Marché aux Puces de Montreuil
Less glamorous and prestigious than other Parisian flea markets like Clignancourt or Porte de Vanves, the Marché aux Puces de Montreuil however occasionally reveals treasures from under the makeshift tables
Founded in 1860, the Marché aux Puces de Montreuil is one of the oldest flea markets in Paris. It is held every weekend on the eastern outskirts of Paris, and stretches between Porte de Montreuil and Porte de Bagnolet along the périphérique. Less glamorous and prestigious than the Marché aux Puces de Clignancourt or the flea market at Porte de Vanves, the Marché aux Puces de Montreuil remains off the beaten tourist track for a good reason: it is not famous for being the best place in Paris to find antiques galore. But occasionally, real treasures surface from under the makeshift tables of this flea market.
The Marché aux Puces de Montreuil is an open air flea market hosting around 500 booths and makeshift tables, that looks more like a huge swap meet filled with a lot of knick-knacks. In the alleys of the flea market, second-hand dealers shout louder than one another to attract the attention of patrons.
A must-see event for vintage fashion aficionados, the Marché aux Puces de Montreuil is the ideal place to build a fashionable wardrobe at a lower price: old leather jackets, sixties shirts or military fatigues, lace, furs, trench coat, hats and pre-war accessories, along with small pieces of furniture, home appliance and crockery. If you are looking for a specific piece, do not hesitate to ask the merchants, as they will kindly refer you to one of their colleagues.
Second hand and “antique” dealers selling at Marché aux Puces de Montreuil usually set their stalls near Porte de Bagnolet. They offer a mix of collectibles such as militaria, medals, coins, stamps, old postcards and photographs, comic books, rare books, vinyls, trinkets, as well as second hand furniture and light-fittings at a rather good price.
In this vast jumble, shoppers will also come across carpets, linens and even everything they need to repair a bike. And who knows, you might very well end up finding a real treasure at Marché aux Puces de Montreuil! According to rumors, in the 1990s someone bought there a genuine Van Gogh painting for only 1500 euros!
