Private van service from “Passages couverts” mall in Paris to Orly airport

History and visit to “Passages couverts” Malls in Paris

Built in the early nineteenth century, “Passages couverts” are like streets that weave along the buildings. These are kinds of tunnels that the owners have dug in the heart of their buildings. Some passages are up to over 100 meters. Since the emergence of the first passage, the concept has been so successful that other constructions passages continue until mid-nineteenth century. We had counted about 150 Passages in 1825. True historical monuments, Walkways compete in beauty with their artistic side.

Set of paths traced in the middle of the buildings

Often home to shopping malls targeting wealthy clientele of Paris, most of these crossings are located on the Right Bank of the Seine, near Grands Boulevards where concentrated rich bourgeois of the time. The interest of Passages, during construction, was to allow customers to :

• browse the galleries,
• shop,
• cross the city on either side in peace.

Indeed, given the fact that the shops were in the middle of the buildings, they no longer had to worry about the wind or rain. In addition, entirely pedestrian, these streets offered real security for loafers. Galleries gave a variety of activities that a person could spend hours without tiring.

Unfortunately, because of urbanization, many passages had to be destroyed, and some of those who were not affected did not survive because of their maintenance costs. The various crises experienced throughout the centuries have undermined traders that it was difficult to ensure the expenses of these boutiques. Nowadays, there are no more than twenty of these Walkways in Paris. Still offering the advantage of being accessible to the public, most of the Passages shelter very interesting commercial galleries, shops of works of art and good restaurants. Given their historical value, the course of these passages can admire the architectural works of the 19th century. Although, some of these passages have been recently renovated.

Shops, restaurants and theaters

Visiting these galleries is an excellent hobby for the bad times, because with glass roofs, they provide the advantage of doing window shopping in the rain being sheltered. In addition, with their underfloor heating, you can sit at a restaurant table, outside, without having to fight against the cold and wind. Among the most in vogue passages, there is the Passage des Panoramas. It is the first built and favorite place for philatelists pass. Passage Jouffroy, sheltering the entrance to the Musee Grevin, am one of the most popular passages, famous for its all-metal frames, this is the first move to be heated to the ground.

Colbert Gallery, built in 1826, houses institutes and associations related to the Art, and the University of Sorbonne and Nanterre. Galerie Vivienne is the most frequented by affluent customers as it contains business of high-end products. There is also the Passage des Princes, the last passage built in the nineteenth century, renovated in 1992, is famous for its toy stores. Passage Choiseul, the passage longer since it is 190 meters long, has a variety of shops and restaurants, shops products are more accessible to the average scholarships.