Galleries & Passages, Paris

With a large and rich history in glass manufacturing, Baccarat is a respected name. If you pass by the United States square, you may enter and see a couple of great pieces, well displayed in a beautiful palace. I must confess That I expected more, and took a morning expressly to go there.

Somewhat disappointed, but I didn't regret the time.

Why do they forbid to take pictures inside? There's no risk to the pieces, and copying models will not be stopped nor limited by boring the tourists!

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Being built in 1799/1800 Passage des Panoramas is almost the oldest of Parisian passages still in existence (oldest being passage du Caire) others built in the 1700's all having been demolished or built over. Passage des Panoramas is known for its shops and collections of stamps and postcards, so if you want a p/c that dates, this is the place to come. The world famous engraver Stern's shop is on the list of historic monuments whilst the passage is described in Hugo's book "Nana".

Nearest metro is Grands Boulevards or Richelieu-Drouot.

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Well known to Parisians this passage was opened in 1845 and was the first passage constructed entirely in iron and glass, and is also the first to have underfloor heating. Well placed between passages Verdeau and Panorama it also has the entrance to the Parisian equivalent of Mme Tussauds, Musee Grevin that was inaugurated in 1882. Frederic Chopin lived in the house where the "Hotel Chopin" is situated up on the 5th floor around 1832/32. Just in front of the entrances to the hotel and Musee Grevin is a staircase built to overcome differences in levels probably due to the ancient moat and walls of Louis XIII passing close by.

Nearest metro is Grands Boulevards or Richelieu-Drouot.

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Ancestors of the big malls, this passages are galleries along corridors, connecting streets and providing covered access to several shops.

There are many in Paris, still with the old functionality, and some of them really beautiful.

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This passage, built in 1847 at the same time as its counterpert, passage Jouffroy and by the same company has always suffered by not being close enough to the "Grands Boulevards" although it did take off for a while when the "Hotel Drouot", the Sothebys of Paris, opened its doors close by. A good many antique dealers then set up here. The old photographic shop has been there since 1901.

Richelieu-Drouot is the nearest metro.

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One of the most used and loved of the Parisian passages, Passage Choiseul has practically not changed in almost 200 years, even the entrance canopies,although slightly battered, are the originals since 1825. At 190 metres it is one of the longest in Paris. Having a secondary entrance into the theatre "Les Bouffes Parisiens" helps to maintain a certain ambiance in the passage. Owned once by Offenbach the theatre is now the property of French actor Jean-Claude Brialy. Main entrances are at 40 rue des Petits-Champs and 23 rue St. Augustin.

Closed on Sundays.

Closest metro is Pyramides or Quatre-Septembre

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First built in 1826 to build upon the success of the Galerie Vivienne practically next door. Unfortunately it never reached the same level of prosperity and went out of favour in 1830 to finally be virtually abandoned in 1860. Having been bought by the National Library, to which it backs onto, it has been renovated and re-opened to the public. The only shops are those of the Library and a restaurant. It does have a splendid piece of glasswork over the rotunda with a bronze statue of Eurydice beneath it. It can be entered from no 6 rue des Petits-Champs or rue Vivienne.

Bourse is the closest metro

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The passage du Caire is Paris' oldest covered passage and is also its longest. Measuring around 360 metres in total, having 4 branches and was constructed in 1798 after Napoleons campaign in Egypt. The most striking thing about the passage is the facade giving onto the place du Caire. Ornamented by 3 heads of the goddess Hathor surmounted further by some lovely bas-reliefs. Up above, over the 5th floor can be seen a caricature of Bouginier, a painter, done by collegues mocking his nasal appendice. The passage these days is pretty run down and is used in the main by wholesalers from the rag-trade.

Nearest metro is Sentier.