On Saturdays and Sundays, there is a marché dedicated to antique and used books (livres d’occasion) in the 15th arrondissement. It’s inside covered pavilions which was nice since I visited on a day with intermittent showers. It’s located on the site of a former slaughterhouse, thus the statue of a butcher toting a carcass.
There are almost a hundred vendors offering antique books, specialty out-of-print books, bandes-dessinées (comics and graphics), military history and table after table of 1 and 2€ paperbacks (poches). There are boxes of books you can buy by weight. The vendors sit at card tables drinking wine and eating baguettes and cheese, chatting with customers and each other. I found a delightful children’s book discussing the derivation of French words and French homonyms for 1€.
Right next to the marché is 22 acre Parc Georges Brassens, built over former vineyards and an abattoir. It’s a beautiful park with fountains, numerous amenities for children like a marionnette theater and climbing structures, a bandstand, rose garden, scent garden and a beehive. The marché and park are quite close to the Puce de Vanves and perfect for a day of walking in Paris.
Marché du Livre et d’Occasion
Second hand Book Market
104 rue Brancion
75015
Cynthia Tuttelman (aka "Tut") is a writer, family doctor and quilter who lives in Northern California and part-time each year in Paris, France. Follow along and explore the wonders of Paris.