Head to Galerie Vivienne during wintertime (especially in the month or two leading up to Christmas) and you’ll soon discover that the covered Paris passage twinkles with the illumination of thousands of sparkling lights, particularly post dark. Now, you can still visit the gallery, which is close to Bourse, for free. Swiftly changed to ‘Vivienne,’ the covered walkway soon attracted a whole host of tailors, confectioners and more. The sumptuous Galerie Vivienne is rather hard to miss… Thanks to its glittering lights, mosaic flooring, and a handful of upscale shops, this must-see Parisian attraction is easily the most famous of the 2nd arrondissement passages and has famously been in competition with the nearby Galerie Colbert.īuilt in 1823 at the behest of the President of the Chamber of Notaries, the passage was originally named Marchoux. Built on the site of the former Hôtellerie du Grand Cerf, no one knows quite when this gallery was opened to the public. Named for the wooden cerf (stag’s head) hanging in the entryway to a pub at the end of the walkway, there’s no denying that Passage du Grand Cerf is one of the capital’s more luxurious passages. A throwback to the Belle Epoque, there is perhaps no better rainy day activity in the city than traipsing through these whimsical walkways… #1 Passage du Grand Cerf, 2nd arrondissement Largely constructed during the 19th-century, by 1850 there were some 150 passages, all stained glass windows, steel frames, and ornate decor. Between Grand Boulevards and wide terraced streets, the charm of the Parisian passages is not lost on the casual passerby, never mind the curious explorer. Unfortunately, the mass overhaul of the retail industry by department stores saw the demolishment of many of the passages and today only a handful survive. Largely dating back to the 18th and 19th-centuries, the covered passages of Paris were constructed so as to serve as shopping arcades filled with bookstores, independent boutiques, and eateries. Enjoyed reading about the best of covered passages of Paris? Pin it now, read it again later:Ī history of the Covered Passages of Paris.Tips for visiting the Passages Couverts in Paris.#24 Cour du Commerce Saint-André, 6th arrondissement.#23 Passage du Havre, 9th arrondissement.#22 Passage de l’Ancre, 3rd arrondissement.#21 Passage Moliere, 3rd arrondissement.#20 Passage Ben-Aïad, 2nd arrondissement.#19 Passage Sainte-Anne, 2nd arrondissement.#18 Galerie de Montpensier & La Galerie des Proues, 1st arrondissement.#17 Passage du Ponceau, 2nd arrondissment.#16 Passage du Prado, 10th arrondissement.#15 Passage du Bourg l’Abbé, 2nd arrondissement.#14 Passage Puteaux, 8th arrondissement.#13 Passage Vendôme, 3rd arrondissement.#12 Passage des Princes, 2nd arrondissement.

#11 Galerie de la Madeleine, 8th arrondissement.#10 Galerie Colbert, 2nd arrondissement.#9 Passage du Caire, 2nd arrondissement.#6 Galerie Vero-Dodat, 1st arrondissement.#5 Passage Choiseul, 2nd arrondissement.#4 Passage Jouffroy, 9th arrondissement.#3 Passage des Panoramas, 9th arrondissement.#2 Galerie Vivienne, 2nd arrondissement.#1 Passage du Grand Cerf, 2nd arrondissement.A history of the Covered Passages of Paris.

Forgotten anne walkthrough