Off to Paris next Monday for a week. 3 previous trips in the last 2 years.
Looking to visit some nice markets selling cheese, meat, oils, bread.
Thinking about either Marche Monge or Saxe-Breteuil or perhaps Marche Anvers.
-would appreciate the opions of people who've been there.
Also, to appreciate the city a little better, I wanted to get a book on Parisian history - puts things in a much better context.
The two I've heard about are Seven Ages of Paris: Portrait of a City by Alistair Horne and Paris: The Secret History by Andrew Hussey.
Haven't been able to get to a bookshop to have a look. Opinions?
thanks
mr_rush
1
jakthong
I suppose you've already been to rue Montorgueil (metro Etienne Marcel- line4) and rue cler (metro Ecole Militaire- ligne 8).
I think I only know another one near my friend's place at Place Maubert (metro Maubert Mutualite - ligne 10)- there market is there every Saturday morning but eventhough there is no market there are always the specialist shops around the square.
Good Luck!
2
bjd
Alaistair Horne's book "Friend or Foe" about the relationship between England and France is very Parisian-oriented. Almost nothing about the rest of the country but lots of interesting tid-bits about Paris. I haven't read the others you mention.
3
georgia
Have a look at the rue Daguerre, in the 14th , just off place Denfert Rochereau, any day except Monday. It's a really nice, villagey atmosphere. The Moisan organic bakery just before rue Daguerre - on avenue Leclerc - is wonderful.
On Saturdays the market at Edgar Quinet is nice, (Metro Edgar Quinet)by Montparnasse, and on Sundays the organic market in boulevard Raspail (Metro Raspail) is excellent.
4
betsy2
The marche Bastille (or Richard Lenoir) is excellent. Get off at the Bastille metro stop and it is right there....7AM-2PM Tuesday and 7:30AM-2PM Sunday.
I found Around and About Paris, by Thirza Vallois to be superb historically. It comes in 3 paperback volumes...Vol. 1: arrondissements 1-7, Vol. 2: 8-12, Vol. 3: 13-20. They are light to carry with you....great detail.
Fragile Glory, by Richard Bernstein is another good read. Although it deals with France as a whole, it does have a specific Paris chapter.
If you love food a marvellous classic is The Food of France by Waverly Root.
Enjoy!
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