If you love French interior design and bargain hunting, Paris is the place to go.

This book takes you on a winding tour through the Parisian flea markets, finding all sorts of decorative pieces along the way.

You learn ways to bring style to your home by looking for furniture and accessories to reflect your individual taste whether it's Napoleon III, Louis XV, Art Deco, Art Nouveau, Moderne or Belle Epoque.

The flea markets are part of French culture. The market vendors are continually buying, selling, trading and appraising their collections of objets d'art.

Looking at old photographs of the markets reveals that they haven't changed so much over the years and that the clocks, linens, tables and jewels circulate and find new owners and homes generation after generation.

We are guardians for a while and then the items move on, live on. That's the beauty of the markets for you. We treasure the past, hold it for a while, meditate on it and pass it on.

There are flea markets happening in Paris at any given moment. Whether it's an everyday one such as Aligre, a weekend market like Vanves, or pop-up street fairs, there's always a fantastic flea market taking place.

There are four main markets in Paris throughout the year Clignancourt, Vanves, Aligre and Montreuil.

Clignancourt is the world's most wonderful market in terms of size, age, history and selection. It is one of the most fascinating places in Paris and is actually a little city itself with lots of nooks and crannies, alleys and pockets. It is a maze of many different markets, about 14 in all. More than 3,000 vendors come from all over to open on weekends.

Aligre is a lovely little market right in the heart of Paris. It's a combination of a food, flower and flea market, a one-stop shopping paradise, a delicious mix of fresh vegetables, cheeses, local artisan products and the scent of roses. This is a great place to find everything from linens and old books to engravings, small compacts and jewellery.

Montreuil is something between a street fair and a yard sale, a multicultural extravaganza of a market with plenty of variety and great finds if you're willing to dig

But for the flea market aficionado, there is no better way to start a weekend than with a trip to the market at Porte de Vanves.

Though not huge, this market has an infinite variety and good quality of items. There's something for everyone, with about 250 sellers displaying everything from tiny buttons and chandelier drops to furniture, lamps, paintings, fabric, jewellery, cameras and linens. Piles of old books and fashion magazines mix with candelabras and Victorian clothing, which make you wish you could take it all home.

There's also a wonderful little market for book lovers, the Georges Brassens Old Book Market, a most picturesque location - a covered arcade that was once a horse sellers' meeting ground.

This fascinating and colourful book next describes the finds that may be made by section - furniture, hardware, lighting and accessories, collectibles, art and paper goods, textiles, linens and lace, and outdoor stuff.