Paris Flea Market - Porte de Vanves

I visited the market in Paris that is just down south a bit. It's a lovely Market.  I decided to skip the large one (St. Ouen ) since it's SOOOO overpriced.  The prices here were pretty good! It's hard to buy stuff and take the metro unless you are prepared. You have to carry everything. =) But if you drive it's easy. I personally do not care for driving in Paris. It was February when I went, and cold. Dress warm! 

click here for more info: Marché aux Puces de la Porte de Vanves

Address: Avenue Georges Lafenestre and Avenue Marc Sangnier, 14th arrondissement 
Metro: Porte de Vanves (Line 13)
Tel: +33 (0) 6 88 64 82 77
Hours: Open: Every weekend all year long, 7am to 2pm. Entry is free.

                                                   There was a little bit of everything!

A friend of mine bought some Coco Channel Buttons, and some trinkets. I purchased some linen. Another friend purchased some vintage luggage.

It's always entertaining to visit these markets! Everyone has such a great time. Vendors spend the morning chatting, or playing cards with each other.

                                             Worth the visit if you are in Paris!

Metz Flea Market

 

                                    Metz Flea Market --Held once or twice a month.

I haven't been to this market in about 5 years. When I had gone there was a 3 euro fee to get in, and it was VERY expensive.  Last month I went with a few friends, and was surprised to find that it was pretty reasonable.  Maybe it was just because it was in the winter?
Located 1 hour and 30 min from the Kaiserslautern area--it was worth the visit. I will certainly be back on occasion. It's not my favorite market, but it's indoors and makes for a fun outing with friends while getting your  "flea" fix in the winter months! Metz hosts the second largest flea market in France.

I took all these pictures with my iPhone. But you can get the idea! The halls were half empty this time.In the summer when I had attended before it was full of vendors ---My friend went again a few weeks later and saw more vendors. The food stalls were not out- so bring a snack in the winter months.  If you love the industrial look- they have great pieces here!

When I read about flea markets online I always want to know how much items in the photo are, as to get a good feel for what to expect , and cash to bring. Hardly anyone tells you what prices vendors are asking. So, I am going to share with you the prices on a few things I saw!


In the photo below: Gothic Deacon's bench was only 135 Euros! Excellent condition.
French Christmas song books - 10-40 euros depending on the condition. They were beautiful.
Newspaper printing stamps (1st photo above) 10 euros each 14 -`16 inches tall.

                                                                   Scooter - 400 euro

Dinner Menu- from Paris 1900's - 20 euros. Excellent condition

Door knobs- 10-15 euros

wooden baskets 20-30 euros each

                    Demijohns- these were 15 Liter Amber Bottles (hard to find) 20 euros each.

Almost every time I am at a market there is a vendor advertising another market! Grab those flyers or snap a photo of it with your phone, and check them out! I find some of the best little market's that way! 

Running out of cash? It's okay! There is an ATM on site. Taking the whole family? It's stroller friendly, great parking, and bathrooms.

Have a great time! 

Arlon Flea Market

Located in the southern region of Belgium, just across the border from Luxembourg is a small town Arlon...
From The K-town area it's only 2 hours. There is also a ton of great shopping on the road into this town from Luxembourg...

Here you will find a quaint market held the 1st Sunday of each month from March till November. 

Being held only on Sunday's that means there aren't any shops open.. 

The village is just adorable. The people were very friendly, and everyone spoke French.... There were many vendors from all over, even some German vendors. I think this is a GREAT market to visit in the summer as well.. When I arrived, it was 8am... vendors were still setting up... by 10:30 it was packed with shoppers. Everyone dressed in their Sunday best!

The Market is situated in the city center, down one little street after another. You can kind of get lost, if you aren't paying attention and doing to many turns.... So pick a landmark and make sure you visit all the streets. I would say that this time of year ( October) there it took me 1.5 hours to tour the entire market, at a rather quick pace and doing 2 walk throughs... It was pouring rain that weekend, and the rain let up that morning, but I wonder if that kept some vendors from coming?

This market did not sell junk, it was all unique, vintage, or antique... not your everyday household items....
Hardly any furniture... very small pieces if there were any ( chairs, end tables etc)...

