Passage du Bourg-l'Abbé, Covered passage in 2nd arrondissement, Paris, France
The passage du Bourg-l'Abbé is a covered walkway with a curved glass ceiling that connects two streets and runs about 47 meters long. The three-meter-wide corridor is framed by decorative columns with caryatid figures that have marked the entrance since 1863.
This passage was built in 1828 as part of a wave of covered commercial corridors that spread across the 2nd arrondissement. A renovation in 1863 brought new facades and decorative elements, showing how these spaces evolved over time.
The passage houses small craft workshops, including a woodworking shop that has preserved traditional Parisian handwork for generations. These businesses shape daily life in the area and give the space its local character.
The passage is easily accessible on foot and provides a covered route between two streets, making it especially useful on rainy days. The narrow width means it is best visited during quieter hours to enjoy the space comfortably.
At each end of the walkway stand two working instruments from an earlier era: a barometer and a clock that have operated continuously since their installation. These practical devices are reminders of a time when such fixtures were essential to the daily routines of passersby.
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