Nestled on the outskirts of Paris, the Marché aux Puces de Clignancourt, also known as the Puces de St. Ouen, is a testament to the city's enduring love affair with antiques and vintage treasures. Sprawling over seven hectares, it's a haven for collectors, designers and vintage enthusiasts, offering a diverse tapestry of stalls and shops, each with its own unique charm and character.
Founded in the late 17th century, Puces de St. Ouen has evolved from a haven for rag-and-bone men selling second-hand goods to the largest antique market in the world. The market, divided into twelve sub-markets, houses more than 2,000 shops and covers an area of 10 miles (15 km). The Marché aux Puces de Clignancourt attracts over 180,000 visitors four days a week, including celebrities, designers and tourists seeking the quintessential Parisian flea market experience.
Each of the Puces de St. Ouen submarkets offers a distinctive atmosphere and inventory. From the chic antiques of Marché Paul Bert Serpette to the eclectic collectibles of Marché Vernaison, visitors are taken on a journey through time and cultures. The variety of items available ranges from ancient manuscripts and vintage clothing to mid-century modern furniture and contemporary art.
The full list of sub-markets includes the Marché Antica (a place dedicated to furniture and objects from the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries), Marché Biron, Marché Cambo (a charming twentieth-century furniture market located in a side street to the main flea market), Marché Dauphine, Marché Jules Vallès, Marché le Passage (clothes, furniture, old books, military clothing, jewelry), Marché Malassis, Marché l'Entrepôt (large vintage items such as ironwork, staircases, lampposts, radiators, etc.), Marché Paul Bert Serpette, L'Usine (reserved exclusively for professional antique dealers), Rosiers (lighting equipment and 20th-century art objects), and Marché Vernaison.
Wandering through the myriad aisles, one can stumble upon rare books, Art Deco lighting, period furniture, vintage vinyl, and even ancient artifacts. The market's vibrant atmosphere is further enhanced by the myriad of cafes, restaurants and live music venues scattered throughout, offering visitors a chance to refuel and soak up the vibrant Parisian atmosphere.
To truly experience the depth and breadth of Puces de St. Ouen, it is advisable to allow plenty of time for exploration. The sheer size and variety of the market can be overwhelming, but the treasures waiting to be discovered are well worth the trip. Experienced bargain hunters recommend visiting on weekends, arriving early, and being prepared to haggle for the best deals.
One of the undeniable charms of Puces de St. Ouen is the sense of community among the vendors. Many have been at the market for generations, inheriting stalls and expertise from their families. Their passion for their wares and the stories behind them add an extra layer of charm to the shopping experience.
Visitors wishing to discover the Marché aux Puces de Paris Clignancourt should know that the Tourist Office of Saint-Ouen offers guided tours throughout the year. An audio tour in French can also be booked at the tourist office (group tours available on request).
Finaly, if the idea of wandering 10 miles of streets flanked by 2,000 antique shops and flea market stalls alongside a myriad of other aficionados or the merely curious is beyond you, the Marché aux Puces de Vanves is a more human-scale alternative. Tucked away in a quiet corner of the city, the Puces de Vanves flea market hosts "only" 350 vendors and is known for its reasonable prices, diverse offerings, and early morning shopping opportunities, making it a favorite among enthusiasts and travelers alike.
Marketplace Highlights
- 18th century antiques
- 19th century antiques
- 20th century antiques
- Antique districts
- Antique mirrors
- Architectural salvage
- Bronze & Sculptures
- Collectibles
- Free admission
- Industrial design
- Lighting fixtures
- Militaria
- Open weekdays
- Open weekends
- Paris
- Size: 999+ stalls
- Top 30 in the world
- Top 50 in Europe
- Vintage toys
Maureen Marsh
30th October 2015 at 17:19The next time you look at an interior design magazine and read that certain items came from the Paris Flea Market, know that they were not cheap little creative finds. They probably cost in the hundreds of Euros. But talk about truly cool stuff! The most amazing designer costume jewelry, art deco silver coffee sets, full sets of Christofle silver, sets of china, artisanal majolica, old furs, skin handbags, antique toys, mid-century clothes, and antique linens galore. Laces, christening caps, copper ware and all kinds of other stuff.
