Summary
A well-connected northern suburb of Paris, Saint-Ouen is renowned for its flea market: The Marché aux Puces is extraordinarily vast, open on Saturdays, Sundays, and Mondays, featuring thousands of stalls and attracting over 100,000 shoppers each day.
In terms of transportation, Saint-Ouen is exceptionally convenient, positioned directly on the RER C and Line 13 of the Paris Métro. This significantly reduces travel time to major attractions such as the Eiffel Tower and the Musée d’Orsay. Additionally, Saint-Ouen is located just across the Périphérique from the 18th Arrondissement, where the Sacré-Cœur, Montmartre, rich culture, cafe terraces, and vibrant nightlife await visitors.
Let us examine the top attractions in Saint-Ouen:
1. Marché aux Puces
For those who relish bargain hunting, few shopping experiences can rival the Marché aux Puces in Saint-Ouen.
With more antique and furniture dealers (2,000 traders in total) than any other single market globally, its extensive offerings are unmatched.
The stalls cover a sprawling nine-hectare area, divided into 15 distinct markets, some fully covered akin to enclosed mini shopping malls, while others resemble street-like settings.
A diverse range of items is available at the Marché aux Puces: ceramics, books, lighting fixtures, furniture, house clearance items, and even imitation fashion pieces.
2. Cimetiere de Montmartre
Five minutes on the Paris Métro Line 13 from Garibaldi leads to the city’s third-largest cemetery.
Established in the 19th century, this cemetery was initially situated at the city’s northern boundary.
While visiting a cemetery may seem like an unusual way to spend a day, there is a cultural aspect to it as one can find the resting places of notable writers such as Émile Zola and painters like Edgar Degas.
This cemetery is also akin to a sculpture garden, adorned with mausoleums and tombs created by the finest artists of the 19th century.
3. Basilique Saint Denis
Only ten minutes from Garibaldi on Line 13, this church emanates French royal history.
Almost every French king from the 900s onwards is interred here, honored with exquisite tombs crafted between the 1100s and 1500s.
These remarkable Gothic and Renaissance sculptures could captivate you for hours.
Moreover, the architecture holds significant importance, as the remodel in the 1100s positioned it as arguably the first Gothic church in France.
As a royal site, the Revolution did not treat the basilica kindly, but it underwent restoration in the 1800s orchestrated by the master architect Viollet-le-Duc.
4. Stade de France
An iconic structure from a different era, the Stade de France is a revered venue for sports enthusiasts.
This majestic stadium hosts the home matches for the French national football and rugby teams, constructed for the World Cup in 1998. It was here that France claimed the trophy that year, with the tournament that united the nation commemorated in the stadium’s museum.
Architecture aficionados will find the technical aspects of the tour equally fascinating, particularly the six-hectare roof.
This 13,000-ton structure features specialized glass that filters out infrared radiation but permits blue and green light to nurture the grass.
5. Sacré-Cœur
The 18th Arrondissement lies just south of Saint-Ouen and harbors some of the city’s best-known landmarks.
None rival the fame of this Neo-Byzantine basilica, which majestically overlooks Paris from its perch on Butte Montmartre.
Although the ascent is required for a breathtaking panorama of the city, the basilica is invaluable: Not only for its late-19th century architecture but for the critical historical period it embodies.
It was erected near the site where the Paris Commune was suppressed in 1871 and was constructed as an act of penance in the wake of France’s defeat in the Franco-Prussian War.
6. Montmartre
In this elevated area, the wide and grand Haussmannian Avenues transition into a maze of narrower cobblestone streets and stairways that ascend the hill.
It is undeniable that Montmartre has undergone significant transformation since the days when renowned figures like Monet, van Gogh, Pissarro, and Toulouse-Lautrec practiced their arts here.
Nevertheless, a bohemian atmosphere still pervades the district, characterized by its low-rise apartment buildings, two windmills, artists’ studios, media companies, and lively nightlife.
If visitors are open to the popular tourist trail, the Place du Tertre has stalls offering art prints, while the Moulin de la Galette has been immortalized in works by Renoir, van Gogh, and various other artists.
7. Muséede Montmartre
Continuing with the artistic theme, the Musée de Montmartre comprises a pair of historic structures that once hosted many famous artists in the late 19th century.
Renoir was residing here when he created the renowned La Bal du Moulin de la Galette and La Balançoire, while later the Fauvists, including Raoul Dufy and Othon Friesz, lodged at the Maison du Bel Air.
The museum encapsulates this era with paintings, posters, and photographs by Steinlen, Utrillo, and Toulouse-Lautrec, with the gardens redesigned to reflect the beauty depicted in Renoir’s works, overlooking a vineyard that has existed since medieval times.
8. Espace Dalí
Further enhancing the artistic ambiance of Montmartre is the renowned Spanish surrealist Salvador Dalí.
