Galerie Vivienne in Paris

One of Paris’ nicest galleries is without a doubt the Galerie Vivienne. This trip to the past will take you back to the beginning of the XIXth century when the first galleries and fashion shops were created. This old fashioned shopping arcade is much more charming than many modern malls and is definitely worth seeing.

The floor is covered in mosaic, the staircase is made of wrought iron and the stain-glass windows date back from when the building was set up. Beautiful ornaments complete the design of the gallery – among the most elegant ones of the French capital. It opened in 1826 and remained the Parisians’ favorite place to go shopping until the Second Empire. Located just near the Palais Royal, the Grands Boulevards, the Bourse and the Chaussée d’Antin, this passage can not be ignored and you will enjoy walking around for hours.

This is a covered gallery that leads directly to the rue Vivienne and Rue des Petits Champs, where you may look at shop windows without feeling the rush of being in a big city. Of course, we’re not talking about the best views of the capital but you’ll certainly scream ‘I love shopping’ after spending a day in the Galerie Vivienne.

The place is a real treasure cavern: clothes, shoes, jewelry and accessories, you’ll find just everything there. Not only will you be able to shop but also to relax, get a haircut, eat and drink in one of the many bars and restaurants. Also try and sit down in one of the tea shops and show your friends what you just bought! Go to the wine shops and art galleries. Pamper yourself with a day of shopping while the kids are having fun with daddy at Disneyland. For a romantic escape, it works, too.

Walk in the passage through the picturesque Bouloi; the Café de l’Epoque (1855) where Gerard de Nerval used to hang out. This is a typical Parisian café: warm and welcoming. People go there to chat and have a cup of coffee or a glass of Beaujolais. Walk up to the number 15 in the gallery and you’ll find the famous art editor Franco Maria Ricci from Milan; his magazines and copies of masterpieces are art in themselves. A little further, the gallery Dodat displays antiques and is known for the Art Deco items that are hard to find.

So how do you feel about having everything you’ve always dreamed of within arms reach? You’ll spend unforgettable moments between the Galerie Vivienne and the Jardin Royal… rent an apartment in Paris and enjoy going back in time in the French capital!

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