Thursday, December 13, 2012
Mark and Gaz
Marché aux Fleurs, Île de la Cité, Paris...
Ha! Finally I know the proper name of this quaint collection of plant and flower stalls right in the centre of Paris. We have visited so many times before, and definitely worth popping in to whenever you find yourself ambling around the oldest, and most picturesque part of Paris, and yet it's only now that I finally know (or rather looked up) its proper name.
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| Cyclamens in bloom and on display at the Flower Market in central Paris |
Funny enough, just before we went a friend kept telling us that we must visit the 'flower market' (without actually remembering where it was exactly) as it looks extra pretty at this time of the year, with Christmas coming and all. But I kept thinking to myself, flower market? There could be a million and one flower markets in this pretty city but with a little research this turned out to be 'the' flower market she was talking about.
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| If you're taking the Paris Metro alight at Cité station |
So it was nice to re-visit this old haunt of ours, where we have bought a garden bell on one of our previous visits. But we've never been there on a winter's day before, and not before Christmas so we were excited to see what this market would look like during the festive season.
And it did not disappoint, they have started to sell Christmas trees and other festive decorations which added to its already wonderful atmosphere. But curious enough, amidst all of the Christmas decor, fake snow, red berries, and seasonal flowers there were a few exotic plants to be found. Nothing unusual but nice to spot here and there nevertheless!
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| Yes, Christmas has already invaded this flower market |
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| Winter wonderland twigs? |
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| Then I spotted these festive wreaths too, lovely! I was almost tempted to buy one... |
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| For a shot of colour in your home and/or garden... |
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| Knick knacks galore! |
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| Meow! |
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| Not exactly tropical looking but I do like this Abies conifers |
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| And curiously enough they had some succulents for sale as well, like the Agaves on the trolley behind and these Euphorbias |
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| 20% off all succulents, smart move... |
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| Aspleniums here and there... |
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| Chamaerops humilis, Butia capitata, and Magnolia grandiflora at the back |
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| More succulents... |
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| A unique way of displaying small Yucca rostratas |
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| And just a few minutes away from the market is the romantic River Seine |
This Marché aux Fleurs is in the same area as Notre Dame Cathedral and if ever you visit this famous tourist attraction take a few minutes to check out this place as well. In fact the whole area is very charming, Paris as most imagine it to be (and as portrayed in the movies) and worth exploring on foot. It may not be the biggest and most exciting flower market in Europe but it all adds to the charm of this city.
Mark :-)
This gardening blog follows our journey as we create our Tropical and Exotic themed garden. We hope you'll enjoy the journey as much as we do. We started our Exotic Garden in 2005 and this site will show its development, as well as our travels, both abroad and within the UK to gardens, nurseries and friends.
What a fabulous place to visit. I'd be wanting to buy too much. I am crazy about all those cats. They are wonderful and the cactus are also. We have nothing like that here.
ReplyDeleteCher Sunray Gardens
Hi Cher, it is a fabulous little place indeed. Those cats were a bit price-y, otherwise I would have bought one myself :)
DeleteWhen I lived in Paris I loved visiting the Marché aux Fleurs. I would go there on grey days, just to get that shot of brightness that only flowers can bring! (And there used to be quite a few exotic birds there, as well, but they seem to have all but disappeared now.)
ReplyDeleteI'd never visit Paris without stopping by this place. I can drop the Louvre and Notre Dame, but not the flower market. (When I lived there, a friend of mine lived on the Left Bank, so I'd walk through the Marché aux Fleurs at 3am on my way home from her place... Terribly romantic, were it not for the fact that I always walked alone, but hey; you can't have it all.)
Hi Soren, it is such a romantic area of Paris and always enjoy ambling around there. The other thing that adds to the appeal of this flower market is that it is actually used by local Parisians to buy their flowers and plants, and not just catering for tourists. This place is always worth a visit whilst in the area :)
DeleteYou're so lucky to be able to go Paris on a moment's notice! How large is the Marché aux Fleurs? It looks like they have a huge variety of plants and decorative items.
ReplyDeleteHi Gerhard, indeed we're lucky it's not that difficult for us to get to, only taking us just over three hours door to door, from the nearest Paris metro station where our hotel was to the local train station near where we live (which is just 5 mins walk) :) The place is not that big, but charming enough to spend an hour or so (maybe less).
DeleteParis is endlessly fascinating. Fun tour because the shop focuses on local trade and is so Parisian.
ReplyDeleteI love that they have so many cacti and succulents for sale there. The nasella was a surprise because it's a common native here.
