Covered passages and galleries of Paris

Covered passages and galleries of Paris will be our points of interest on this different route that we will undertake today through the city.

Indice:

The route through the covered passages and galleries of Paris

We are going to visit the galleries, the famous passages of Paris, something to add to your visit to the city, especially if you have already been there and want to discover new corners.

But also thinking that perhaps it is your first visit to the City of Light, we will start with two large department stores, famous in Paris, so that after you get to know them and go up to their viewing platforms you will want to enter a Paris with fewer tourists and more local people.

We will do this entire route on foot, because you will see how close all the places we will visit are to each other.

Descargar ruta por Galerías de París

Although we will call it a route through the galleries and passages of Paris, we will also discover other things along the way.

-It will take you a total walk of approximately 3 and a half kilometers. (counted from the first visit to the last).

-The cost is $0 since we will not have paid tickets or metro tickets

But let’s go to the first point on this tour of the covered passages and galleries of Paris, we will start with the two department stores

If you prefer, you can also do it with a free tour►F ree Tour of the Galleries and Covered Passages of Paris

Printemps Haussmann

Located in the 9th district, the Printemps Haussmann galleries are a large commercial space for fashion and luxury spread across three buildings. But it is not all this that draws us there but the beauty of its architecture and the views from its rooftops.

On May 11, 1865, the company Au Printemps was born and its creators decided to have their first department store built at the intersection of Boulevard Haussmann and Rue du Havre despite its remoteness, at the time, from the most central center of Paris.

We are going to find an admirable dome, really a beauty throughout the construction, but also…

With one of the best viewpoints in Paris, and it’s free…. You have a rooftop in Printemps de la Moda and another in Printemps de l’homme, as we said these stores are made up of three buildings, located next to each other.

This is a great place to visit whether it’s your first time in Paris or not. Once up there, don’t just look at the Parisian rooftops, but at the Printemps roof itself, because it’s a beauty.

We will now walk just 400 meters and head to the iconic Lafayette Hausmman. Last stop before starting with the passages of Paris.

Galeries Lafayette Haussmann

This department store dates back to 1893 when two cousins decided to create it.

Located very close to the Opera Garnier we can also find fashion, luxury and much more but we will focus on the beauty of its interior architecture.

And as it could not be otherwise, at its viewing point, without a doubt for my taste one of the best in Paris, and it also has the advantage of being free.

And now, after visiting these large and famous Parisian stores, we will begin our tour of the covered passages and galleries of Paris.

Passage Verdeau

We will now walk a kilometre, which may seem like a lot but in reality when you start walking through the streets of Paris you don’t even realise, and we will arrive at the passage Verdeau on this route through the covered passages and galleries of Paris.

The Verdeau covered passage is located in the Grands Boulevards area, in the ninth arrondissement. Built in 1847, it is one of the most charming covered passages in the capital.

It is located on the extension of two other well-known promenades: les Panoramas and Jouffroy.

This passage, along with two others we mentioned and which we will see immediately, form a very original place to stroll. A number of antique dealers or unusual shops (old books, old postcards, collectible cameras, etc.) have set up shop on the covered Verdeau promenade.

We can’t help but admire the beautiful shop facades bathed in light thanks to the high glass roof.

I don’t know if everyone likes this type of tour, but going into these corners has a very special charm for me.

Just crossing the street we will find the next covered passage.

Passage Juffroy

Built in 1836, the Passage Jouffroy has been one of the busiest covered passages in the capital since its creation. It is located opposite the recently visited Passage Verdeau, and as an extension of the next one we will visit, the Passage des Panoramas. It is even more charming than the previous one, with its beautiful iron and glass architecture. The other asset of Passage Jouffroy is the variety and originality of the establishments it houses.

Here we find the Grévin museum and its famous wax figures, an old 19th century brewery , the Chopin hotel and many more original shops, completing the visit: old walking sticks, old books, old photos… and much more.

And again we cross the street alone, and we find the Passage des Panoramas.

Passage des Panoramas

The Passage des Panoramas is the first covered passage in Paris. It was built in 1799, and the place has retained its charm with the old shops.

