Treasures in the Open Air

No trip to Paris is complete without a personal investigation into the French love of great food. For most visitors this means a few fine meals at a restaurant, but if you're in a mood to probe deeper, go where the locals get the finest ingredients of their cuisine — one of the city's 65 food markets.

To experience a classic market, visit the Rue de Lévis, a busy market street in the sedate 17th arrondissement (9 a.m.-7 p.m. daily, closed Monday and Sunday afternoons; Metro: Villiers), where vendors offering cheese, roast chicken and mounds of seasonal fruits...