This central-Paris flower market will astound and surprise
Paris is now starting to get a taste of that delicious warm weather, giving everyone the itch to get outside and take advantage of it! Nothing beats walking through the city streets, seeing what treasures might be stumbled upon. For example, the flower and bird market on Ile de la Cité.
As with most things in Paris, the history of the market dates back quite far – to the 1830s. Back then you didn’t have the amazing selection you do now, though. From regional flowers to exotic plants to trees and shrubs, they’ve got it all. You can also find seeds for flowers and vegetables if you’re green-thumbed, as well as garden decorations like statues, outdoor vases and plant holders, and more.
The market has both covered and non-covered areas, though the pavilions aren’t from the 1830s – they were installed in the early 1900s. Earlier this month, the market was renamed “Marché aux Fleurs Reine-Elizabeth-II,’ to commemorate the visit of the queen to Paris for the 70th anniversary of the storming of the Normandy beaches.
On Sundays in addition to all the flower and garden-related goods, it also turns into a bird market…. Which inexplicably also includes some rabbits and rodents in addition to the finches, parakeets, roosters, and other winged chirpers. Not that you’ll necessarily want to bring a bird back home on the plane with you, but it’s still a little corner of fascinating and unexpected Paris for you to experience.
You could spend a beautiful morning or afternoon exploring the flower market, then visiting Notre Dame, and then how about heading over to Ile St. Louis for some famous Berthillon ice cream afterwards? Just be sure to layer on that SPF… or be prepared to make a sunhat out of carnations from the market.
The market is located at Place Louis Lépine, right at the exit of metro Cité (line 4). It is open every day from 8am to 7pm.