To give you an idea on prices: I thought they were very good! Some things were priced high, but that's everywhere you go... This school desk, was in top condition - seated 2... it was $140 euros...

                                                           These were between 20 and 40 euros

                        This vendor here, had great prices! but any furniture was a bit on the high end... for example the small piece dead in the cener was $100 euros... the vanity on the right was $140 euros...

There was one antique shop right on the market platz. It was open during the market. This shop had alot of junk... it was not very organized, but there were some neat things in there. The only problem ( to me) was nothing was hardly priced... and no one was around, but shoppers... So I can' t tell you what most prices were on here, but definitely worth a visit! 

Here are some photos inside the shop: 

                                                                              Notable trunk- no tag...

                                                       I thought this was adorable... but no tag! =(

                                                                 This was 30 euros...

Back to the Market......................


                                        Look closely in the pictures below... what do you see?

These are awesome science specimens! See the snake in the jar? the star fish? The coral? The Clam?
                                     These were aprox 20-75 euros each... they were very very old.

This guy, had hardly anything left, by the time I got to him, this is what you see, and pretty much all he had left, He had a large van, but I have no idea what else he could have sold so fast? =)

                                               wooden rolling pins, all sizes aprox 7 euros, lots of funky wooden things.

                                    It was such a blessing the Sun came out that morning!

Also in the City center is an Oxfam store. This is a Salvation army type chain all over... They were not open, but they did set up a booth outside their shop... They also had alot of clothing for sale inside...

The Bakery's were open, and there was one or two other food vendors... lots of young kids selling Apple juice in bottles etc.... very quaint.



                               Take some time after the market to visit some of the beautiful buildings...

Thanks for visiting! I hope you have a chance to visit this market someday! 

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What markets have you been to?..

Fellow Market Junkies!


I blog to share markets, stores, and special events that I know my friends would love! I started this blog for them. Mainly so I wouldn't have to keep sharing the same info as I make new friends (which happens a lot in the military).  I have since had many local's join the blog for all the fun! I make nothing, as you can see there aren't any advertisements, or promotions, or even give-away's, 44,000 distinct hits and my Facebook follower list is well up to 400 now... That's a lot of  Market Junkie fans!

 I get several emails a month asking about new markets, the obvious markets (Homburg, Metz, Tongeren) or people that don't want to take the time to view the blog I have created to find their own information. I am pretty sure I am the only out there with this much information on Markets and second hand shops all in one spot for the Kaiserslautern community.  =)

With that said, I would love it if you would take some time to post a photo on facebook and share what markets you have been to, what markets on my list you have visited, and your thoughts on them. Even post something you purchased at a market!  Things can change. Markets can change their styles, the types of vendors etc. These days snapping a photo is so easy with phones etc... I would really appreciate hearing where you have been. This not only helps me keep up with awesome new places to share, but it helps the whole local community!  I am only one person, I certainly can't travel ALL the markets in Europe =)...

Please take a moment and leave a comment or a photo post! Click on the facebook link on top!

Thank you so much!

The Market Junkie!

Homburg- Antik Store

How many of you have stumbled upon an antique/brocante shop when out and about?

Every once in a while, on our way to somewhere else we zip past a small sign in a window, or along the walkway with an arrow pointing in a direction, sometimes it's just a sign that says xx meters away, and we have to hunt for it. But nevertheless we come across them from time to time.
I love finding these special little shops.

Here is a little shop I stumbled on while at the Homburg flea market a few months ago....

I parked along the road one over from the Aldi parking lot... it's one of the shops that's got more junk than treasures, but you never know what you might find! The man was VERY friendly, and only spoke German. Things were not priced, but he was fair, and  willing to round the price down at the end.

I bought 4 little cups, it was the only thing I could find and I wanted to buy something because he was so nice. =) Coming from the market, it's on the right hand side!

Click on the picture to view up close.

Have you found any shops worth mentioning?


Here are some pictures taken at the Homburg Flea Market in case you haven't been and you are thinking of hitting it!

Americans love this market, and to me the market $$ reflects it. Some months are great for shopping, others are not. I have been a handful of times the past few years. I have been when it's total junk. Other times I have been everything was so overpriced I vowed never to return! The last time I bought lots of fun treasures! So it's a hit and miss! Find your favorite vendors and hit them first when you arrive.

Till Next Time!