Hi Shirley, funny isn't it when you find a plant native to where you live being sold somewhere else as an exotic ornamental plant? :) Paris is such a photogenic city, if you're into photography you won't run out of subjects to take photos of!
DeleteYes - its a wonderful little market and reminds me of the so called 'floating flower market' (which isn't!) alongside one of the canals in Amsterdam - amazing the things they stock but frustrating one can't (easily) bring plants home.
ReplyDeleteIt is indeed Ian, and thanks for reminding me of Amsterdam too, another charming city! :)
DeleteMark, I really enjoyed to tour of the flower market in Paris with you guys! The atmosphere seems to be so romantic and what could beat a flower market, which is located in the middle of Paris anyway? You made me wonder if San Diego has a flower market, too. It is embarrassing but I have to admit I don't even know. I guess, I will ask Google and see if I can find out...
ReplyDeleteChristina
Hi Christina, well worth finding out soon then :) Flower markets are great for getting a shot of colour even on the dullest of days. Glad you enjoyed the tour!
DeleteFabulous! I think I am going to be subconsciously obsessing about those suspended Yucca rostrata for awhile. There is an idea in there somewhere, I just need to work it out...thanks for the inspiring post!
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome Loree! As for those Yuccas displayed like that, yes there an idea to be had there. Vertical gardening with some small Yuccas, why not? Let the idea brew and I'm looking forward to seeing what you may come up with :) Saying that, I think it's inspiring us as well...
DeleteWhat a fabulous place! I'm afraid I would never want to leave! There are no flower markets here, and to be able to go to one as beautiful as that must be an incredible experience. Thanks so much for showing us this spot of beauty.
ReplyDeleteIt is a fab place Holley :) Hopefully you'll get the chance to visit it soon!
DeleteWhat a beautiful flower market! Looks like you had a fun trip to Paris. The cats are adorable but how did you resist buying one of those gorgeous wreaths? YUM!
ReplyDeleteIt was a fun trip indeed outlawgardener :) And it was easy enough to resist buying those wreaths, it was too pricy! lol!
DeleteHi There,
ReplyDeleteHow all you have been? I have been away from the blog world for a long time, and the reason you can find it in my blog. Ah! it's nice to see Londoners (or at least people who live nearby) praising Paris ;-). I also love the wreath. I have the same pots and the stool, but why can't I simply create my garden the way it looks in the first picture???
Merry Christmas (if you celebrate it),
KL
Hi KL, London is still much nicer, although we do love Paris ;-) Merry Christmas to you too!
DeleteOh what a place to visit with a camera.........and a wallet full of euros! I couldn't have passed those wreaths by at all - I would have to have had one of those on my front door!
ReplyDeleteIndeed Rosie, such a photogenic place :-) I wish I bought one of those wreaths now....
DeleteWhat a glorious place, hard to tear yourself away from I imagine.
ReplyDeleteHi Janet, more charming than glorious me thinks :) It is a nice complement to the overall charm of the entire area
DeleteWhat a great place to wander round - the French seem to have so much style and elegance which extends to all things flowery and Christmasy too. I've only visited Paris in the spring many moons ago but have visited Lille and Strasbourg at this time of year and have loved the way the shops and streets are decorated for the festive season. Thank you for your identification of my friend's oleander on my recent worisit post - you are stars :)
ReplyDeleteThank you Anna and a pleasure :) Amazing how two countries and cities so close to each other, only separated by a channel is distinctive in style from one another. Paris and Parisians certainly have that certain something...
DeleteOne very unusual in Europe, very visible in your photos are the skies, almost always gray like that! It was May when we were in Strasbourg and i seldom see the sun. In your flower market, what i love most are the very tall succulents and the very colorful pail pots. I guess it will be the one i would have bought, if i were you! And the Asplenium nidus are doing well too, in fact looking better than the one i have at home!
ReplyDeleteHi Andrea, it's a lovely flower market and I quite like all those coloured tin pots as well. The market, being central and under cover makes it fairly sheltered, good for some of the plants still on display like the succulents, asplenium, etc :)
DeleteLovely goodies on offer, I love the coloured pots. Vertical gardening has a lot to recommend it, especially as my pup has already started nibbling the leaves which are in his reach!
ReplyDeleteIndeed Martin! If you can get some plants quite high up then they will be safe from your new pet, and the garden looks nice too :)
DeleteSo beautiful ... I love this place! Thank you so much for blogging about it. It's definitely going into my 'Paris-some-day!' list.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you like it Sunita, definitely worth visiting when you go to Paris :)
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