This shopping arcade is classified as a historical monument. It is one of the most important centres of the philatelic trade in the city. It is home to food shops, gourmet shops, as well as collectors of postcards, coins, autographs and old stamps. You can still admire the old decor, such as one of the oldest printing houses in Paris, Stern, or the Hotel Chopin. Opened in 1807, the Théâtre des Variétés still offers a programme of shows and comedies.

If you’re thinking that each of these passages is nicer than the last, it’s true, I thought the same thing when I visited them.

We continue walking past the Palais de la Bourse, and continue with the charm of the Parisian streets.

Now we will go 700 meters more and we will arrive at two very nice points in this visit, the Vivienne Gallery, to continue with this route of galleries, but first we will see, because it is only a few steps away, the National Library, Richelieu headquarters, and we will enter it to see its great hall.

National Library Richelieu

The Richelieu-Louvois Branch of the Bibliothèque Nationale de France is located in the 2nd Arrondissement. The original building dates back to 1368 and was radically transformed in 1860. The complex is spectacular both externally and internally.

It can be entered for free, and if you are in the area it is worth doing so. We continue with this route through the covered passages and galleries of Paris and we go to…

Vivienne Gallery

The Galerie Vivienne, built in 1823, is one of the most emblematic galleries in Paris and is well worth a visit. It is located behind the Richelieu library that we have just visited, and very close to the Palais-Royal that we will visit later. If you look down at the floor, you can admire its mosaics with very colourful motifs, and if you look up, you can appreciate the beautiful glass roof that lets in the light. You will also find many and varied shops: ready-to-wear shops, tea houses, candy shops, wine cellars, antique bookstores…

One of the ones that caught our attention was the wine cellar, wonderful.

The Lucien Legrand winery dates back to 1880, although the Legrand brothers were not the founders, they acquired it soon after and converted it over the years into this beautiful and successful wine cellar.

Are you arriving in Paris from far away like us and having internet all the time is a problem? When we make this type of journey by car we always use maps on our mobile, or we want to be connected in case of any eventuality. In our case we have used the Holafly data SIM for travellers, a very good option. In the link you will find all the information as well as a discount for followers of Europe accompanied by the following code: EUROPAACOMPAÑADA5.↓

Colbert Gallery

Leaving this famous gallery, we will head towards the Colbert Gallery, which is located almost next door. This pleasant covered gallery is owned by the National Library and, unlike the other Parisian galleries, it does not have any shops.

Passage de Deux Pavillons

Right in front of us we will continue the walk through the Passage Deux Pavillons and we will end up in the Garden of the Palais Royal.

At 33 metres long, the Passage des Deux Pavillons holds the title of the smallest covered passage in Paris.

Palais Royal

Created by Cardinal de Richelieu in 1633 very close to the Louvre Museum, the Palais Royal and its gardens welcomed the royal families until the construction of Versailles.

Those who have seen Emily in Paris will remember Emily and Mindy on these benches and their long talks.

The Buren columns were commissioned by the artist Daniel Buren and are located in the courtyard, near the garden. The 260 black and white striped octagonal columns are worth a visit and have become one of the symbols of Paris.

After spending a good while trying to take photos without people on the columns, mission impossible, we cross and head to Place de Valois about 200 meters away.

And if you’re a fan of Emily in Paris, you’ll recognize Savoir here, the marketing agency where Emily works, and the bistro where they often meet up.

Now in a short walk we will go to the last gallery before finishing this walk at the Louvre.

Vero-Dódat Gallery

The Galerie Véro Dodat is another of the covered passages and galleries on this route. Although it is not very long, it has an interesting perspective effect achieved by the black and white diamonds on the floor. Built in 1826, it has been considered a historical monument since 1965.

A few steps distance us from our final destination, the Louvre Museum.

Louvre Museum. What to see in three days in Paris

Here we end today’s route. As you can see, the points are all very close to each other and the route takes you there almost without you realizing it. Did you know that Paris had so many covered passages? These were just some of them.

Did you see our three-day itinerary in Paris? ►Itinerary 3 days Paris