Haute Curiosité is a wonderful concept by a charming young lady by the name of Charlotte. Charlotte, having the expertise and much experience in the field, runs guided tours in the Puces de Saint Ouen– a flea market in the north of Paris. Not only are these tours non-commercial, but you really feel the love that Charlotte has for vintage items, and it’s really contageous! Charlotte took us to three “sub” markets within the Puces de Saint Ouen and we loved each and every one of them.
Since living in Paris, I had somewhat hesitated at the idea of visiting the Puces. From the outside it looks so overwhelming and busy. In fact, the Puces de Saint-Ouen is the largest outdoor flea market in the world and attracts over 10 million visitors every year. The truth is that if you know how to get around and where to go, it’s like a pleasant stoll in the park.
There is so much to look at: old French vintage glasswear, crockery, clothing, magazing covers, and so much more. It’s the perfect treasure chest to find yourself a precious and memorable object that tells a story and catches your eye.
The puces have been a part of Paris for a long time with their charm attracting not only the tourists but the locals also. The earliest flea market in Saint-Ouen dates to 1884, when many vagabonds moved to the area, since it was less expensive than Paris and wasn’t regulated by taxes. As a result it’s part of history and today the heart of the Puces is still beating strongly.
The puces are perfect for the bargain hunter but also for those that wish to invest, or else simply the curious window-shopper. In addition to household items, you can find vintage cameras, furniture, architectural plans, drawings and prints.
If you are wondering what to do this weekend or the one after I highly reccomend taking a friend or your chéri(e) and heading over to the Puces de Saint Ouen. With Haute Curiosité you will learn about the items at hand the the history of the area which I found to be very enriching and fascinating. Read more about the Paris Flea Market and its other offerings.
