North of the city, the vast St-Ouen-Porte de Clignancourt Flea Market, Marché aux Puces, is heaven for both antiques professionals and bric-a-brac fanatics. Over 2000 stalls sell all sorts of collectables from furniture to knickknacks and costumes. Beware of pickpockets.
The "Puces" have a layout to rival the most tangled Oriental souk. Every weekend, Porte de Clignancourt becomes a throng of activity, selling everything from wooden fairground horses to vintage Pierre Cardin.
In theory, the Puces are split into 10 different markets, each devoted to particular goods - if you want a retro denim jacket, head for the Malik Market, or to Biron Market for furniture. In practice, despite signposting, the Puces virgin tends to get irrevocably lost.
Not that this is a bad thing; provided you are willing to spare a day, you should discover some real treasures. If you've set your heart on vintage Chanel, get there as early as you can.
Another word of warning: you may think you can win money gambling on some of the roadside card games. You won't. They are all rigged and highly illegal. But don't let that put you off your shopping in what is reputedly the largest flea market in Europe.
In theory, the Puces are split into 10 different markets, each devoted to particular goods - if you want a retro denim jacket, head for the Malik Market, or to Biron Market for furniture. In practice, despite signposting, the Puces virgin tends to get irrevocably lost.
Not that this is a bad thing; provided you are willing to spare a day, you should discover some real treasures. If you've set your heart on vintage Chanel, get there as early as you can.
Another word of warning: you may think you can win money gambling on some of the roadside card games. You won't. They are all rigged and highly illegal. But don't let that put you off your shopping in what is reputedly the largest flea market in Europe.
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