I take you now to the passages/galeries of Paris !!! I have been to several but lots more to see , they are just gorgeous. You will see them in the next posts, bear with me, its Paris!!! Glad to have found me more in my old cd roms, great! Therefore, here is my take on the Passage du Caire of Paris !!! Hope you enjoy it as I.
Paris is full of secret places, testimonies of the history of the city. Discovering them helps to better understand the past of it. Take the covered passages of Paris, for example. In the 19C, thanks to Baron Haussmann’s grand urban transformation plan, the city had more than 70! Let me give some definition ; what is a passage? Well best describe as a private lane open to the public, a shortcut between several lanes, whether it is covered or not. A pedestrian space, the passage can house both commerce and housing. Only the abundant decoration and the luxury of the shops differentiate a gallery from a passage. Today, the covered passages and their timeless charm have won back the hearts of Parisians who crowd alongside those that have been tastefully restored. While many of them have disappeared as the city has evolved, many other passages have survive. Read on some of my tales of those present in the beautiful City of Paris.
The Passage du Caire is located by 33 rue d’Alexandrie / 2 place du Caire / 237-239 rue Saint-Denis / 14, 34 and 44 rue du Caire in the 2éme arrondissement. With its 370 meters in length, it is the longest in Paris, but also one of the narrowest and above all, the oldest built in 1798, with its fishbone glass roof. The Passage du Caire given to 237-239 rue Saint Denis, with three wings built on the former convent of Filles-Dieu, with lots of wholesalers.
The Passage du Caire is the covered passage of all records: the oldest passage still accessible as said built in 1798, during Napoleon’s campaign in Egypt, but also the longest as said 360 meters from one end to the other, and the narrowest. Located in the Sentier neighborhood, it is now overrun by wholesalers, fabric manufacturers and window mannequins. But you can still admire the 3 cow-eared statues of the goddess Hathor adorning the entrance; then exit to the discreet Place du Caire.
First named passage de la Foire du Caire , it owes his name to the enthusiasm for Egypt which followed Bonaparte’s expedition in 1798. It has three galleries: Saint-Denis, Sainte-Foy and Galerie du Caire. Small houses are assembled along narrow aisles. Each house includes a cellar, a shop, a floor, then a attic floor which gives above the passage. The spans are punctuated by colossal pilasters of an unusual order combining the Doric with Egyptian. The main shops of this passage was the lithographic printing, then the manufacture of showcase models. Located in the heart of the Sentier neighborhood, the passage has become the meeting place for professionals and wholesalers of ready-to-wear.
The city of Paris going outs on the passages: https://www.paris.fr/pages/decouvrez-la-magie-des-galeries-et-des-passages-18889
The Association of passages et galeries of Paris : http://passagesetgaleries.fr/passages-parisiens/
The Paris tourist office on the covered passages: https://parisjetaime.com/eng/article/unusual-paris-the-covered-passages-a1801
There you go folks, hope you find it helpful for your next trip to Paris. Or just browse these wonders of architecture in the most beautiful city in the world, Paris. Again, hope you enjoy this post on the Passage du Caire of Paris !!! as I.
And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all !!!
Paris1972-Versailles2003 