Vanves Flea Market

Vanves flea market is the alternative flea market to Puce de St. Ouen/Clingancourt. I went last Sunday and what I like about Vanves is the small scale and easy accessibility compared to Pte. St Ouen. Although the Puce de St. Ouen/Clingancourt is still one of the best in the world, it can be daunting and overwhelming if you don’t know your way around. I have had many tour clients who went on their own, who came back daze and confused, wishing they had hired me to show them where to go.

Vanves is pretty straightforward and easy to navigate. It’s two long blocks with open stands with everything from buttons & bows to Elvis concert posters. I collect decorative balls and was pleased when I found pretty metal & mother of pearl ball for only 7 euros (It was marked 8 but I fairly bargained down to 7). One stand that I got a kick out of, had rows of eerie headless, naked doll torsos symmetrically lined up all around it, looking more like an art installation than a flea market stand. The stands were eclectic in their selection and there didn’t seem to be any particular sections with one type of merchandise. There was mostly bric-a-brac, jewelry and small items, with only a few furniture stalls. Things seemed fairly priced and the vendors were open to bargaining. In terms of practicality of price and size of things/cash & carry, I think Vanves may be is a wiser choice, than Clingancourt.

Another plus about Vanves is the excellent, fresh food market nearby on the Blvd. de Brune with a good selection of fresh produce, rotisserie chickens, mouth watering fish, appetizing prepared foods, and ripe, smelly cheeses.



Valley of the Dolls

Vanves market will now be one of my Eye Prefer Paris Tours, so if you want to hunt down some good flea market bargains and eat your way through the food market on a Sunday with me, I would be very happy to lead the way.

Vanves Flea Market
Ave. Georges-Lafenestre & Ave. Marc-Sangier
Saturday & Sunday 7AM-2PM

Brune Market
Ave. Georges Lafenestre and rue Général Séré de Rivières Thursday, 7AM to 2.30PM & Sunday, 7AM to 3PM

Metro : Porte de Vanves, line13

Note: Thanks to the two readers who informed me that the left eye on the statue of Luis Vaz de Cameons is not winking. He lost his left eye in a battle.

My seven euro bargain

I am pleased as punch to announce the launch of Eye Prefer Paris Tours, which are 3-hour walking tours I will personally be leading. The Eye Prefer Paris Tour
includes many of the places I have written about such as small museums & galleries, restaurants, cafes & food markets, secret addresses, fashion & home boutiques, parks, and much more.

I look forward to meeting you on my tours and it will be my pleasure and delight to show you my insiders Paris.

Check it out at www.eyepreferparistours.com

Comments

[Barbara]

.My absolute favorite. However, next time you go, go on Saturday, it is MUCH better on Saturdays than Sunday....way better. And when you negotiate at this one, you need to give them your price early, say around 11;00, walk away, then walk back by the stand around 12:30 and, wow, they attack you there. They practically beg you to buy it at your price and then you hit them up with just a tiny, bit lower. Works every time. Or as our dear friend Rik says, " Okay, then pack it back up and schlepp it home again, see ya next week." I have gotten so many good things here for great prices, but Saturday is the day to go, Sundays seems to be much schlockier and not nearly as much merchandise or vendors. Art work is way better on Saturday. Well, that's my shopper input.

[Felicia D.]

I just came across your blog and had to comment on the Vanves market. I went on an antiques shopping tour in December and the guide took us to Vanves first thing. He also found some day markets which only happened on the days we were there. The last thing was the Clignancourt flea markets because he said the other markets were easier to buy. When we got to the puces at st. oeuen we started at the last street behind Paul Bert. I love the temporary sellers who don't know that they have good stuff. I liked the balls you bought! The French have Potanque balls which are like Bocci in Italy. I found some 19th century absinthe spoons at Vanves. They are rare and valuable here in the USA ($75+), but I found a guy on the end of the sidewalk with 5 for 5 Euros!!
Check out the website for the trip which I took. www.EuropeAntiqueTrip.com
I will keep your URL so that I can see if you are in Paris sometime when I am. Happy hunting. Felicia

[Lily]

Love the photo of the hands on the typewriter. What a great find!