Paris is one of the world’s most exciting shopping cities; indeed, many British tourists regularly head for the French capital when a dose of retail therapy is in order. The volume, diversity and sheer size of the shops in Paris are second to none and there is a seemingly endless range of department stores, elegant shopping malls, stylish boutiques and specialist vendors just waiting to be experienced; the only limit is the depth of your pockets! The legendary Haussmann Boulevard offers celebrated department stores – Grands Magasin to the French – and has every conceivable item on the shelves; the typically grandiose architecture is also a good reason for visiting. Parisians are renowned for their chic elegance, and the city has always been at the forefront of fashion; consequently Paris has more than its fair share of clothes shops, with everything from large department stores to specialist boutiques. Many of these shops are located along the Rue des Francs-Bourgeois, although in Paris you are never too far from a stylish outlet. Those looking for a unique reminder of their time in Paris would be advised to browse the Rue de Seine, Rue Jacob, the Carré Rive Gauche and the Rue du Bac; all offer a plethora of art and antiques sellers. Like many large European cities, Paris offers a wealth of markets, ranging from the eclectic wares of the flea markets to the upmarket Rue Mouffetard and Rue Montorgueil street markets. Out of town shopping centres – love them or loathe them – are also in abundance around Paris, and many of the city’s inhabitants seize the opportunity of shopping at the vast Auchan, Carrefour and Continent superstores – Les Hypermarche to the French – and Les Quatre Temps can be reached easily by RER (head for the La Défense station).