I'm actually staying in the Marais, but checking out on Sunday morning. If I see the Marais all week long, is it that different on a Sunday?

I will definitely check out the R.Lenoir on Sunday. I've ruled out Les Puces based on all of your kind feedback. THANK YOU!

Oh, one more question - where is the Vanves / St Ouen? Is that in Paris? Which arrondissement?

Vanves is in the 14th. Clignancourt is St. Ouen, not Vanves. Both are referred to as Puces markets.
R. Lenoir/Bastille is one of the best food markets in Paris.