Galerie de la Madeleine, Covered passage in Place de la Madeleine, Paris, France.
Galerie de la Madeleine is a covered walkway that runs from Place de la Madeleine to Rue Boissy d'Anglas in central Paris. The space spans roughly 53 meters in length with a width of 4 meters, topped by a glass ceiling that brings natural light onto the marble floor and white interior arches.
Built in 1846 by the Passage Jouffroy Company, this gallery emerged during a period when covered passages were reshaping Paris into a new kind of commercial hub. These structures became symbols of modern urban shopping culture and helped define how city streets would look for generations to come.
The archway features hand-carved female figures flanking each side of the entrance, showing the careful craftsmanship that went into luxury shopping spaces of the past. These sculptures remain visible to anyone walking through and reflect what merchants valued in their public spaces.
The passage serves as a direct walking route between two main streets and houses shops spanning fashion, art galleries, antique dealers, and cafés. It is best explored on foot at a relaxed pace, allowing time to browse the storefronts and observe the space around you.
The passage preserves its original marble floors and decorative details while hosting contemporary luxury brands like Giambattista Valli alongside traditional antique dealers. This blend of old craftsmanship and today's fashion scene demonstrates how historic spaces adapt to modern expectations.
Location: 8th arrondissement of Paris
Location: Quartier de la Madeleine
Inception: 1846
Length: 53 m
Width: 4 m
Part of: road network of Paris
Shares border with: place de la Madeleine, rue Boissy-d'Anglas
GPS coordinates: 48.86970,2.32269
Latest update: December 6, 2025 17:44
The covered passages of Paris are major commercial inventions from the early 19th century. Built between 1798 and 1850, these galleries shield pedestrians from weather and street mud with glass and wrought iron roofs. Passages like the Passage des Panoramas, opened in 1799, were pioneers with gas lighting, while Galerie Vivienne (1823) features mosaic floors and neoclassical decorations. The Passage du Grand-Cerf stands out with a height of 12 meters under its glass roof. Today, around thirty passages remain in the 2nd, 9th, and 10th arrondissements. They host various shops: antique bookstores and fashion boutiques at Passage Choiseul, Indian restaurants and spice shops at Passage Brady, fabric vendors at Passage du Caire with Egyptian motifs. Galerie Colbert now houses two art research institutes. These galleries offer insights into a lesser-known part of 19th-century Paris commerce, preserving wooden facades, wrought iron railings, and period signage.
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