Located just off the Place du Tertre, a small museum features 300 original works, representing the only permanent Dalí exhibition in France.
Many of these pieces are engravings and sculptures, including several that reinterpret iconic images from his most celebrated paintings, such as the clocks depicted in the Persistence of Memory brought to life in 3D. Dalí’s whimsical style makes it accessible for young audiences, with interactive displays and workshops for children available.
9. 17th Arrondissement
In stark contrast to Montmartre, the 17th Arrondissement is characterized by grandiose palatial apartment blocks from the 19th century lining broad avenues.
It is no surprise that this area is among the wealthiest in the city, with the high-income presence reflected in the gourmet street market, Marché des Batignolles.
Moreover, the 17th Arrondissement offers a respite from touristy interests, allowing visitors to experience Paris as locals do, indulging in upscale restaurants, browsing boutiques, and relaxing in the picturesque Parc Monceau, landscaped in the 1700s.
10. Grand Palais and Petit Palais
Forming part of the ensemble of monuments constructed for the 1900 Universal Exposition, the Grand and Petit Palais merit a visit for their ornate Beaux-Arts architecture and their respective offerings.
The Grand Palais encompasses a multitude of attractions and exhibition spaces, including the Palais de la Découverte science museum.
Chanel showcases its collections here during Paris Fashion Week, and it also hosts noteworthy temporary art exhibitions.
The Petit Palais serves as a singular art museum, featuring exhibits that date back to the Universal Exposition, showcasing works by French luminaries such as Fragonard, Poussin, Ingres, Delacroix, Courbet, Monet, and Sisley.
11. Musée Marmottan- Monet
By taking the RER C from Saint-Ouen to Avenue Herni Martin, you can reach the world’s premier Monet museum within 20 minutes.
Thanks to a substantial donation made by the artist’s son, this museum houses more works by Monet than any other institution worldwide.
This will greatly intrigue art aficionados, who can view Monet’s 1874 masterpiece Impression, Sunrise, widely recognized as the genesis of the Impressionist movement.
Many of Monet’s works were created in his garden at Giverny and are familiar to those well-versed in his oeuvre.
Additionally, the museum boasts impressive Impressionist collections by Sisley, Degas, Pissarro, and others, along with a fine assembly of medieval illuminated manuscripts.
12. Jardins du Trocadéro
Along the same line, the Jardins du Trocadéro and the Palais de Chaillot provide a timeless vista across the Seine towards the Eiffel Tower.
If one can overlook the throngs of tourists, it is a scene worthy of quiet contemplation as you gaze upon this globally recognized landmark.
However, before proceeding, a visit to one of the museums located in the Palais de Chaillot may capture your interest.
The west wing features a museum dedicated to the French navy and ethnology, while the east wing hosts the Cité de l’Architecture et du Patrimoine: An unforgettable tribute to French heritage and architecture, with a collection initially curated by the esteemed architect Eugène Viollet-le-Duc.
13. Eiffel Tower
There is little to state about the Eiffel Tower that has not been expressed countless times before.
This 324-meter wrought iron structure is an integral feature of the skyline, and Paris would not be the same without it.
The Eiffel Tower was the result of a collective endeavor by the Eiffel engineering company, spearheaded by Gustave Eiffel, utilizing designs formulated by Émile Nouguier and Maurice Koechlin.
It stood as the tallest building in the world until 1930, and the tallest in France from 1889 until it was finally surpassed in 2004 by the Millau Viaduct.
To avoid lengthy wait times, visit early and test your nerve on the glass floor section on the first floor.
14. Musée d’Orsay
In an inspiring transformation, the Beaux-Arts Gare d’Orsay was repurposed as an art museum in 1986. This lavish 19th-century environment is suitable for housing the finest collection of Impressionist art in the world.
The RER makes travel seamless from Saint-Ouen with no transfers required, allowing you to reach this marvel in under half an hour, where you can admire artworks by Degas, Monet, Gauguin, Signac, and many more.
For art enthusiasts, the emotionally evocative Renoir’s Bal du Moulin de la Galette (especially after exploring Montmartre) is a must-see. Additionally, one can observe van Gogh’s Starry Night over the Rhone and Portrait of Dr. Gachet, or Paul Cézanne’s iconic The Card Players.
15. Musée Rodin
This museum, housed in the former workshop of Auguste Rodin, showcases thousands of his most cherished creations.
Visitors can admire a myriad of sculptures, sketches, and photographs on display.
However, for those seeking a shortcut, four masterpieces you simply cannot miss include: The Thinker, The Kiss, Adam and Eve, and The Gates of Hell.
Additionally, the museum reveals that Rodin was an insightful collector, having acquired three van Gogh paintings, along with works by Renoir and Monet, all available for viewing at the museum.
