Top French Cities For Shopping

Dijon

Dijon is the capital of Burgundy and is well known for its spicy wine based mustard. Each year Dijon hosts the International Gastronomy Fair with over 500 participants and approximately 200,000 visitors. Then every 3 years, Florissimo, the International Flower Show takes place in the city.

Shops are plentiful and there is a big market containing an indoor food hall, and the many food stalls have a fine selection of cheese, wine and spice. You will also find some clothes stalls on the streets. The main shopping street is Rue de libertie - look out for a piece of history here, as there is a mustard shop dating back to the 1820's. The street is also home to fashion shops. Other shopping streets include: Rue Berbisey, and if you fancy picking up some antiques, Rue de la Choutte.

Lyon

The World Heritage Site of Lyon is France's third largest city and just a bit of a shoppers paradise!

Le Carré D'Or, an area, which you will find between Place Bellacour and Cordeliers, has over 70 designer labels and brand name stores. Moving on to Rue Edouard Herriot and you are most definitely in the lap of luxury with top names like Dior, Louis Vuitton, Escada and Cartier.

Looking for that piece of fine art? Then you must pay a visit to the Auguste Comte quarter, where you will also find approximately 100 stores selling antiques, home furnishings and Art. Then again you may wish to be at the cutting edge of fashion! So it's off to Croix Rousse where the city's promising new designers have their workshops and boutiques.

Marseille

Most visitors to Marseille start their shopping expedition at Vieux Port. You will come across independent shops and boutiques and you can also expect to find santons (tiny carved wooden Provencal figurines).

The Rue Paradis and Rue Saint Ferréol are the main shopping streets in Marseille. These streets are situated behind the Vieux Port and are home to Marseille's largest department store, Galeries Lafayette. Souvenir shops stocked with locally produced crafts are plentiful here also.

The Centre Bourse is a shopping centre of grand proportions and features some 60 shops and 2 supermarkets. Centre Bourse can be found behind the Vieux Port as well. Marseille has a few open-air markets going on during the week, where you can buy anything from fresh local produce to second hand goods

Nice

If its small independent shops you are after, then you must have a look at Vieux Nice. Vieux Nice is home to a plentiful supply of regional goods and clothes, handmade crafts and giftware. For the main High Street shops, department stores and shopping centres, it's on to the Avenue Jean Médecin. Nouvelle Galleries and Nice Etoile can be found on this street.

Rue de France is Nice's pedestrianized shopping street. You will have an opportunity to visit exclusive clothing boutiques here, and if all that shopping is a bit much there are plenty of cafés and restaurants for temporary respite. Would you like to go a bit further than the main shopping thoroughfare? West of Nice-Côte d'Azur airport is the large shopping complex, Cap 3000.

Paris

Paris, La Ville Lumière (the City of Light), and one of the four main fashion capitals of the world has so much to offer in the way of shopping. Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré and Avenue Montaigne are the places to go for Haute Couture shops.

If bags, shoes, and leather goods are your passion, then its off to Rue du Cherche-Midi and Rue de Grenelle to get a little of what you fancy. Two of the most famous department stores in the city are Printemps and Galeries Lafayette. These stores stock brand name, designer and private label goods.

Of course it goes without saying a must visit has to be the Paris Flea Markets. Paris has 3 main flea markets, Saint Ouen Flea Market, Porte de Vanves and Porte de Montreuil. Be amused by the merry banter here and of course look out for unexpected bargains. Speciality stores are a feature in Paris. Take note of bakeries, butchers and cheese shops, where the best of fresh produce is available.

Toulouse

Toulouse's main shopping thoroughfare is the Place du Capitale and the Rue Saint Rome. These are the places for department stores and high street shops. If its trendy boutiques you are after, you will find these on the Rue de la Pomme.

Markets are also a feature in Toulouse, where you can buy everything from fresh organic produce to bric-a-brac and second hand books. Antique enthusiasts will no doubt be in heaven in the Rue Croix Baragnon and the Rue des Arts area, as this is Toulouse's antique quarter.