I will be going to Paris for a short business trip.?

Question

Does anyone know what I can buy there as uniquely French and good values?

Answer 1

i bought a beret when i was there.

Answer 2

"Foie Gras" is really good. If you buy some, take a bottle of a special wine you drink with it : "Sauternes". It's a yellow sugared wine very tasty.

Anyway, it's great to walk in the streets of Paris, especially in the center, and do not hesitate to enter the shops. It's not important to find something really typicall like a Beret (only man over 70 years old wear it), it's important to buy something you like and you can't find in your country.

Apparently you don't have a lot of time, so if you want to buy something uniquely French, you will buy something for tourists like small Tour Eiffel... these things are bought only by tourists!

Answer 3

Eiffel Tower keychains, definitely. You can get one for everyone.

Answer 4

Something in Notre Dame,they sell a ot of things....i mean in the cathedral or you can go to the famous Maxim's or Fauchon,you can buy there some biscuits or chocolats .

Answer 5

Some Sevres porcelain might be nice. Its created at the  Manufacture nationale de Sèvres in the outskirts of Paris.

http://manufacturedesevres.culture.gouv....

EDIT:  (Mainly in response to your additional information)

1) Most of the souvenirs on sale in France are probably made in China so forget the Eiffel tower key chains.

2) Some of the most famous bread in Paris is made by the Boulangerie Poilâne. Oddly enough, their secret is that they are making San Francisco sourdough bread.

3) To get good (often great) prices on designer items head for the French version of an outlet mall called La Vallee Village (3, cours de la Garonne Paris 77700) where over 75 leading ready-to-wear, table ware and luxury labels offer their previous season's collections (minimum of 33% reduction (off original recommended price) and up to 60%).

Its actually outside Paris but easy to get to. by the RER commuter train to the Val d'Europe station.

Three times a week (Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays), there is a Cityrama shuttle service that goes there. Departure from the Cityrama agency, place des Pyramides, at 10:15 am and return to Paris at approximately 5:00pm.

The fare is 15€ round trip. Reservations are required by 5:00pm the day before departure, at your hotel desk or Cityrama agency.

Answer 6

"Foie Grass"

Answer 7

they have a whole bunch of vendors on the streets and by the arc de' triumph a whole little shopping area!

Answer 8

Try the "FORUM DES HALLES", it's a large park with a huge underground shopping center in Paris.

Metro: Chatelet les Halles

1st Arrondissement

Answer 9

Something that would definitely be memorable would be a piece of art from Paris.  The French adore thinking themselves as artists, from the baker to the trashmen.

Head up to Montmartre and Sacre Coeur; the area is a well known artist's haven.  You'll be able to find some lovely & memorable pieces that aren't too pricey.

Of course, there are other proper studios and galleries all throughout Paris (Place des Voges comes to mind) but you'll be paying top dollar for those.

Answer 10

I'm French and I often bring back scarves from France as a gift for my American friends. You can find some very well priced in stores like Etam and 1 2 3 you can find these stores in every shopping mall there, if you have more money you can go to department stores like Printemps or Galeries Lafayettes and get some designer ones.

If you are lucky enough you might meet a nice salesperson (humm...maybe not in Paris though) who can give you a quick lesson on how to tie it. Sometimes they have a cheat sheet for you to take with you.

Answer 11

If you take a stroll along the Seine, especially near Notre Dame, there are typically many street artists offering paintings of the view.  Many times doing the artwork right there on the spot.  That's what I would pick up...and have!!  You can get it framed when you come home.  

A real French painting of a real French landmark painted by a real French artist.

How 'uniquely French' can you get??

Answer 12

You can't go wrong with a statue of the Tour D'Eiffel. (Everyone and Their mom sales them, but you can find nicer quality ones)

I'd say you voyage to the top of the Arc de Triomphe and purchase a music box with the French National Anthem. It's a brilliant work of music and the French cherish this piece of history where it was purchased!