The French Market is a market and series of commercial buildings in the French Quarter of New Orleans, Louisiana, USA.
It stretches just inland from the Mississippi River in the section of the French Quarter downriver from Jackson Square, with the famous Café du Monde at the upriver end, down to the flea market stalls across from the New Orleans Mint building.
While part of this space has been dedicated as a market since 1791 (earlier city markets were at different locations), the oldest structures in the market date to about 1813. Major renovations were done by the Works Progress Administration in the 1930s.
Rebuilding and renovations have continued into the 21st century. Much of the area formerly housing arcades of roofed but walless merchant stands now houses shops and restaurants separated by doors and walls, and catering to the tourism industry.
The flea market is especially busy on weekends. Free musical events are often given in the French Market. The New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park office and visitor's center is in the French Market.
The market is included on the Louisiana African American Heritage Trail.
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The French Market's Farmers Market & Flea Market stall
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A section of the French Market about 1940
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The French Market, 1910
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Cafe Du Monde
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Street performers
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Muffalettas from Central Grocery across from the French Market
Famous quotes containing the words french and/or market:
“The French Revolution gave birth to no artists but only to a great journalist, Desmoulins, and to an under-the-counter writer, Sade. The only poet of the times was the guillotine.”
—Albert Camus (1913–1960)
“When General Motors has to go to the bathroom ten times a day, the whole country’s ready to let go. You heard of that market crash in ‘29? I predicted that.... I was nursing a director of General Motors. Kidney ailment, they said; nerves, I said. Then I asked myself, “What’s General Motors got to be nervous about?” “Overproduction,” I says. “Collapse.””
—John Michael Hayes (b. 1919)