Sunday Markets in Paris
 

I would like to go to a market next Sunday after flying from Boston. Not specifically to buy anything but rather to enjoy the fact I am in Paris. Some street music would be fun and hopefully keep me awake. We should be ready to leave the hotel near Odeon around 11:30 a.m. Which one would you recommend?

We will be there in a few weeks, and on a Sunday, I've always enjoyed the Marché Bastille also widely known as the Richard Lenoir Market. But to be honest, I don't know if there are street music around...it's quite a huge market.

Richard Lenoir has had musicians in the middle of it.

Thank you. When I come up from the Bastille metro, will I see the market?

I don't think that you will see it, or if you do from one exit you will not necessarily see it from the other. Look for the Bvd. Richard Lenoir exit and walk up the boulevard to get to the market.

Thanks Michael.

Yes, the Lenoir/Bastille is great, but, be aware that it begins to wind down around 1:00 ish......

Leaving from Odeon, I thought you might really enjoy the Marche Mouffetard and I believe there is music on Sunday. Also over a bit early. Here's a Timeout link:

http://www.timeout.com/paris/en/shop...che-mouffetard

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Last time I was in Paris I stayed on Bvd. Richard Lenoir and the market was just outside the door. I must be getting jaded as I did not find it that impressive or interesting.

Here is the official municipal website link to all of the markets in Paris with their days and hours: http://meslieux.paris.fr/marches

When you look at the interactive map, blue baskets indicate markets that are open right now, and the red baskets show the markets that are closed.

Of course if you consult the map from the other side of the world when it is the middle of the night in Paris, you will only see red baskets.

Musicians were at the Bastille monument end of the Richard Lenoir market in June. They weren't very good. There were good and " traditional" musicians at the Aligré market the day before, but there was also a guy, also good, doing Chuck Berry .

We like the pl. MOnge market on Sundays. The Metro stop is right beside the market so you can't miss it.
Personally, I never get jaded for going to any of the street markets--just wonderful food displays and shoppers. BUT they will be closed at 1PM--and maybe folding up earlier.
BUT there are markets every other day except maybe Monday.

We thoroughly enjoyed the Bastille (Richard Lenoir) market but I would not wait until 11:30 to leave your hotel. Markets are at their liveliest earlier in the day and are likely to be closing down in the early afternoon.

If you get there fairly quickly, you could go to the bottom of the rue Mouffetard and listen to the accordion music watch the dancers outside of St. Medard church. It usually starts around 11:30 and goes until something around 1:00 or 1:30.

Rue Mouffetard is a market street, so you could enjoy that while you're there.

Most markets wind down after 1. I don't ever recall hearing musicians at Richard Lenoir myself. There is no music on rue Mouffetard, what people sometimes refer music in that area is at a church.

We enjoyed the market on the Ile de la Cite, near Notre Dame, which turns into a bird market on Sundays. No music that I recall, but great people - and bird - watching!

http://www.mnn.com/lifestyle/eco-tou...s-to-the-birds

If you come out of any of the Bastille Metro exits, you can't miss the market. Better get there well before the time you mentioned, though, or don't go at all.

There is always either a single old woman or sometimes a couple - they are what some people would call "gypsies" - sitting on the pavement near the part of the market nearest the July Column. They saw away at a sort of vertically-held violin type of instrument - just sawing back and forth, never stopping. It makes everybody else crazy, but to them it must sound like music - if they can hear it at all.

Near the center of the market on Sundays, there is sometimes a traditional musician sponsored by the city - playing a hurdy-gurdy and sometimes singing. If he's not there, anyone can sit in and make music or do anything else, but this market is not a popular spot for musicians. Last year, there was often a very tall man who would balance a fish bowl on his head while he danced.

Outdoor markets are not entertainment venues - they are busy places where people go to do their weekly shopping. Rue Mouffetard evolved into an entertainment district because somebody realized tourists would spend a lot more money if they had a reason to hang around doing something other than staring at fruit and vegetables which they weren't going to buy anyway. That's probably where you should go.

The old woman sawing away at the violin as Manouche describes was there in early August. I felt sorry for the little white puppy that she had with her. The noise she made with the instrument was not pleasing to the ear.