Marché aux Puces de St-Ouen, a worldwide reputation
The Marché aux Puces de St-Ouen welcomes more than 5 million visitors a year and is one of the largest antiques and second-hand markets in the world. Ranked as the fourth-most-visited site in France, it attracts Sunday strollers as well as Parisians and art lovers from all over the world.
Its immense popularity earned it the designation of “Urban and Landscape Architectural Heritage Protection Zone” in 2001. The market is held every Saturday, Sunday and Monday and brings together 1,700 merchants, traders, creators, artisans and artists, including 1,400 antique dealers, spread across 14 markets covering 7 hectares.
Some markets are set up under covered spaces, while others extend into the open air. Among the most renowned markets are Antica, Biron, Cambo, Dauphine, Django Reinhardt, Jules Vallès, Le Passage, Malassis, Malik, l’Entrepôt, Paul Bert – Serpette, Marché des Rues, L’Usine & Lécuyer and Vernaison.
You will discover a vast selection of traditional antiques, furniture, paintings, bronzes, works of art, tapestries, mirrors, lamps, tableware, old vinyl records, children’s toys, posters, books, photographs, clothing, shoes and much more. In addition to these classic items, the market also offers vintage and trendy accessories that appeal to a younger clientele, thus breathing new life and a unique atmosphere into the Flea Market. It is not uncommon to encounter elegant Parisians there, looking for rare and original pieces to decorate their interiors. Remarkably, the market is attracting a growing number of Chinese customers, who travel to the Marché aux Puces de St-Ouen specifically to acquire restored Chinese antiques!
Marché aux Puces de St-Ouen’s origins
The success of the Marché aux Puces de St-Ouen lies in its rich cultural identity, cultivated by a diverse and eclectic community that functions almost like a parallel world, governed by its own rules.
This vibrant market has skillfully evolved to meet the ever-changing demands and preferences of its clientele.
You can find a wide range of shops, from luxury boutiques to second-hand clothing sellers, including ragpickers and antique dealers, not to mention a myriad of street vendors.
The Marché aux Puces de St-Ouen dates back to 1870, although it was officially founded in 1885.
Initially, Parisian rag-pickers and secondhand clothing vendors were forced to leave the city because of the noise and unsanitary conditions inherent in their trade.
They found refuge in an area called Zone Malassis, a vacant lot located north of Paris, beyond the military fortifications built by Thiers in the mid-19th century.
Nicknamed “The Zone“, this area was outside the tax boundaries of Paris and was already inhabited by Roma communities.
Ragpickers and second-hand clothing dealers could thus carry out their business without paying taxes on their goods.
The Zone quickly transformed into a makeshift camp, with corrugated-iron shacks and stalls.
The first version of the Marché aux Puces de St-Ouen was established on Avenue Michelet, just outside a Parisian toll gate. Each day, stalls and carts were set up in the morning and taken down in the evening.
It was only in 1908, with the completion of the first Metro line, that second-hand clothing merchants set up a covered market, equipped with small cabins where they could safely store their goods overnight.
Marché aux Puces de St-Ouen – 14 markets
However, it was only in 1920 that Jules Romain Vernaison officially created the first Marché aux Puces de St-Ouen.
Marché Vernaison
The Marché Vernaison was initially located on a 3,000 m² plot of land called “26 acres“, now No. 99, Rue des Rosiers.
With its open-air layout and prefabricated wooden huts, it quickly became a great success.
Today, it houses more than 300 stalls spread over 9,000 m², making it the iconic market and the original Marché aux Puces de St-Ouen.
You can explore its stalls on Saturdays and Sundays from 9 am to 6 pm, and on Mondays from 10 am to 6 pm.
Marché Biron
The Marché Biron, for its part, was created in 1925 on a 7,000 m² plot of market-garden land called “Champ des Rosiers“.
Today, this historic and renowned market has 220 stalls run by antique dealers and art merchants.
