What to grab at Parisian Street Markets
Here are some of the most engaging street markets in Paris; we walk by some on our trip. Some are food with mountains of cheeses and breads, some are herbal with soaps and personal products, some sell objects and antiques. We only listed those which are easy to locate during our November Paris week. Look down each street and alley, you will find others.
Paris Maubert Market. This market is directly off the major Left Bank street: Boulevard Saint Germain and is open three days a week. Saturdays open from 7 am – 2:30 pm and Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7 am – 1:30. There are nibbles to try: olives, cheeses, breads and items to bring home: jam, honey or snacks for your hotel room. Here are some comments from Yelp https://www.yelp.com/biz/march%C3%A9-maubert-paris-2
Marche Raspail is a Sunday morning organic market. Last time I visited, I bought herbal soaps, Lavendar pouches and nibbles and incredible fruit for sustinence. Look for the Marseilles soap block, a 300 gram block of herbal soap made in the South of France. Some of the comments on Yelp make your mouth water. Around some markets are vendors cooking potato pancakes, crepes etc.
Rue Mouffetard Market featured in Hemingway’s A Moveable Feast, is a street that is a market. Open all week ()Sunday afternoon and Monday. Check out the ancient church and the interior of some of the food shops. There are many bakeries and some shops selling tourist items like luggage. Walkable from this Left Bank Latin Quarter market are The Catacombs, Pantheon and Luxembourg Gardens. Want to ‘pique nique’ on your purchases?
For old books, there are many vintage book stores in Paris and along the Seine on the Left Bank are stalls selling books. Even if you can’t read them, old books often have lovely colorful or black and white plates worthy of a frame. I bought an old children’s book and framed the 19century children’s photos for a nursery.
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Another form of market in Paris is the Passage. These are glass covered street passages from he first half of the 19c, full of stores. Once in total disrepair, many passages are now wonders. Here is a list of passages. As you walk around Paris, look a every side street; it might include a covered passage.
Marche Bastille is a Thursday and Sunday covered food market with over 100 stalls. Yes it is near the old prison famous in the French Revolution. Nearby is the section called Le Marais, medieval with many boutique museums: Picasso, Carnavalet (history). Yes you will buy and eat a madeleine or macaron on the spot. Look for the huge July Column, comemmorating the revolution of 1830 that restored the monarchy.
Marche aux Puces, the famous flea market. Not my favorite. It is over touristy, over priced and watch you wallet scenario. Unless you know of a reliable antiques dealer, be very careful. Shipping home? Photo your purchase, check for cracks, make sure insurance, freight forwarding are included.
Bring your own bags. Or buy a shopping bag from a supermarket; it might be so French, your friends will want one. For more tips, here is our Paris itinerary. Contact us at https://www.thewomenstravelgroup.com/tours/. Or by phone to 646 309 5607.
