Tim Hotel - Hotel near Le marché aux Puces de St-Ouen - Porte de Clignancourt

Welcome to the biggest ever antique market in the world, « Les Puces » as it is familiarly called. The market celebrated its centenary in 1985. More than 120 to 150 000 visitors come each weekend from all over the world to wander through the 7 hectares of the market, watching out for a bargain among valuable art objects or interesting junk. If you like a crowd, this is the place to be. It is also one of the outings that Parisians love most.

Though 1885 is the official date of the creation of this unusual market, its history dates back over some centuries when ragmen scoured Paris at night to find some old things among the garbage to sell on the outskirts of the capital. Later, these ragmen became second-hand dealers, then antiquarians where they definitely established themselves at the major gates of Paris. 

This bric-a-brac attracted more and more collectors as well as visitors loving having a look at odd things. This very fashionable and social place soon required organisation. Antiques dealers gathered and formed groups and the space was divided into seven areas: Vernaison market, Malik market, Serpette market…spreading between Porte de Saint Ouen and Porte de Clignancourt, in the north of Paris.

You will also find flea markets in Porte de Montreuil, on the East side, and Porte de Vanves in the South. However Saint Ouen’s market is the biggest and the most popular.

Good to know :
In 1180, while surveying the large amount of odd furniture, heaps of scrap and rags, an unknown passer-by shouted « What a flea market! » This expression has been kept ever since, particularly on postcards captions showing Clignancourt.

Timhotel’s tips and suggestions : 
« Cité Biron » is the most « distinguished » market which displays, in a double row of 200 stalls, with such items of interest as valuable antique furniture, gilded mirrors, ancient glasses, china…

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