Visite guidée : Les plus beaux passages couverts du Palais-Royal aux Grands-Boulevards

A very original exploration of Paris' covered passageways. Immerse yourself in the atmosphere of Honoré de Balzac's Paris.

The tour of the covered passages in Paris will begin in a magical place: Palais-Royal, the birthplace of covered arcades in Paris. We will then walk along a superb gold and marble gallery, the shooting location for many films such as "The French Woman" starring Romy Schneider. We will look back at Paris' traditional street trades practiced in these Parisian covered arcades, which were home to curious shops such as master glove-maker and perfumer.

We will walk under Galerie Vivienne. This remarkable covered passage was the scene of intrigues by the formidable François Vidocq, the founder of criminal investigation and the judicial police in Paris. We will continue into Galerie Colbert with its magnificent Pompeian decor, belonging to the renowned Bibliothèque Nationale de France.

We will leave the Palais-Royal neighbourhood to discover other covered passages in the Grands Boulevards district: Passage des Panoramas, which featured highly original circular painted views; Passage Jouffroy, home to the unique Hôtel Chopin with the secret entrance to the Musée Grévin wax museum.

The tour will conclude with Passage Verdeau, a gathering spot for collectors of antique postcards of old Paris and film star photographs.

Not to be missed under any circumstances: let yourself be tempted by this guided tour of the covered passages in Paris, a very Parisian and original invention copied in the provinces and adapted worldwide from Prague to Moscow with the famous covered department store GUM.

Good to know:

The exact meeting point and the guide's contact details will be provided on your tickets after purchase.

Meeting point: Place du Palais Royal in front of the Conseil d'État.