Boisterous is the perfect word to describe the character of the Marche Bastille.

On the Boulevard Richard Lenoir from Rue Amelot to Rue Saint-Sabin, market stalls occupy four long city streets.

Clothing and jewelry stalls are big draws along with a great abundance of foods of all kinds.

Marche Bastille
11th Arrondisement
Metro: Bastille
Thursday 7am-2:30pm, Sunday 7am-3pm

The streets of Paris are indeed a moveable feast. To feel the pulse of the city, peruse the outdoor markets. Some are permanent rues commercantes (commercial streets) with a mix of stalls, cafes and shops selling specialty foods, and others are marches volantes (roving markets), set up on particular days only. Parisians shop daily for fresh bread, produce and the ingredients for meals cooked at home.

Each neighborhood, called an arrondisement, offers a great market experience. You don’t have to be a foodie, to find interest here. It’s a critical component of everyday life, the selection and purchase of the perfect provisions. Vendors take great pains to display their goods artistically and business is conducted with very specific protocol. Just watch how the business of marketing is conducted and follow suit.

Of course, if you have access to a stovetop and oven wherever you are staying, these market day adventures may yield some astonishing results. The simple preparation of best-available ingredients, can be addictive.