31.3.11

Marché d'Aligre



Best known as Marché d’Aligre, the name of the place where you can find it, the covered market building is however actually called Marché Beauvau, named after an abbess of the Saint-Antoine Abbey, once the owner of the ground. The building dates from 1843 and replaced a previous one from 1779. It’s probably the oldest Paris covered market building still in use for its original purpose.
 This is not a snobbish market place; it has rather the reputation of a place for decent prices and to offer a real old market feeling. It’s situated in an area which used to be very “popular”. The different revolutions often had their strongest support from these Saint-Antoine quarters, which integrated Paris only in 1860.








Today, markets are held all days of the week, except Mondays. Maybe the nice spring weathercontributed, but I had the impression that the market was much livelier outdoors on the large Place d’Aligre, in front of the covered market, and also in the adjacent streets, where you can find not only things to eat and drink, but all kinds of stuff, new or old. It’s like a flea market and with a great mix of cultures.








There are bells, one inside and one outside, originally there to open and close the market.
Addendum April 1:
“Anne” made a comment on this post: “And when the market was finished, the bell (la cloche in French) was rung and the poor, hungry people were allowed to take the left-overs so their name was "clochard" (tramp).” This sounds very plausible. I once read that the origin of the word "clochard" should rather be that beggars would be invited to assist in ringing the heavy church bells and got some compensation for this. Maybe both explanations are good?  


Marche d'Aligre

27 comments:

Virginia said...

Not too far from my flat last juin. I love the outdoor Paris markets of all kinds. I hope you found some nice treasures Peter!
V

Barbara L said...

I enjoy visiting your site to see all of the interesting places I will probably never get to. Almost like a mini trip! Thank you for sharing.

Thérèse said...

Le principal n'est pas d'y aller flaner...

Olivier said...

j'adore ce marché d'aligre, j'y allais souvent quand j'habitais ledru rollin.. Je trouve ce batiment tres beau

SusuPetal said...

Oh, I love such market places, especially flee markets. It's fun just to look, it's not important to buy.

Although, I usually buy something...

Alain said...

J'aimais bien y aller quand j'habitais à Picpus. C'est un des rares marché Parisien où l'on trouve encore des puces. Et puis il y a souvent des musiciens des rues ou même des fanfares pendant les week-end, sans parler de quelques cafés mythiques.

Thirtytwo degrees said...

Believe it or not, flea markets are more intimidating to me than big department stores, due to the excessive number of items that can be purchased, and the lack of organization. It takes hours just to go through one section adequately. But it is fun!

claude said...

J'aime bien ce genre de marchés et puis je vois qu'on y trouve de tout.
J'aime les marchés couverts.

Synne said...

Oh my, that looks like one giant and very varied market! Thanks for the tip!

Ola said...

It so so fantastic-what a choice of products!

Trotter said...

Hi Peter! Incredible places you find... This one I don't think I've evr crossed... ;)

I’ll be out next week, but Blogtrotter Two has something new for you... Enjoy and have a wonderful weekend and week ahead!!

Cezar and Léia said...

Hmmm I love this kind of "marché", I think I should by some wine and cheese! :)
Léia

Anonymous said...

Sometimes missing Paris hurts.

arabesque said...

i love bazaar and looking at things and what nots, maybe find something for keeps.
^0^

btw, did you buy something when you're there?

Studio at the Farm said...

That looks like so much fun!!! And, from an artist's point of view, SUCH a feast for the eyes!!

Starman said...

Looks like an place to easily spend a lot of euros.

Rakesh Vanamali said...

Wow! Thats a very interesting market place!

Anne said...

And when the market was finished,the bell(la cloche in French)was rung and the poor ,hungry people were allowed to take the left overs so their name was "clochard" ( tramps) Anne

Parisbreakfasts said...

Ahhhh...my favorite marche and I haven't been in sooo long!
Merci for the reminder!
Have you seen the Caillebotte exhibit of old Paris photos?
Carolg

Nathalie H.D. said...

Chouette ambiance de marché, tes photos donnent envie d'aller s'y promener.

Je ne connaissais pas cette explication du mot "clochard", c'est excellent et ça semble plausible en effet.

Est-ce que la partie "brocante-vide grenier" de ce marché est vraiment tous les jours sauf le lundi ?

joanna said...

Peter:

Wonderful, a bright blue sky and many things to see and buy, either story about the bell I am sure there is truth to both.

Have a nice enjoyable week end.

Joanny

lasiate said...

j'ai plaisir à retrouver chez toi ce marché que j'ai pas mal fréquenté

M said...

Lovely post, Peter. I would like to visit this market -- maybe Genie and I will get to do this in a few days. Looking forward to seeing you again. Marie

Simony said...

Great place to be when the weather is nice. Walk, look and find treasures... A perfect day alone.

sonia a. mascaro said...

I would love to be there, Peter!
I always learn so much about Paris when I visit you.
Thanks!

Bettina said...

Great photos showing the market spirit.
I knew about this but I have never made it there yet, but now it's on my next time list.

Vagabonde said...

The last time I went to the Marché d’Aligre was when I visited my mother in the nursing home and had to take an hotel room in Paris. It was so frustrating to see all the good cheeses and other food and I could not bring them back to the hotel really, but this time it will be different…