Discovering treasures in Paris is a wonderful experience. There are treasures wherever you look in this wonderfully romantic city. The Louvre is a treasure and the Eiffel Tower is one too, but if you are looking for a tangible treasure to take home with you then the flea markets and brocantes that are found in the city just beg to be explored for hidden treasures. One of my favourite places to go is the Marché de Serpette.
This wonderful covered market is filled with elegant boutiques which sell exquisite French antiques as well as romantic Art Deco furniture and splendid Art Nouveau masterpieces. Every time I go to this market I spend the entire day just wondering around admiring all the objects, the furniture, the tapestries and so much more that is on display here.
Luckily there is a very good restaurant right at the entrance of the market so lunch is a pleasure, especially if you are only looking for a quickish snack. I say ‘quickish’ because eating lunch in Paris is never a fast affair really and this is what makes it so delightful. The French do not hurry their food which is great.
Of course le Marché de Serpette is not the only antique/brocante market to visit when visiting Paris as there are many others including Paul Bert. But for me Serpette is such a pleasant experience that I do tend to focus on it much more than any of the others. I have found some real treasures here which have not broken the bank. One of these treasures was a beautiful bronze lamp which I have on my writing desk in my study.
You will find an array of things, objects, paintings, drawings as well as exquisite French porcelain and if you spend the time looking you are bound to find a bargain. I have spent many happy hours wandering around the market and having to do several trips back to the car with the goodies that I have found.
The way everything is presented in the boutiques within the market is simply so very stylish. Even the more brocante shops are treasure troves of everything that is so typically French in style. Staying in Paris and not visiting Serpette would be a travesty because the market is synonymous with the style of this beautiful romantic city.
If you are looking for a souvenir of your trip to Paris, then the Marché Serpette is the place you will find something to take home with you as a keepsake of the wonderful time spent here. I know that every time I go to Paris I bring something little gem back with me and the chances are I found it at Serpette. To date I have small tapestries, lamps, little paintings and a chair or two which I could not resist buying. And the best part about it all is that it is just so much fun to do.



