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Top Covered Passages in Paris, France | |
| If you only want to visit a couple of passages, here are our suggestions. | ||
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I had fun visiting over a dozen of the existing covered passages in Paris, walking around different neighborhoods and exploring the character of each, but I recognize that most people will want simply to see one or two of the more interesting or unusual ones. Here are some suggestions if you'd like to visit one or two. The Galerie Vivienne and the Galerie Véro-Dodat, located in the Palais Royal area, are both fine examples of elegant passages that have retained some of their old world charm. The Galerie Vivienne is known for its beautiful mosaic floors and harmonious architecture and design. It has a lovely glass rotunda and the decor includes reliefs of mythological characters. It is well lit and filled with high class shops selling jewelry, clothing, decorative items, and trendy clothes, surrounded by potted plants, cafés, and tea rooms. Throughout the Galerie Vivienne you get a feeling of elegance and taste. The Galerie Véro-Dodat has perhaps the most elegant decor, with its painted ceiling medallions and harmonious identical shop fronts. It includes everything from antique shops to musical instruments to jewelry to nail salons, as well as several restaurants. If you want a more eclectic mix of passages, head to the Grands Boulevards and visit the Passage des Panoramas, the Passage Jouffroy, and/or the Passage Verdeau. These are all in close proximity to each other at the intersection of the 2nd and 9th arrondissements. The Passage des Panoramas is one of the oldest passages in Paris, built in 1800. It featured a panorama painting on the walls of the rotunda. While the panoramas no longer exist, the name persists. It was also famous in history as one of the first places in Paris to use gas lighting, in about 1816. Originally known for its gourmet food shops and other gastronomy, today the narrow Passage des Panoramas still includes a number of restaurants, bars, and ice cream and sweet shops. The Passage Jouffroy is one of the latest passages, built in 1845-1846. It is across the Boulevard Poissonnière (9th arrondissement) from the Passage des Panoramas and was intended as an extension of it. It's known for providing a unique place to stay, the Hotel Chopin, which also opened in 1846. Passage Jouffroy is also home to the Musée Grévin, one of the oldest wax museums in Europe, which features characters from throughout French history and the present day, in a beautiful old theater-style building. Today the Passage Jouffroy offers opportunities to browse or buy books, jewelry, gourmet food, clothing, gifts, posters, stamps, postcards, and more. It's a charming place to wander. And the Passage Jouffroy is connected to the Passage Verdeau, similar though designed by a different architect. It's popular with shops selling antiques, books, old photos and posters, as well as galleries and restaurants.
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Above, Strolling through the beautiful Galerie Vivienne, Paris.
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