14.1.09

Passages, Galleries

During the 19th century, a large number of covered galleries, arcades, passages... were built in Paris, predecessors to today’s shopping centres. I have already posted about some of them (see list below). A few are still missing; today I will talk about two: Passage Puteaux and Passage des Grands Princes.

The first Paris very simple railway station was built in 1837 just north of the present Gare Saint Lazare (see my previous posts and a recent one by Adam – Invisble Paris). Around 1835-40 there were plans that the future bigger Gare Saint Lazare (or Gare de l’Ouest) should be placed much closer to the Madeleine Church. Finally this did not happen and the station was built where it now is, in 1842, ready in its first phase in 1853. It finally got its basically present shape in 1889.

Hoping that the station would be built, as thought for a while, near the Madeleine Church, someone decided to create a gallery or “passage” (ready in 1839) between rue de l’Arcade and rue Pasquier. It became a flop as the station finally never was built where it then was thought. It got the name of Passage Puteaux, Puteaux being one of the destinations from the station. Still today, it’s one of more modest galleries in Paris. It’s only about 30 meters long and not much visited, but it has a certain charm. Over one of the entrances you can since a number of years read: ASSAGEPUTEA X.
.

The Passage des Princes (see also top picture) is the most recent of the 19th century galleries; it was ready in 1860, then a very elegant passage, close to the financial district, later “forgotten” during some decades. It got its name from a hotel “Grand Hôtel des Princes et de l’Europe”, which was demolished to build this gallery.

This passage has actually been completely rebuilt, last time in 2002, but maintaining the original architecture. Today it’s completely devoted to the sales of toys. These pictures were taken after Christmas; the decorations are still there, but as you can see it was relatively empty. The days before Christmas, this was not the case (I know, I was there).
Previous posts about galleries:
Galérie Véro Dodat
Passage Jouffroy
Passage Bourg l’Abbée
Passage du Grand Cerf
Passage des Panoramas
Galérie Colbert
Galérie Vivienne
Passage Vendôme
Galérie de la Madeleine
Passage Prado
Passage Brady
Passage des Deux Pavillons
Passage Hulot

Normally, I don't post on Thursdays, but tomorrow I will; it's time for the "Mid-month theme - subways". I will again have a "guest star"!

29 comments:

Mona said...

wow! that stained glass is awesome! & I am 'floored' by that floor! :)

Karen said...

I really like the charm of these galleries/passages. I found some of them but these are very special and I want to see them on my next trip.

I will have to start a list.

Azer Mantessa said...

yes i agree, the passage is charming :-)

SusuPetal said...

Oh, I remember this place, it looks quite empty and redone rally. Beautiful.

Rakesh Vanamali said...

Very impressive! I can imagine what it is like to peer up to that dome!

Thanks for sharing Peter!

Olivier said...

encore une belle série, j'ai jamais fait trop attention, comme quoi je ne lève pas trop la tête quand je viens dans la capitale ;o)

Bettina said...

I just love all the passages and galleries in Paris, they are so beautiful and romantic.

claude said...

Je crois que je te l'ai déjà dit, maos je recomùence : Mamaen et moi avons situé le Passage des Panoramas comme celui dans lequel nous allions, ma soeur et moi, au cours de danses classique. Nous avions l'habitude d'aller dire bonjour à un tailleur Juif et admirions sa façon de faire un costume d'homme.
J'arrivais au cours de danse toute barbouillée car nous avions pris la ligne du métro à pneus. Tous ces passages sont de beaux endroits.

alice said...

Alors ça, c'est encore une balade que je ferais volontiers en ta compagnie, un tour des passages...En plus, je suis sûre qu'on trouverait un bon petit restaurant pour faire une pause! A demain alors, avec ton invité(e) surprise.

Cergie said...

