Galleries & Passages, Paris

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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.

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The "Passage du Grand Cerf" is one of the prettiest in Paris. With its 3 floors and heighth of the glass roof at 11,80 metres it is the highest of Paris. It has 33 shops mainly dedicated to decoration and antiques, but does also have a brazilian restaurant. Built in 1835, this was the departure point for the postal wagons.

Etienne Marcel is the nearest metro station.

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These are a number of early 19th C shopping arcades, the best of which are in the Opera Quarter. The longest of these starts off Rue du Faubourg Montmartre just south of Rue Richer / Rue de Province. This is the Passage Verdeau which becomes the Passage Jouffroy and eventually the Passage des Panoramas. There are all manner of shops and small cafés. There are a number of other passages and galeries but the above is the best for exploring. If you want upmarket shopping and a taste of the passages, try the Galeries Colbert & Vivienne. If you are near the Pompidou Centre, there are a few passages off Rue Reaumur near the Arts et Metiers Metro Station. A visit to Paris is not complete for us without at least one walk through some of these arcades.

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Created in 1826 by 2 speculator/pork butchers Vero and Dodat in a neo-classical design, the passage was a great favourite as a short cut between the Palais-Royal and the Halles. Being one of the first places in Paris to have gas lighting, the passage became well used and frquented also by the numerous passengers waiting for their stagecoach to leave, as there was a main stop and ticket office just outside the entrance. The gallery, although renovated in the 80's and again in 1997 stills retains its olde-worlde charm, owing much to the dark wood facades, copper fittings and fresques on the ceiling.

Nearest metro is Louvre-Rivoli.

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Passage created in 1828 as a continuation between the passages "Grand-Cerf" and "de l'Ancre", lost some of its original length in 1858 when Blvd. Sebastopol was opened at one end and rue Palestro at the other. At the rue Palestro entrance there are still two "cariatides" that represent Industry and Commerce. These were sculpted by Aime Millet in 1863. Unfortunately the passage has suffered fire damage, and although renovated, pales in compararison to others, so much so that there is only one artisan left still operating in the passage.

Closest metro is Etienne Marcel.

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Built in 1827 to replace another passage called the "Jeu de Paume" in a local convent, this now runs between the Place de la Republique and the Rue Beranger and is a short-cut through to the Carreau du Temple, a well known covered market. The passage is slightly run down and in need of renovation and cleaning. Only open from Monday to Friday.

Republique is the nearest metro.

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I just love this passage, very short but so much character. Never very many people, gives one time to have a good look. Artists and theatre people are side by side here, even the cinema has its own boutique of posters. The theatre Moliere and the Maison de la Poesie have the same premises but when I was here last I'm not sure that it was still open, although there were posters attesting to the fact. Plus, their website does not respond. Pretty restaurant next door to the theatre but I didn't try it.

Rambuteau metro is the closest.

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The "Passage de la Trinité" was opened in 1827 and is parallel to "Passage du Basfour". Also built on the old Trinité hospital and its cemetary. There is not one shop or café in this thoroughfare so has nothing much to attract anyone and is left until the evening when late night revellers use it as an open air toilet.!!!!!

Closest metro is Reaumur-Sebastopol.

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In the middle ages this passage was first called "No chief Lane" and then "Bas-Fours Lane" and gave on to a plaster factory. Later the factory became the cemetary for the Trinity hospital. Today it is one of the cleaner and prettier open-air passages.

Closest metro is Reaumur-Sebastopol.