St Ouen Marché aux Puces 101

[annettecinca]

I'm thinking about taking my friends to the flea market during our October trip. I've been out there twice, without good results. The first visit we treked all the way out there on the wrong day of the week, and the second time we wandered around not really knowing where to go (I read somewhere just to follow the crowd, which on the day we went wasn't very obvious) . We wandered thru a small flea market set up in a parking lot, some vendors along the sidewalks selling sweatshirts and knock-offs, and went into a big old building with antique vendors--but I'm pretty sure we missed the best parts. I know the area is large, and there are lots of different buildings that are a part of the whole. But beyond that, I'm lost. Can any of the pros here give me some tips?

We won't be looking to bring home any big pieces of antique furniture or chandeliers ....but maybe glassware, china, silver, jewelry, etc. One of my friends collects footed cake plates, and all of us are interested in decorator items.

Is there a map of the market online somewhere? Or can we buy one? Or is there a good guide available that I can purchase? (Something that goes into more detail than how to get there--I have that part down!) Any thoughts and ideas are welcome! I'm probably the only one whom it didn't all seem obvious for and it still seems a little mystifying and overwhelming.

[GitteK]

www.parispuces.com/EN/Default.asp

Anything here you can use ?

[annettecinca]

Thanks Gitte! I will spend some time exploring that site. I looked quickly, and found a map there. It looks like we didn't walk far enough when we went before--I don't remember crossing the Périphérique, and it appears that all the good stuff is beyond that. Okay, I have hope now! ;D

[luckyluc]

Yes, Annette that is the most common mistake of a first-timer visiting Clingancourt. Just avoid the marchands by walking on the opposite sideway and under the overpass. You will come at rue des Rosiers and that is where the good stuff start. Make sure to stop for lunch at Paul Bert in the marché Biron.

[Jody]

Excellent advice from Luc about Paul Bert!

This site might help you locate the good stuff!

www.les-puces.com/


You might want to try the Marche at Vanves, I actually prefer it to St Ouen.

[luckyluc]

Porte de Vanves is indeed much smaller and easier to get around, but the quality is not the same as St-Ouen. It all depends what sort of antiquing you are after.

[Laidback]

Annette,
If you take the metro, you then have to walk under the peripherique and will find yourself in a rag-tag area of cheap, fly-by-night vendors before you even get to the Marché aux Puces. I did the same thing my 1st trip. After finally getting there, I noticed the #85 bus going right through the market on Rue Rosiers. You can take it from anywhere along its route starting at the Luxembourg Gardens and get off at the stop marked "Marché aux Puces" or stop "Paul Bert" check out the bus route here.

[Jody]

If you are just interested in "smalls" Vanves might suit you. I have a friend that has scored many times , more than enough to have paid for their entire trips and a few more. But you have to know what is good and what is Junque!

[holger]

LB,

Thanks for the tip on the 85 Bus. I would much rather go that way.

[annettecinca]

Wow, I've hit the jackpot! ;D Thanks everyone! I will devour these websites and I'm sure I'll be able to figure out where to go for what we'll be looking for.

I will check out the bus routes, LB, as that would be better for my friends knees.

And lunch at Paul Bert, great idea Luc (I remember reading that recommendation before, so thanks for the reminder!).

I sure wouldn't know what to look for to resell here in the States, but how lucky for your friend, Demarias, to have found things to pay for her trip! We'll just be looking for a few little things that strike a chord within us and that we'll enjoy seeing in our own homes.

Next question--what's your opinion on the best day to go? I thought maybe Monday, since other things in town are closed...but maybe everything would be really picked over by Monday?

[annettecinca]

Demarias, tell me what attracts you more to Vanves I'm open to considering it instead.

[annettecinca]

Another one--to bargain or not to bargain, that is the question

I assume many stalls don't have the prices marked...so when we ask the price, is that it, or do they size us up and throw out a higher number expecting us to offer something a little lower?

[luckyluc]

It is not like a souk in Casablanca but yes you should always bargain that is the name of the game!

[Truffaut]

You must be careful with the 85 bus. It has a shortened route on weekends and doesn't stop at every stop along its regular route!

Saturdays are unquestionably the best days to visit St-Ouen. Theoretically, the markets are open on Fridays, but it's been very spotty ever since 9/11. The quality at St-Ouen is superlative in every way to that at Vanves, though I shop both regularly.

Most of the markets are along rue des Rosiers, but if you turn left at the street immediately before Marché Paul Bert, walk one block and turn right, you'll find a couple more small markets and a few independent stores. There are hardly any tourists there because they don't know the shops are there

[annettecinca]

Thanks Luc, that's pretty much what I thought, just making sure!

Thanks for the tips, Truffaut. Good to know about the other street of shops, too! I do think I'll switch our flea market day back to Saturday instead of Monday. Thanks for the great advice everyone!