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In the city of tourism par excellence, thinking that a flea market can win millions of visitors might seem like pure fantasy.
Yet, the Saint Ouen market in Paris has carved out a leading role among the attractions of the capital.
A market that, over the course of its centuries-old history, has been able to reinvent itself to the point of becoming a sort of market town. And so, from the year of its birth (it was the distant 1870), it ended up incorporating as many as 16 individual markets, 2000 vendors and hundreds of thousands of items, becoming the largest flea market in the world!
Les Puces de Saint Ouen attracts over 5 million people every year. In this lively and warm place, sometimes “timeless”, we try to find a good deal. We meet on the occasion of one of the many events that are organized. Or, more simply, you get lost in the little shops and stalls out of pure curiosity.
A decidedly extraordinary market, where you can breathe an atmosphere of other times.
Photo ©, Jori Avlis
PRACTICAL INFO
HOW TO GET
The Saint Ouen market is located on Rue de Rosiers, in the northern suburbs of Paris, about 6 kilometers from the center.
Porte de Clignancourt and Garibaldi are the Metro stations closest to Rue de Roisiers.
Porte de Clignancourt, served by line 4, is the closest to the Market.
Alternatively you can use the bus lines to reach your destination.
SAINT OUEN MARKET HOURS
The market is open every week at the following times:
- Friday, from 09:00 to 12:00
- Saturday and Sunday, from 10:00 to 18:00.
- Monday, 11am to 5pm.
Closed on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.
WHAT TO DO AND BUY
The market covers about 7 hectares of surface: a huge amount! Equally vast is the proposal in terms of objects.
You can untangle your bags and used clothes, jewels, paintings, artifacts and antiques, vinyls, playbills and posters from the 50s, 60s and 70s … Not infrequently you could come across objects of great value.
Being a rather large market, it is advisable to move within the areas of your interest. Paul Bert houses mostly antiques. If you love vinyls, objects related to cinema and vintage items, go to the Malassis Market, a reference point in the sector. At the Marché Malik you can rummage through used clothes and bags.