En publiant ma photo d'aujourd'hui, j'ai pensé à toi et ton "Mid-month theme-subways". Ce magnifique RER C avait tant l'air d'appartenir à Paris et non au pauvre monde des banlieusards.
Oui il faut avoir le nez en l'air et chercher la lumière qui est au bout des couloirs... dans un sens comme dans l'autre.
Cependant pour une fois ma photo préfèrée n'est pas celle que tu as mise en accroche : il s'agit de celle avec les petits personnages, les deux boules d'éclairage symétriques et les vitrines. On y voit tout, le dedans le dehors, et elle est très équilibrée.

Adam said...

I love all of the passages in Paris. Each has its own special atmosphere, and most are little used and in decline which only adds to their charm.

I see that you still have a few left to talk about too - including the largest in Paris, the Passage de Caire in the Sentier, a true rabbit warren of a construction.

Thanks for the link.

Anonymous said...

I love the passages in Paris. Frquented them often. In response to yesterdays question. No I dont mind at all you doing a similar post on skating. Will be fun to see how they compare.

Anonymous said...

Oh, those wonderful galleries. Most of them are so nostalgic (in Paris AND in London). I think I should make a list for my next visit.

Cezar and Léia said...

So nice! Love this kind of passages. These charming galleries are so well preserved!
No lamp is burned or broken!

Olivier said...

en réponse a ton passage, les concerts comme "Dionne Warwick" c'est dans une salle de concert qui se trouve a coté du restaurant/bar de BB King. Ce que je présente c'est des concerts (avec souvent des artistes locaux inconnus) dans le restaurant/bar, et ce qui est surprenant c'est que l'entrée est gratuite et que tu n'es même pas obligé de boire un verre, tu peux juste rester écouter et ils changent tous les soirs. c'est un endroit super sympathique.

Tanya Breese said...

Wow, stunning passageways Peter! All of them!

Thérèse said...

Quelles belles verrières! Quels jolis passages. Merci de nous en faire profiter.

Delphinium said...

j'ai retrouvé le passage jusqu'à ton blog mais je suis encore en convalescence. Alors j'ai bien de la peine à me concentrer pour lire tout ton texte. Alors je regarde les photos. Pour ton avant-dernier post, tu as fait fort. Toutes ces dames posant toute nues pour toi, quel chanceux tu fais. :-)

Kate said...

There is so much beauty in Paris and you manage to showcase so many of them for us. Thanks, Peter!

Nathalie H.D. said...

Toi et Adam vous êtes vraiment des stars de la connaissance de Paris. Bientot plus aucun recoin ne vous aura échappé. Vous êtes redoutables tous les deux.

Magnifiques photos d'un lieu plein de charme. Encore un !!!

PeterParis said...

Mona:
I'm happy to see that you appreciate!

Karen:
I made a list for you at the bottom of my post. There are a few missing - for the moment!

Azer:
Good that we all agree!

PeterParis said...

SusuPetal:
There are days when it's less empty!

Rakesh:
Yes, you must learn to look down, up, to the left, to the right... !

Olivier:
Il faut regarder Paris comme tu regardes Evry!

PeterParis said...

Bettina:
Soon time to see them again!

Claude:
Oui, tu me l'avais dit, mais ça ne fait rien! :-))

Alice:
Tu n'as qu'a donner une date!!

PeterParis said...

Cegie:
Je suis content que tu as pu penser à moi!

Adam:
So, very soon I will take the direction of Passage de Caire!

Mo:
Thanks for this kind "authorisation"! :-))

PeterParis said...

April:
For Paris, there is an almost complete list at the bottom of my post!

Cezar and Léia:
Well the second gallery is in very good shape, the first one a bit less, but both have their charm!

Oliver:
Merci, maintenant je comprends mieux!

PeterParis said...

Tanya:
Yes, they all have their charm!

Thérèse:
Toujours avec plaisir!

Delphinium:
Merci de ton passage!
Ces dames là, m'ont pourtant laissé un peu de marbre!

PeterParis said...

Kate:
Still a lot more to see and show!

Nathalie:
Je continue à apprendre tous les jours (presque)!

Jill said...

Marvelous to see. Thank you!!

PeterParis said...

Jill:
Thanks for your frequent visits here!