Lila Nguyen
1st December 2015 at 21:35I have been there on a Saturday afternoon and I have deeply appreciated the atmosphere you can breathe there. the market is wide and full of original vintage pieces at reasonable prices even though in some corners you may find proper shops with nice vintage clothes for unreasonably very expensive prices. Anyway it definitely is worth a visit !
Scott Sanders
9th February 2016 at 23:43I really enjoyed finally visiting this “Bucket List” attraction. I am an experienced “market” shopper for all types of French markets all over this wonderful country. This particular market lends itself well to bigger ticket items such as furnishings, art and expensive collectibles. There are many areas that make-up this market. So it’s worth planning where to start and where to finish ahead of time. Don’t plan to find a bargain at this market. But you could find a French treasure that you never expected to discover! A “must see” for any true lover of French markets.
Chelsea Stokes
14th April 2016 at 07:38If you like antiques or poking around markets and second hand shops this is the one to go to. A huge variety of stalls selling everything from buttons and antique light switches to fantastic furniture from old properties. It is difficult to get around and cover as there are so many areas. We focused on Marché Vernaison as I was looking for lace and old linens. I saw some amazing pieces worth a lot of money but exchange rates prevented me getting carried away and I was careful to only buy what I couldn’t get at home and for a reasonable price… I found a few nice pieces and happy to take away a little Paris with me!
Priscilla Carr
23rd April 2016 at 17:04We had a perfectly sublime Sunday wandering around all of the different “markets”. After reading tons of mixed reviews, I was a bit sketchy as to whether I even wanted to go check this out. SO glad we did as there are just tons of beautiful antiques and “second hand items” as well. You won’t find the deal of the century most likely, but you will find something cool, I guarantee it. We decided to forgo the metro and just took an uber in and out. If you do take the metro, just have a map and know where you’re headed. Make a bee line for Rue des Rosiers and you’re in the thick of the good stuff without all the pushy ‘outside’ vendors that all the other reviews mention…all of that garbage is on the fringe, get to the middle and stay in the markets for the most part. We found a few mid century bargains for 10 euros each, and had some great food at the gastronomic pub in one of the markets. More mid century modern stuff than I’ve ever seen in any one place and tons of beautiful, original antiques. We did more looking than buying, but if you like antiquing, thrifting, picking, etc…you’ll love this. We spent 6 hours there and probably saw half of the markets. Didn’t feel crowded or cramped and didn’t see any sketchy pickpockets or anything like that, but I could see how that might be an issue on the “fringe”. Enjoy!!
Donna Palmer
10th June 2016 at 00:22A fascinating mixture of absolutely worthless kitsch and expensive and (presumably) genuine antiques. We traveled with had luggage only, otherwise I might have been tempted to buy some lovely art deco lamps…. The dealers will reduce their prices, so haggling is ok, as long as you’re realistic and polite. A MUST for Paris visitors!
Joel Chapman
4th August 2016 at 17:18Although it is quite fun to visit don’t come here expecting to find any good deals or realistic prices. There are various markets located on the Rue des Rosiers where you can find anything from vintage and curiosity to heavy antiques. However, they all have one thing in common and that is the next-to-insane pricing. First we were wondering if they had switched currencies because some of them were just plain ridiculous. We even found an Ikea chair which someone tried to sell as vintage!
I think there are many places where you can find better quality for more realistic prices if you are into vintage furniture and stuff (as a matter of facts, when in Amsterdam make sure to visit the IJ-hallen markets). Also the neighborhood was a bit rough, when you walk to the rue des rosiers you first pass a market filled with cheap imitation clothing en touts trying to sell cheap sunglasses. Just ignore them however and you’ll be fine.