Passage des Panoramas, Covered passage in 2nd arrondissement, France.
The Passage des Panoramas is a covered walkway 133 meters long and 3.2 meters wide, connecting Boulevard Montmartre to Rue Saint-Marc through glass-topped corridors. Its four branching pathways contain more than 20 shops ranging from restaurants and boutiques to antique dealers and specialized retailers.
This passage opened in 1800 and took its name from two rotundas that displayed large panoramic paintings of Paris and other cities as entertainment for visitors. These painted views attracted crowds before photography became common.
Stamp collectors and vintage postcard dealers occupy small shops throughout the passage, creating a community of enthusiasts who have worked here for decades. You can watch them organize and display their collections as you walk past.
The glass roof provides shelter from rain and wind while you browse the various shops and restaurants throughout the space. Visit on weekday mornings to avoid crowds, as the narrow corridor can feel busy during peak shopping hours.
The Italian bakery Caffè Stern now operates in a space that was once a printing press producing menus for the Elysée Palace, the presidential residence. This transformation shows how old workspaces have been reimagined for new purposes within the passage.
Location: 2nd arrondissement of Paris
Location: Quartier Vivienne
Inception: 1800
Length: 133 m
Width: 3.2 m
Part of: road network of Paris
Shares border with: boulevard Montmartre, galerie des Variétés, galerie Montmartre, Passage Jouffroy, rue Saint-Marc
Address: Passage des Panoramas
Opening Hours: Monday-Sunday 06:00-00:00
Website: http://parisinfo.com/musee-monument-paris/100264/Passage-des-Panoramas
GPS coordinates: 48.87100,2.34167
Latest update: December 6, 2025 16:03
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.
This cultural route, highly diverse, explores Paris beyond its usual landmarks, revealing a city of art collections, green spaces, and varied architecture. The itinerary includes the Musée Marmottan Monet, which houses more than 300 paintings by the artist, squares like Parc Monceau with its columns and 18th-century pavilions, and urban ensembles such as Place des Vosges, completed in 1612 under Henri IV. The circuit also passes through Île Saint-Louis, where mansions line the quays since the 17th century, and crosses the Marais district, with its narrow streets filled with galleries and museums inside historic aristocratic houses. The route extends to the Fondation Louis Vuitton in the Bois de Boulogne, a glass and steel building designed by Frank Gehry, opened in 2014. Other stops include lesser-visited spots such as Coulée verte René-Dumont, a 4.7 km planted promenade on an old railway, and Parc de Bercy with its three themed gardens. This circuit allows visitors to see different facets of Paris, from the catacombs under the 14th arrondissement to the colorful facades of rue Crémieux, from the flower market on Île de la Cité to César's large-scale sculpture in La Défense.
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Another very beautiful Parisian passage where one is spoiled for choice in terms of dining.
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