Marché Saint-Germain: A Parisian Food Market

The Marché Alimentaire Saint-Germain is an indoor market on the ground floor of a building. Go through the automatic doors and the market opens up before you.

Right inside the entrance is Fromagerie Sanders, a well-known, family-run cheese shop with a warm atmosphere. It stocks aged Comté, a great match for Jura wines, and a range of sheep's-milk cheeses from the Pyrenees. The team serves customers with real passion and knowledge, and carries cheeses from all over France. The shop is especially known for Saint-Marcellin and Saint-Félicien from Mère Richard, a legendary producer in the Lyon area.

Facing Fromagerie Sanders, take the aisle to the left to reach Poissonnerie Viot. If you're after fresh seafood in Paris, this high-end fishmonger is a must, and it's one of the most popular stalls in the market. You can buy fresh oysters, scallops, salmon, sea bream and shrimp, or eat them on the spot, which gives you a feel for how the French enjoy seafood.

This is a market for local food, built on the site of what was once an important medieval fairground. It's a covered market rather than an open-air one, and a favorite of food lovers where Parisians come to buy fresh ingredients. You'll often spot elegantly dressed older couples shopping, and the high-end boutiques nearby add to the upscale feel. Traditional market charm and a modern atmosphere sit side by side. With fresh vegetables, fruit, meat, seafood, cheese, bread and wine on offer, it's a great way to experience Parisian food culture firsthand.

Once you've had a good look around, we'll head to our next stop, the church.