Open air markets have been a tradition in Paris since the Middle Ages. By 1860 there were 51 markets in the city and today there are more than 90! They are a way of life in France and something we wanted to make the most of during our recent stay.
Renting an apartment near one of Paris’ oldest neighborhoods gave us an unforgettable glimpse of daily life in Paris.
The red awning on the lower left in the image above was the start of Rue Mouffetard, a street rich in history that now boasts a permanent open air market, restaurants, shops and cafés.
It is closed Sunday afternoons and on Mondays but was otherwise our first stop for produce, bakery items, whole roasted chickens with potatoes cooked in the very same drippings, wine, ice cream, and more!
That’s my husband, above, making his first solo purchase. 😀
It was heavenly. If you’re planning your own trip to Paris and would like a little more information regarding the food markets by arrondissement (neighborhood), this book [Markets of Paris, Second Edition by Dixon Long & Marjorie R. Williams] is an excellent resource:
I also found this app [Paris Food Markets] to be extremely helpful:
I would also recommend bringing along a cute canvas tote bag just in case your apartment isn’t equipped with one of these:
It will even be needed at the regular supermarkets because you are charged extra for using their plastic bags.
Too, make sure you have plenty of euros on hand (small bills) for your market purchases.
Not only will you save money by shopping as the locals do, you will leave Paris with a deep appreciation for this long-standing tradition.
