PARIS FLEA MARKET

My favorite Paris flea market is not the famous Les Puces de Saint-Quen at Porte de Clignancourt (covering 17 acres and claustrophobically crowded), but the gentle Marché aux Puces de la Porte de Vanves covering two long lanes and quiet enough to allow up-close and personal liaisons with a happy array of second-hand treasures.

At 7 a.m. every Saturday and Sunday, rain or shine, holiday or not, about 380 dealers (and a handful of fringe street sellers)—set up set up wares on two intersecting blocks in the 14th arrondissement. The stands on Avenue Marc Sangnier close around 1 p.m. while the stands lining Avenue Georges Lafenestre stay around later depending on the amount of business.

Easy is the word to describe this market— easy to navigate, easy to love and

easy to reach by metro. Here’s what you do:

Take metro line 13 to

Inside the metro at Porte de Vanves stop in Paris.

Exit bd Brune

Follow the arrow to the Marché aux Puces

Sign pointing the way to the Marche aux Puces de la Porte de Vanves

When you reach

Ave Marc Sangnier street sign

Cross the street and voilà! you have arrived.

Among the delights you might find:

Stand selling tableware at Marché aux Puces de la Porte de Vanves

Tableware

Paris flea market stand selling books

Books

Stand at Marché aux Puces de la Porte de Vanves selling vintage clothing

Vintage clothing and textiles

 Bric-à-brac at Marché aux Puces de la Porte de Vanves

Bric-à-brac

Stand at the Marché aux Puces de la Porte de Vanves selling old French postcards

Old French Postcards

Jewerly and other treasures at the Marché aux Puces de la Porte de Vanves

Jewerly

A stand sells African art at the Marché aux Puces de la Porte de Vanves in Paris

African art

50s, 60s and 70s furniture at the Marché aux Puces de la Porte de Vanves in Paris

50s, 60s and 70s furniture

A stand selling art at the Marché aux Puces de la Porte de Vanves in Paris

Paintings

Vendor at the Marché aux Puces de la Porte de Vanves in Paris selling dolls.

Dolls

A mirror-stand at the Marché aux Puces de la Porte de Vanves in Paris

Mirrors

Much stuff for sale at the Marché aux Puces de la Porte de Vanves in Paris

More Bric-à-brac

and an

Selling organic coffee and tea at the Marche aux Puces de la Porte de Vanves

Enterprising vendor selling hot coffee and tea

Oh là là—happy hunting.