From Val d'Europe to Westfield Carré Sénart
With over 200 boutiques and 45 food and beverage outlets, the Westfield Carré Sénart shopping complex offers even moreeasy shopping experiences. Young and old alike can not only shop for the latest fashions, but also enjoy a wide range of leisure activities (cinema, climbing gym, pony-club, etc.) and even a day-care center. In the autumn of each year, this vast center hosts the "Dressing Collectif", a large market for second-hand clothes and accessories, enabling everyone to get their hands on a few brand-name nuggets at low prices. Another key shopping destination is the Val d'Europe shopping center, which, in addition to some 30 restaurants, boasts over 130 retailers offering the latest trends from French and international brands. So you can be stylish from head to toe, or find great gift ideas.
And why not a work of art?
Visiting Seine-et-Marne can also be a great opportunity to push open the door of an art gallery. When you arrive in Barbizon, you'll be spoilt for choice, as several art and design venues are well established, including Alfart LBK, which specializes in contemporary art, and Frédéric Got, which exhibits sculpture, painting and photography. You can also be charmed by other styles, notably at the Galerie du Crécy in Voulangis, which features a fine collection of works from the 19th century to the present day. We could name many other places in the département, as the art on offer is particularly generous!
Crafts of yesterday and today
And on festival days, in Provins or Tournan-en-Brie, you'll be able to snap up a fine piece or two: fibulae or bracelets from the Fonderie de Chalautre, illuminations, hand-crafted replicas of historic glassware, ceramics, engraved jewelry, slippers, boots, thigh boots, foals... and maybe a little goblet of Hypocras! Elsewhere, and away from the Médiévales, a number of craftsmen perpetuate their remarkable skills, notably Didier Noël, one of the last olive-tree basket-makers in Seine-et-Marne, offering baskets, baskets and more. Other craftsmen, such as weavers, pottery makers and bookbinders, also embody the authenticity and identity of the department. If you're an enthusiast, you'll be able to see many of these craftsmen at work at the "Savoir-faire et Matières" trade show held every year in Noisiel.
Treat your taste buds and nourish your spirit
As you explore the region, you'll soon notice that gourmet counters and other food shops are at the top of the list. Authenticity and quality are the order of the day! You'll be able to shop for cheeses, medieval cakes, macaroons, chocolates, rose jam... But it's in Melun, at the book fair, that you'll be able to pick up rare editions or, who knows, old postcards of the Seine-et-Marne of yesteryear. At the Espace Viking in Saint-Pierre-lès-Nemours, you'll also find fantasy novels, historical thrillers and the Vikingar comic book saga. Finally, why not treat yourself to a beautiful plant, or even a beautiful rose, at an event such as "Jardin en Gâtinais"?