You can discover a wide variety of furniture, jewellery, and graphic objects dating from the 17th to the 20th century. Located at No. 85 Rue des Rosiers, the market is open on Saturdays and Sundays from 9 am to 6 pm, and on Mondays from 10 am to 6 pm.
Marché Jules Vallès
The Venetian Amadeo Cesana created Le Marché Jules Vallès in 1938, the first covered market to be created within the Marché aux Puces de St-Ouen.
Renowned for its traditional atmosphere, it has preserved the spirit of its origins.
You will discover a wide selection of antiques, as well as a multitude of unique items: posters, antique weapons, bronzes, books, records and military items, among others.
With more than 120 stalls spread over 1,500 m², there is no shortage of treasures to discover.
Located at Nos. 7-9 Rue Jules Vallès, the market welcomes professionals on Thursday and Friday mornings.
It opens its doors to the public on Saturdays and Sundays from 10 am to 6 pm, and on Mondays from 10:30 am to 5:30 pm.
Marché Malik
Mr Malik, owner of Café Picolo, one of the bistros in the Marché aux Puces de St-Ouen, founded the Marché Malik in 1942 on the site of a 3,000 m² vegetable garden he rented.
Initially featuring 110 stalls selling second-hand clothes and old uniforms, the market has since specialised in sportswear brands, attracting a vibrant community of trendy young designers.
The Marché Malik is located at No. 85 Rue des Rosiers.
It is open to visitors on Saturdays and Sundays from 10 am to 6 pm, and on Mondays from 10:30 am to 5:30 pm.
Marché Paul Bert – Marché Serpette
Created in 1946 by a group of second-hand clothing merchants, the Marché Paul Bert had a modest beginning in a former vineyard nestled between Rue des Rosiers and Rue Paul Bert.
In 1949, these entrepreneurs transformed this once muddy land by building paved walkways and permanent shops.
In 1970, Alain Serpette, a passionate firearms collector and the son of a jeweller on Rue de Rosiers, acquired the local Simca car warehouse to found the Marché Serpette, which then had 120 stalls.
Over time, these two markets merged to form the Marché Paul Bert Market – Marché Serpette, now considered the jewel of the Marché aux Puces de St-Ouen.
It is indeed home to influential dealers who present an eclectic mix of artworks from different eras and varied styles. The market attracts a demanding clientele of collectors and art lovers from France and elsewhere who come to find baroque works, Napoleon III objects, tribal objects, archaeological pieces and jewellery, all presented in carefully crafted and creative displays.
Located at No. 110 Rue des Rosiers and No. 96 Rue Paul Bert, the market welcomes professionals on Fridays from 8 a.m. to noon and opens its doors to the public on Saturdays and Sundays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and on Mondays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Marché Cambo
The Marché Cambo was created in 1970 in a former warehouse and initially had around sixty stalls. It underwent a major transformation in 1992. The original stalls have been enlarged, although their number has decreased, and spread over two large floors. Specialising in high-end items, the Marché Cambo offers an impressive selection of treasures. The ground floor displays a carefully selected collection of furniture, ceramics and art objects from the 18th and 20th centuries, as well as regional artefacts and antique linens. The first floor is dedicated to Art Nouveau and Art Deco.
Located at No. 85 Rue des Rosiers, the Marché Cambo welcomes you every Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and on Mondays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Marché Malassis
The prestigious Marché Malassis, redesigned in 1989, stands out with its imposing rotunda and vast glass roof.
Considered the most elegant building in the Marché aux Puces de St-Ouen, this market is a true paradise for antique lovers.
Specialised antique dealers offer a collection spanning the 18th to the 20th centuries, with a particular focus on furniture from the 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, and 1970s.
You can also discover a carefully curated selection of restored pieces, often characterised by their originality or creative reinterpretations.
