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A few years ago, I found  myself dancing up a storm in what is known as the “little Marais market” in Paris.
It was a day in June when Paris holds its annual “Fête de la Musique”, or “Make Music Day.”
On this day, music of all kinds invades the city’s local neighbourhoods and streets.
That night there was something happening literally on every corner.
From the window of my apartment, I could hear techo “crap” blaring from a laptop in a store front; Heading out and down the street, I encountered a seasoned ensemble playing Big Band music in the community centre; around the corner a rock band was set up playing covers on a small side street; and in my favourite food market, there was disco.  It was that music that hauled me in like a fish drawn to a bright-coloured lure.
The Little Marais Market 
For I am not sure how long, I lost myself in a throbbing, pulsating crowd dancing with no one in particular in one tiny corner of this market called “Le marché couvert des enfants rouges,” or “the covered market of the red children.”
Wide shot of people enjoying lunch at picnic tables at the Paris market

Lunchtime at the market

Board of Japanese prepared food one can buy at the market such as grilled sardines and vegetable tempura.

Japanese menu

This, I discovered,  is the oldest covered food market in Paris (created in 1628) originally named after the orphans who wore red uniforms and lived in a nearby hospice.
Food Shopping in Le Marais 
During the day mostly, the market bustles with activity as vendors display and sell their fresh produce, such as fruit, fish, vegetables, along with exotic cooked meals and snacks from Italy, Japan and Lebanon.

Here’s looking at you sweetheart!

Mushrooms of all kinds!

Bouquet of French radishes with white tips

A beautiful bouquet of French radishes

In Paris, people shop almost every day so it is not unusual to go to the market to buy just a couple of things. I have learned that it is rude to feel, test or pick out produce as I might at home.  The protocol is to point to what you want and allow the vendor to select and package it for you.
You often have to wait your turn but you can take as much time as you like quizzing vendors about where their blueberries came from, or what kind of cheeses they would recommend.
Assortment of flowers and plants on display at the Le Marais Market in Paris

Flower shop in Le Marais market

 

Orange, green and purple flowers that I bought to take to a friends for dinner.

Bouquet of flowers makes a nice gift if you are invited to dinner.

You will find this little market at 39 Rue de Bretagne in the Marais (3rd) arrondissement.
The market has been listed as a historic monument since 1982.
Have you got a favourite food market in Paris? Do tell us about it!

A mural at the entrance of the Marais market.

Me holding my iPhone taking a picture of a menu in the Le Marais Market

I just couldn’t stop taking pictures!

Travel Provence With Dee!

Speaking of markets, no one is more knowledgeable about food, clothes and antique markets than Dee Pocquette.  She has now published her Tour dates for 2020  that includes her week-long packages where she is your personal guide to authentic Provence.

And don’t forget subscribers to my blog get a 20% discount! 

 

Dee’s 2020 Upcoming Tour Dates

MAY 4-12, 2020

JULY 6-13  2020                                                                                              

OCT. 12-20, 2020 

Click HERE to find out more

*PS I do not receive a fee or commission for promoting Dee’s Jackdaw Journeys.
I simply decided to support Dee with a service that I feel my readers would really enjoy!
If you have not read it, see my July 14th blog called  Travel Provence with Dee.

 

Don’t Forget to Tell Your Friends about My Fall Free Giveaway Draw!

 

What’s in the box?

 
I am giving away a SURPRISE FRENCH BOX! It includes a dozen French and Paris-themed Items that I know you will love. I will reveal what is in the box once I announce the winner on Sunday October 20th.

Here’s How to Enter

This Free Giveaway Draw

All you need to do is find ONE NEW SUBSCRIBER to my BLOG.

Do you have a friend or family member that you know that might be interested in channeling their Inner Parisian,

while learning more about the City of Love and Light?

Contact that person to ask for their permission to be added to my Subscriber List. 

Then send me their email address* at diana@womanofacertainageinparis.com.  

*Their email address will not be shared with anyone else!

I will send your contact an email and also one to you to confirm their subscription.

Then you will BOTH be officially ENTERED into the DRAW.

Good Luck Ladies!

TERMS AND CONDITIONS:

Once the winner has been selected and received the French box in the mail, they will be asked for a Short Interview, and to take a Selfie or Photo with their new gifts. 

The content will be used to promote interest in my blog and may be posted on FB, Instagram and Twitter. I personally purchase my Giveaway products and do not derive any commission from them.

Check out blogs that you might have missed at www.womanofacertainageinparis.com

 

You can catch up on my other blogs at www.womanofacertainageinparis.com

 

12 Comments

  1. Twink on October 6, 2019 at 8:53 am

    Fascinating to read of a market named after the children who lived nearby. I like that.

    • Diana Bishop on October 7, 2019 at 11:59 am

      Me too — and I did not know about that until I looked it up on the internet! You can almost imagine the laughter of these little girls running through the market as they must have done back then.
      Thanks for the comment Twink. Diana

      • Luci Rizzo on October 11, 2019 at 9:39 pm

        Le Marais is such a vibrant place. The shopping trip sounds fantastic! One of these days i hope to go.

        • Diana Bishop on October 14, 2019 at 10:29 am

          It is so central this market and one usually stumbles upon it when you are out doing something else.

          It is also across the street from one of my favourite Bistros — Cafe Charlot. Always busy, but one
          can usually find a table. Worth a nice lunch if you are in the area. Diana

  2. Mary Lu on October 6, 2019 at 10:35 am

    Love this market but nobody was dancing first thing in the morning. This place makes you feel like a Parisian.

    • Diana Bishop on October 7, 2019 at 11:58 am

      It does doesn’t it? I love going there anytime but haven’t danced there since that night! Great to hear from you Mary Lu! Diana

  3. Timmithea on October 6, 2019 at 12:15 pm

    Bon Jour! When my husband and I were in St Germain several years ago we’d go get fresh croissants or a sandwich and head to the gardens to eat lunch or breakfast. I love shopping this way. It’s interactive and produces less waist. Trying to duplicate this in the states is difficult. The sense of community and interacting with people is appealing though! I appreciated this about Paris!–Timmithea

    • Diana Bishop on October 7, 2019 at 12:02 pm

      Yes, you are so right Timmithea — there is such a sense of community in Paris and in a market like to which the same
      people return to over and over again. Shopping this way makes so much sense and you just build it into your day.
      Great to hear from you! Diana

  4. Addie on October 9, 2019 at 1:02 am

    Nice Find!! I haven’t been around there yet, but now I feel inspired to go! thanks, Diana.

    Do the vendors speak English, for non-french speakers?

    • Diana Bishop on October 28, 2019 at 6:47 pm

      Hi Addie, hope you are doing well. I hope you have had a chance to visit the Marais market!

  5. Tamara Thompson on October 21, 2019 at 3:33 pm

    The history of this market is intriguing, what a beautiful way to celebrate the children that once lived there. I agree techno music is “la merde”. It sounds like a lovely way to spend the afternoon. I’ve been saving your blogs to read, so saving three blogs to read all at once is heavenly to me, what a great escape! Thank you, Diana!

    • Diana Bishop on October 26, 2019 at 2:00 pm

      It is a lovely to spend a day, an afternoon and an evening. Le Marais is alive at all times of
      day especially between May and November. One can enjoy it from a distance too!

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