In Paris, there are many local markets, large and small. A local market is the most bearing place in a city, which shows the most authentic and traditional lifestyle of the locals. Markets also convey the attitude of most Parisians; eating well and living a good life. When visiting Parisian food and flower markets, you can feel that romance is infiltrated into all aspects of French people's life. If you want to experience this atmosphere in depth, just go to the local markets on a sunny day!
Rue Mouffetard is the oldest and liveliest street in Paris, with many restaurants, cafés and shops, amongst which, the most famous one is its markets. The history of the Mouffetard Street Market dates back to the Middle Ages, with long slate streets and old shops like chocolate shops, bakeries, and food shops owned by Parisians, it becomes the best market for every local.
The freshly baked bread is full of aromas and attracts passers-by.
Seafood combined with a good wine, fresh ingredients guarantee the taste of the dishes. The fresh fruits and vegetables are full of color and look delicate, like works of art. At the end of the alley, there is an open square with children's slides and benches for a rest if you are tired.
Address：Rue Mouffetard，75005 Paris
Transportation：Metro L7 Censier-Daubenton
Opening hours：Tuesday-Sunday 9:00-13:00
Before, the Marché Des Enfants Rouges was an orphanage, which was later transformed into a market. It has a long history of more than 400 years. The market is recognized as the most popular market in Paris, with a large number of cooked food stalls offering a variety of traditional gourmet food from many countries.
Each booth is full of people, and you can taste all kinds of food at a cheap price! In addition to the snacks from different regions of France, there is also local food from Morocco, Lebanon and Turkey.
Address：39 Rue de Bretagne, 75003 Paris
Transportation：Metro L8 Filles du Calvaire
Opening hours：Tuesday-Saturday 8:30-19:30, Sunday 8:30-14:00
When you get out of the subway station, you can see the tall pillar of the Bastille Square right before you, bypassing the square, is the Bastille Market, which is an open-air market.
The Bastille Market is one of the largest open-air markets in Paris. Compared with other markets in Paris, it has not only fresh vegetables, fruits, meat, bread and snacks, but also delicate deli shops, flowers and plants, as well as groceries, crafts, souvenirs and hand-made gifts. There are also some souvenir stalls where the owner introduces the product to you, and invites you to try it with great enthusiasm.
There is a very popular small stall specializing in Brittany snacks, where you can buy traditional local pastries and the freshly made Galette.
Some of the vendors in the Bastille market are immigrants from North Africa amongst other countries, so you can taste regional specialties such as African family dishes, Portuguese cooked food, Spanish cooked food, French roast chicken and so on. But due to so many people around, it is even more important to look after your property.
Address：Boulevard Richard Lenoir, 75011 Paris
Transportation：Metro L1, L5, L8 Bastille
Opening Hours：Thursday 7:00-14:30, Sunday 7:00-15:00
At the beginning of the Champs Elysées, there is a traditional Paris stamp market, which not only sells stamps but also old postcards. Each stall owner has a large collection of stamps. They have a small box contains a tweezer, which is used for pick-and-place stamps. Some stall owners collect stamps from various countries. Just tell the owner which country's stamps you want to buy, and then they can find what you want accurately from their large collection.
From the handwriting, you can experience the mood of the writer when he/she wrote the postcard. These precious memories have been carefully preserved by the stall owners.
These events are a gathering of people with the same hobbies sitting around, chatting with each other and sharing their collections. The harmonious atmosphere deeply impressionable.
Address：Avenue de Marigny, 75008 Paris
Transportation：Metro L1 Champs-Elysees Clemenceau
Opening hours：Tuesday, Saturday, Sunday 9:00-19:00 (May change due to the weather)
Paris has always been known as "The City of Flowers". Parisians love flowers very much, and they like using colorful flowers to decorate their balconies. Located near Notre Dame de Paris, this flower and bird market is the most famous one in Paris.
You can buy some exquisite and lovely potted plants and put them on your window sill. Apart from flowers and plants, you can also find a variety of gardening tools like kettles, flower pots, and aeolian bells.
Address：37 Place Louis Lépine, 75004 Paris
Transportation：Metro L1, L7 Châtelet
Opening hours：Daily 8:00 -19:30
Words by Hanqi LI
Photographs by Youra CHOI
