Le Marché aux Puces de Saint-Ouen brings together the largest number of antique dealers in the world ! 5 million visitors flock there each year.
Fifth tourist site in France
Le marché aux Puces de Saint-Ouen is the largest concentration of antique and bric-a-brac dealers in the world, totaling more than 5 million visitors a year, including many foreign tourists and very often celebrities. Fifth tourist site in France located at a northern gate of Paris opposite the 18th arrondissement, it is held every Saturday, Sunday and Monday. The origin of the Marché aux Puces de Paris – Saint-Ouen dates back to the 1870s, almost 150 years ago, when, driven out of Paris, the waste collectors came to settle on the other side of the “fortifs”.
Thanks to Eugene Poubelle
Nevertheless, the official birth date of the Puces is 1885. A parking fee is now required from the Puces by the city of Saint-Ouen in order to exercise their activity. Le marché aux Puces de Saint-Ouen draws its roots from the yardstick of the profession of rag picker. A corporation counting around 11,000 people, handling 75,000 kilos of goods, at the end of the 19th century. Called into question after the Prefect Eugène Poubelle had imposed in 1883 on Parisians the use of iron garbage cans with airtight lids. But the Prefect, indulgent, will allow them to come between midnight and 5:00 am to search what everyone already called the trash cans. This booty was then unpacked at Porte de Clignancourt, then an unconstructable military servitude zone, located beyond the old fortifications.
Popular Paris
Today, going to the Saint-Ouen flea market is an original experience of popular Paris, a walk full of surprises and a gold mine for lovers of vintage pieces or antiques… The Markets are open every weekend of the year, from Friday to Monday at the following times: Friday from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. Saturday, Sunday & Monday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
You can come to Le marché aux Puces de Saint-Ouen by METRO :
1. By Metro Garibaldi (line 13), cross the square along the church, you arrive at rue des Rosiers, turn right, the Puces are 700 meters away. 2. Via Porte de Clignancourt Metro (line 4), cross Boulevard des Maréchaux towards Saint-Ouen and go under the ring road to get to Les Puces via rue des Rosiers.
3. By Metro Porte de Saint-Ouen (line 13), walk along the ring road on the Saint-Ouen side towards P.te de Clignancourt until you reach “la Boule” at the Puces. (Prefer Metro Garibaldi instead if you take line 13).
4. By Saint-Ouen Metro (line 14)
You can also come by BUS for a more pleasant journey :
1. Bus 85 takes you to the heart of the Puces, stop at “Marché aux Puces” or “Paul Bert”.
2. With Bus 95, get off at the “Porte de Montmartre” terminus, go under the ring road towards Saint-Ouen.
