Passage du Havre, Covered passageway in 9th arrondissement, France
The Passage du Havre is a shopping centre and covered passage in the 9th arrondissement, running from the Place du Havre opposite the Hilton Paris Opera to the Rue de Caumartin. Its entrance is a stone archway inscribed "PASSAGE DU HAVRE" in gold letters, opening onto a covered gallery where a large spoked wheel hangs from the ceiling. Around forty shops are arranged on two levels.
The Passage du Havre was built in 1846 on land owned by several proprietors, including Fouquel, Selles, Doux and Durand-Billion, and named after the nearby Rue du Havre. In the 19th century authorities considered its shops a bad influence on pupils of the neighbouring Lycée Condorcet. The whole block at the corner of the Place du Havre was demolished for the RER E station Condorcet, and the rebuilt mall opened in June 1997.
The passage reflects the evolution of Parisian shopping architecture, transforming from a traditional covered walkway into a modern retail center near Opera Saint-Lazare.
The passage is easy to locate since it sits next to Saint-Lazare train station and is well marked. The narrow width can feel crowded during peak hours, so visiting in the morning or around midday works better.
The old passage was considered by authorities a potentially harmful place for pupils of the neighbouring Lycée Condorcet, as its shops were seen as disreputable. The entire block at the corner of Place du Havre was demolished for the RER E Condorcet station.
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