Les Puces de Saint-Ouen in Paris is one of the most visited area of the "city of lights. However, to understand why it is necessary to take a travel into history and learn about then, more than 100 years ago, this area started to be the meeting point for a certain type of "brocanteur" rag-and-bone traders, and that was the beginning of today's flea market. It can be considered the largest flea market in the world. In 2001 it was recognized with a label of "Zone for the protection of Architectural, Urban, and Landscape Heritage".
The creation of the market is singular, it all started around 1870 when due to the evolution of society and life in growing cities, rag pickers moved to a small lot in the fortifications around Saint-Ouen to do business, as this area was still a vast and empty district. This movement comes from an ordinance by the then Prefet of Paris, that impulses the move to this new area that had not firm regulations yet.
Later, and for the same reasons it started to be an attraction for junk and antique dealers, that also found Saint-Ouen a perfect spot for their booming businesses. The natural evolution brought bylaws and regulations that would be established. A big boost was the arrival of the Metropolitain - the Parisian subway - in 1908 that meant a real revolution in urban life in the city and suburbs, and thus drove to a natural evolution of commerces into more permanent and stable business situations. It was a crucial moment for antique dealers concerned with having to move, pack and unpack daily goods from storage to stalls.
In 1920 Vernaison creates the first permanent market of 1300 m2. of surface, which was the beginning of more markets, some of them installed in lands of old farms, such were the cases of Malik, Biron, Vallés, etc., and then was the moment when a organized structure with schedules and timetables was created. Along the years the whole zone was receiving arrivals until the 60-70s when the construction of the ring road around Paris, isolated Saint-Ouen geographically and at the end of the 80s the whole new entrepreneurs opened new markets which marked the consolidation of Les Puces almost as we know them today.
The whole area is about 7 hectares housing 14 markets, some covered, others open-air, selling all kind of products, antiques, furniture, clothes and shoes, books, vintage decor, toys, discs, engravings, all the bric-a-bracs, all you can imagine you can it there. The main street is Rue des Rosiers, among others you will find the Marché Dauphine, Marché Biron, Marché Vernaison, Marché Malassis, Marché Vallés, and of course the huge furniture market Marché Paul Bert. There are also bistrots and cafes, and even music almost in every corner.
Les Puces are open on Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays, it is a world in itself, so be prepared for a long journey and be open to bargain, discuss, browse, be surprised ... be part of the thousands of national and international visitors enjoy your stroll and remember, be careful with your wallets and bags, they are maximum attraction to pick-pockets, but especially enjoy your visit!