Located at No. 85 Rue des Rosiers, the Marché Malassis opens its doors every Saturday and Sunday from 9 am to 6 pm, and on Saturday from 10 am to 6 pm.
Marché Dauphine
The Marché Dauphine was founded in 1991 in a building boasting superb metal architecture. It is one of the most prestigious in the Marché aux Puces de St-Ouen.
Spanning an impressive 6,000 m² and spread over two levels, this market houses 180 antique dealers, each offering a veritable Aladdin’s cave: high-end furniture, works of art from the 17th to the 20th century, rare books and antique furniture restoration services.
You will discover exhibits in interior courtyards, industrial-style wrought-iron staircases, wooden-paved corridors and a picturesque fountain.
The market also houses the “Carré des Libraires,” a space bringing together twenty specialist booksellers, open since 1995.
Located at Nos. 138-140 Rue des Rosiers, the Marché Dauphine welcomes visitors every Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and on Mondays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Marché Antica
The upscale gallery located at No. 85 rue des Rosiers, known as Marché Antica, is the most intimate market in the Marché aux Puces de St-Ouen.
Comprising only a dozen stalls, it specialises in tapestries, Art Deco and Napoleon III objects.
You can discover its carefully curated selection on Saturdays and Sundays from 10 am to 6 pm, and on Mondays from 10:30 am to 5:30 pm.
Marché Le Passage
The Marché Le Passage at No. 27 rue Lécuyer is one of the most recent additions to the Marché aux Puces de St-Ouen. It covers an area of 1,000 m² between Rue Jules Vallès and Rue Lécuyer.
Specialising in antique and contemporary furniture and objects, as well as unique curiosities, the shop offers a selection of tables, chairs, trinkets, and other fascinating finds.
Le Passage welcomes professionals on Thursday and Friday mornings and opens its doors to the public on Saturdays and Sundays from 9 am to 6 pm, and on Mondays from 10:30 am to 5:30 pm.
Marché l’Entrepôt
The vast Marché l’Entrepôt, created in the 1990s, specialises in large items, such as monumental staircases, libraries, woodwork, bistro zinc roofs, kiosks and castle gates.
Located at No. 80 Rue des Rosiers, this market welcomes visitors on Saturdays and Sundays from 10 am to 6 pm, and on Mondays from 10:30 am to 5:30 pm.
Marché des Rues
The Marché des Rues embodies the very essence of a traditional flea market, offering right on the street’s pavement (hence its name), an eclectic mix of antiques, vintage items, designer pieces, reproductions of military surplus, second-hand clothing, graffiti, unusual objects, warehouse furniture, Chinese furniture, old books and much more. With such diversity, visitors can always expect to unearth hidden treasures among this abundance of merchandise.
This lively market is open on Saturdays and Sundays from 10 am to 6 pm, and on Mondays from 10:30 am to 5:30 pm.
L’Usine – Marché Lécuyer
L’Usine – Marché Lécuyer caters exclusively to professionals, offering them access to a carefully curated selection of products.
Opening hours for professionals are Monday to Friday from 10:30 am to 5:30 pm. The market is closed on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. You will find L’Usine at No. 18 Rue des Bons Enfants and the Marché Lécuyer at No.27 rue Lécuyer.
Marché Django Reinhardt
The Marché Django Reinhardt is the newest of the Marché aux Puces de St-Ouen. Located in the Espace Django Reinhardt, at No. 122 Rue des Rosiers, it holds particular importance as the epicentre of Gypsy jazz in Paris. Django Reinhard, the legendary musician, was born and raised in the Zone, learning to play guitar from passing travellers from a very young age.
Marché aux Puces de St-Ouen – Saint-Ouen Flea Markets: 1st-15August slow activity
Directions: Along the ring road (Périphérique) in Saint-Ouen on the western outskirts of Paris.
Métro: Porte de Clignancourt Line 4 or Garibaldi on line 13
Coordinates: Lat 48.901472 – Long 2.343795
