Flea market & antique market finds in Paris

Is she talking about Chatou Fair? It's very good, but parking is horrible. Be prepared to walk some distance and traffic is quite bad. I cannot talk as to the flea markets, mainly because the used bookstores and thrift shops are usually more of a focus. The Chatou Fair is held on a small island, and is more antique specific, and prices can be steep. Always bargain.

https://www.foiredechatou.com/en/

My favorite used to be Paris Saint-Ouen. I have not been there for many years, I must say

In case you're interested, here's a local list of flea markets you might have a look at:

https://www.paris.fr/pages/brocantes-et-vide-greniers-chiner-a-paris-18730?utm_source=brevo&utm_campaign=News%20253%20April%202024&utm_medium=email

Honestly? I've had more luck at the little local markets, like our yard sales or garage sales, than at the bigger well-known markets.

St OUen is huge and interesting but there are no bargains there. The only bargains I have found are in Vide Greniers that pop up around town -- neighborhood 'garage' sales with a fair number of regulars hawking junk. last year I got a real bargain on some champagne glasses but they were the only things of any interest to me in the entire market. A few years ago I bought a great watch in a vide grenier that still works fine and looks great.

but it is mostly ugly old clothes and even uglier old dishes and broken plastic -- your hoarder grandmother's attic.

There are some very nice antiques at St. Ouen like the 1500 Euro silver ice bucket of my dreams, but they are pricey.

If you're staying into early October, and you're willing to go about an hour and half outside of Paris, then consider visiting the Grande Rederie d'Amiens, which takes place on Oct 4 this year.

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g196657-d12947890-Reviews-Grande_Rederie_d_Amiens-Amiens_Somme_Hauts_de_France.html

This is a city wide flea market event, and I found lot of vintage and antique "knick knacks" that I brought home. A bonus is that you get to stroll the streets of this beautiful city and see the largest cathedral in France right there in the center of it all.

This is a very easy trip from Paris, you don't need a car and no parking worries. Get on the train at Gare du Nord, and you get off in Amiens, walk across the street and there it is. Really couldn't be easier, and it is well worth the trip if you like flea markets.

I had planned to visit the St Ouen/Clignancourt markets but ran out of time and energy for such an enormous undertaking, so I went to my other option at Portes des Vanves. Easy metro ride, just around the corner from the station and a nice amount of stalls set up along a side street that kept me happily occupied poking around for a good 3 hours. All vintage, plenty of funky collectibles (vs high-end antiques, if you know what I mean) lots of small items to be found; jewelry, ceramics, books, some art, and the dealers are open to negotiating--I don't, if I feel a price is good, and I always bring cash.

I brought home some vintage 1930s Czech glass buttons for a sweater, some lace trims (one stall was all types of fabric, notions and other interesting sewing items--I was delighted!), a sterling silver ring, a small bisque doll, a few santons figures and a hand-carved wood souvenir pocketwatch stand from Fontainebleau dated 1905 that resides on my dresser.

https://www.visitparisregion.com/en/portes-de-vanves-flea-market

Look at the blogger "The Real Emily in Paris." She leads tours to antique/flea markets and I believe if you search her blog you can find a list of her favorites. (She's an Aussie who lived in London for several years and has now lived in Paris for quite a while.)

So much great information! Thank you everyone.

KGC - yes, Chatou Fair. Thanks for all the quality tips.

Mignon, HappyToBeHere, Janettravels44, Christa, & Janet - Thanks so much!

StellaB - Drat! We are flying home Oct 2nd. Another year, I guess.

There are many videos on YouTube with people shopping at various flea markets and thrift shops. I was surprised how much people were paying for things (50 Euro for a corkscrew, 50 euro for a rosary). I also saw all the junk they walked by. So I think my expectations are reasonable. However, my friend just came back from Paris with a suitcase of finds, and I did very well thrifting in Switzerland last year, so I am confident that I will find something lovely. And if not, I'll still take lots of photos.

We are in Paris now (Sunday). There was a large flea market in Montmartre today. I don’t know if it is a regular Sunday happening, but there was a lot of vintage and flea market booths.

I once found a really great necklace at Vanves but have alas not found anything since, but if you want framable prints from old books e.g. botanical drawings, bird prints etc or pages from old psalters to frame, they usually have a good selection. It is an interesting area to poke around as well.

I love, love love Marche d'Aligne (closed Monday). Always, always, always go when I come to Paris and always find something. Found a fab red cashmere Russian made coat for 10E, maybe 3 years ago. Since I go to Europe in the spring and November always try to find a place I can wear my red coat (I live at the beach). I also buy antique lace to trim my pillowcases, shoes, tops, embroidered pieces, etc. Have a fun time!