PASSAGE VERDEAU
If only these floors could talk.
Over 150 years worth of shoppers, flâneurs, tourists and the bourgeois society have tramped, strolled and promenaded down this passageway.
The pale pink flagstone flooring punctuated with strips of black tiling and reflecting light from the overhead pitched glass ceiling is smooth and shiny with years of use.
The covered passages of Paris were predominately inspired by the oriental souks. Although designed to create a comfortable dry and warm space for shoppers to relax under one roof, away from the noisy streets and muddy unpaved footpaths, they also created an urban and social effect.
A promenade through the passageways became a chic and fashionable activity for the bourgeois society to partake in and what better place to be seen than in one of these innovative and exciting new spaces, some boasting heating or electric lights.
Passage Verdeau located in the 9th arrondissement and built in 1846 was named after its developer and entrepreneur; Monsieur Verdeau, who incidentally invented the idea of renting linen to hotels.
Passage Verdeau’s famous neighbour; Hôtel Drouot, the antiques and fine art auction house, complements the long standing stores in the passage.
BENEATH THE ELEGANT ‘fishbone’ neoclassical glass ceiling, measuring 7.5 metres long you can find vintage and antique items, cafés and more.
Art dealers, book sellers and buyers of rare books.
An old Parisian book that has passed through many hands is such a nice gift or souvenir to take home.
Maybe you will be lucky enough to find a vintage copy by Colette, Victor Hugo or Albert Camus.
On one of my trips to Paris, after sifting through a collection of old books, I decided on a quaint, small red hardcover for a couple of euros.
I couldn’t believe my luck when I opened the book later to find tucked away within its pages, a small envelope and a very old love letter.
Another cheap and lightweight souvenir you can pick up in Passage Verdeau is a vintage postcard.
Framed and hanging on the wall at home, makes for a great memory of Paris.
If you are the crafty type, look out for the vintage dummy above Le Bonheur des Dames haberdashery store.
Offering embroidered gift cards, buttons, tassels, sewing kits, tools and everything and more you could expect in a specialist shop of this kind.
Or you could simply spend a free day out, admiring the details of this ancient passage.
The worn floor, the magnificent pitched glass ceiling, the timber shopfronts and the one remaining clock from the original design, whilst wondering what it may have been like to be a flaneur of the past.
Enter Passage Verdeau from Rue du Faubourg-Montmartre and exit at the other end on Rue de la Grange Batèliere, cross the road where you will find the connecting, Passage Jouffroy, which was designed by the same architects. (see below for more information)
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Paris Adèle Information Nécessaire:
Passage Verdeau
After leaving Passage Verdeau, cross the road to discover Passage Jouffroy:
Passage JouffroySift through old books at the famous bookstore; Librairie Paul Vulin as you walk upon geometric black, white and grey tiles and discover the quaint Hotel Chopin.
Explore more of Paris’ Ancient Covered Passageways:
Le Passage des PrincesAmber lamps, giving off a warm, golden glow, with a beautiful glass ceiling, the entire passageway is dedicated to toys.
Passage VerdeauExplore antiques, rare books and vintage postcards beneath the elegant, neoclassical, glass ceiling, then continue over the road to Passage Jouffroy.
Passage JouffroySift through old books at the famous bookstore; Librairie Paul Vulin as you walk upon geometric black, white and grey tiles and discover the quaint Hotel Chopin.
Passage des PanoramasBuilt in 1799 and inspired by the Oriental Souks, Passage des Panoramas is one of the oldest passageways in the world.
Passage du CaireA unique façade, a magnificent glass ceiling, 360 metres in length, Passage du Caire is the oldest and longest Passage in Paris
Passage du Grand CerfNatural light drenches this elegant passageway from its 12 metre high glass ceiling with unique boutiques.
Passage du PradoRarely mentioned in travel guides, with not a tourist in sight, this unique passage was once in the heart of fashionable Paris.
Passage du Bourg l’AbbéSubtle and elegant pastel interior, muted by natural light from the unusual curved glass ceiling.
Passage de l’AncreWho would know a delightful, tranquil little piece of paradise could be hidden away behind an unassuming crooked doorway in the heart of Paris.