Page 332 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Paris

330  TR A VELLERS ’ NEEDS

Markets

For eye-catching displays of wonderful food and a lively Marché d’Aligre
atmosphere, there is no better place to shop than a Paris (See p237.)
market. There are large covered food markets; markets where Built in 1779, this lively covered
market is one of the cheapest in the
stalls change regularly; and permanent street markets with a city. Here, traders hawk ingredients
mixture of shops and stalls which are open on a daily basis. such as North African olives,
Each has its own personality reflecting the area in which it is groundnuts and hot peppers and
there are even a few halal butchers.
located. A list of some of the more famous markets, with The noise reaches a crescendo at
approximate opening times, follows. For a complete list of weekends when the cries of the
markets, contact the Paris Office du Tourisme (see p359). And market boys mingle with those of
militants of all political persuasions
while you’re enjoying browsing round the stalls, remember to as the latter petition and protest in
keep an eye on your purse. Bargaining is not automatic, but the Place d’Aligre. The stalls on the
you might be able to negotiate near closing time. square sell mostly second-hand
clothes and bric-à-brac. This is a
trendy, Bohemian area of town with
Fruit and Vegetable Flea Markets few tourists and many Parisians.
Markets
It’s often said that you can no
The French treat food with the longer find bargains at the Paris Rue Cler
kind of reverence usually flea markets. Though this may (See p192.)
reserved for religion. Many be true, it’s still worth going This high-class, pedestrianized food
still shop on a daily basis to be to one for the sheer fun of market is patronized mainly by the
sure of buying the freshest browsing. And bear in mind that politicians and captains of industry
produce possible, so food the price quoted is not the one who live and work in the vicinity, so
it’s good for people-spotting! The
markets tend to be busy. The that you are expected to pay – it produce is excellent – there’s a
majority of fruit and vegetable is general ly assumed that you Breton delicatessen and some
markets are open from around will bargain. Most flea markets good fromageries.
8am to 1pm and from 4pm to are located on the city’s bound-
7pm Tuesday to Saturday, and aries. Whether you pick up any
from 9am to 1pm Sunday. real bargains has as much to do Marché des Enfant Rouges
Buy produce loose rather than with luck as with judge ment, 39 Rue de Bretagne 75003. Map 14 D2.
in boxes, but keep a close eye and may depend on whether q Temple, Filles-du-Calvaire.
on what the stallholder puts in the seller knows the true value Open 8.30am–1pm & 4–7.30pm Tue–
your bag. Most outdoor stalls of their goods. The biggest, Sat (to 8pm Fri, Sat); 8.30am–2pm Sun.
prefer to serve you rather than busiest and most famous This long-established, charming fruit
allow you to handle the market, incor porating several and vegetable market on the Rue de
Bretagne is part covered, part
produce yourself, but don’t be smaller specialist ones, is the outdoors and dates from 1620. The
afraid to point to the individual Marché aux Puces de St-Ouen. produce is famous for its freshness,
fruit and vegetables of your Be sure to keep your eye on and there are cheap eateries too. On
choice. Your connoisseurship your wallet, as pickpockets Sunday mornings, there are sometimes
will be respected. A little frequent these markets. street performers and accordionists.
language is useful for specifying
pas trop mur (not too ripe), Marché aux Fleurs
or pour manger ce soir (to be Specialist Markets Madeleine
eaten tonight). If you go to the Try the Marché aux Fleurs Pl de la Madeleine 75008.
same market every day, you’ll Madeleine, the Marché aux Map 5 C5. q Madeleine.
become familiar to the stall Fleurs Reine Elizabeth II (see p87) Open 8am–7.30pm Mon–Sat.
holders and will be less likely or the Marché aux Fleurs Ternes
to be fobbed off with the in the Champs-Elysées district Marché aux Fleurs Ternes
occasional “reject” fruit or for fresh flowers. On the Ile de Pl des Ternes 75017. Map 4 E3.
q Ternes. Open 8am–7.30pm
vegetable. You will also get to la Cité on Sundays, the Marché
know the stalls worth buying aux Oiseaux bird market Tue–Sun.
from and the produce worth replaces the flower market. Marché St-Pierre
buying. Seasonal fruit and Stamp collectors will enjoy the Pl St-Pierre 75018. Map 6 F1.
permanent Marché aux Timbres,
vegetables are, of course, where you can also buy old q Anvers. Open 10am–6.30pm
usually a good buy, tending to post cards. In Montmartre, the Mon–Fri, 10am–7pm Sat.
be fresher and cheaper than at the large Marché St-Pierre, Marché aux Timbres
other times of the year. Finally, spread over six floors, is famous Ave Marigny 75008. Map 5 B5.
it is best to shop at markets for inexpensive fabrics and is q Champs-Elysées–Clemenceau.
early in the day when the patronized by professional Open 9am–7pm Thu, Sat, Sun &
food is freshest and the designers and dressmakers. public hols.
queues are shortest.

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