Markets & Events, Paris

There are more than 84 markets in Paris, with at least one in every quarter of the city. There are fruit and vegetable markets and markets for flowers, clothing, birds, stamps and books, as well as flea markets selling anything and everything.Open-air markets are usually from 7 a.m. to 1.30 p.m. on different days of the week, covered markets usually Tue.-Sat. 8 a.m. - 1 p.m. and 4-7.30 p.m., Sun. 8 a.m. - 1pm.Street markets (Rues commerçantes) in Paris include: Rue Montorgueil (first arr.), Rue Mouffetard (fifth arr.), Rue de Buci (sixth arr.), Rue Cler (seventh arr.), Rue du Poteau (13th arr.), Rue Legendre (17th arr.), Rue Lepic (18th arr.) and Boulevard de Belleville (20th arr.)Covered markets in Paris include: (Marché couverts) Marché d'Aligre, Place d'Aligre (12th arr.); Marché Daumesnil, Boulevard de Reuilly (12th arr.); Marché Batignolles, 96 rue Lemercier (17th arr.); Marché Château d'Eau, Rue Château-d'Eau (10th arr.); Marché Enfants Rouges, 39 rue de Bretagne (third arr.); Marché Saint-Quentin and Boulevard de Magenta (10th arr.)Flea markets (Marchés aux puces) in Paris include: Porte de Clignancourt, Marché aux Puces, Porte de Montreuil (20th arr.), open Sat., Sun. and Mon. 7 a.m. - 7.30 p.m. and Porte de Vanves (14th arr.), open Sat. and Sun. 7 a.m. - 7.30 p.m.Flowers markets in Paris include: (Marchés aux fleurs), Place Louis-Lépine (fourth arr.), open daily except Sun. 8 a.m. - 7 p.m., Place de la Madeleine (eighth arr.), open daily except Mon. 8 a.m. - 7 p.m. and Place des Ternes (17th arr.) open daily except Mon. 8 a.m. - 7 p.m.Avenue Gabriel and Avenue Marigny (eighth arr.), is a stamp market and it is open Thu., Sun. and pub. hols. 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.Carreau du Temple, 1 rue Dupetit-Thouars (third arr.), is a clothing market and it is open Tue.-Sun. 9am-noon, Mon. 9 a.m. - 7 p.m.Birds markets (Marchés aux oiseaux) includePlace Louis-Lépine (fourth arr.), open Sun. 8 a.m. - 7 p.m. and Quai de la Mégisserie (first arr.), open daily except Sun. 9 a.m. - 7 p.m.There are also many shops selling birds and animals on the banks of the Seine in this area.Marché Saint-Pierre, Place Saint-Pierre (18th arr.), is a Material market, and it is open daily except Sun. 9 a.m. - 7 p.m.Rungis is a new wholesale market on the outskirts of Paris and can be visited Mon.-Fri. noon - 3 p.m. Information: tel. 46 87 35 35Buses: 185, 285 (Porte d'Italie). Rail: from Gare d'Austerlitz

Booklovers will enjoy browsing along the quais, lined by the stalls botes, "boxes" of the bouquinistes who sell all manner of books old and new, prints, posters and so on. Some of them specialize - in the French classics, old engravings, books on Paris, art books, thrillers, posters advertising exhibitions, etc. Until the middle of the 19th century the bouquinistes usually took their botes home with them every evening, but now most of them open up around noon and lock up at dusk.

The French Open tennis championship is held in May at Stade Roland-Garros in Paris.

The Paris Musée du Rock contains the history of rock from the Beatles and the Rolling Stones to Madonna and Chuck Berry.

There are 17 auction rooms on three floors for antique auctions in Paris.

There are several circuses in Paris.

This famous horse race is held on Palm Sunday.

The Paris Spring Art Exhibition is held in March in Grand Palais.