Passage du Caire – Sentier district
The Passage du Caire is located in the heart of the Sentier industrial district.
Opened in 1799, it is the second-oldest covered passage in Paris and one of the few still in existence.
It was built on the site of a 13th-century convent that was razed during the French Revolution, and it is said that its original floor was paved with the tombstones of the nuns!
The Passage du Caire is the longest covered arcade in Paris. It comprises three interconnected galleries: the Galerie du Caire, the Galerie Saint-Denis, and the Galerie Sainte-Foy.
With four entrances, it serves as a true crossroads for wholesalers, distributors, tailors, subcontractors, and merchants.
However, despite its thriving business, the Passage du Caire has never quite achieved the charm and refinement of its counterparts. Although its architecture is not necessarily spectacular, it nevertheless exudes an authenticity that makes it stand out from its more prestigious counterparts.
Oriental-inspired decoration
The unique and varied ornamentation of this passageway reflects the widespread fascination with Orientalism, sparked by Napoleon‘s military campaigns in Egypt at the beginning of the 19th century.
This is evidenced by the integration of Doric and Egyptian motifs on the columns supporting the stained-glass window.
The entrance at No. 2 Place du Caire is a striking example of Egyptian-inspired architecture. The facade of the building, constructed in 1828, is indeed adorned with three effigies of Hathor, the Egyptian goddess of Love and Motherhood.
However, the sculptor Joseph Garraud took creative liberties in his interpretation of Hathor, endowing her with cow ears, thus departing somewhat from traditional representations! Garraud also created a frieze of fanciful hieroglyphs above the effigies and incorporated lotus-shaped windows.
Le Champollion, the bistro located on the ground floor of the building, was named after Jean-François Champollion, the famous scholar who accompanied Napoleon to Egypt and deciphered the Rosetta Stone.
Although the Passage du Caire is atypical, its blend of history, architecture, and commerce makes it a truly off-the-beaten-path destination. The icing on the cake is that you can also find excellent bargains at the wholesale shops located there!
Opening Hours: Mon-Fri – 7am-6.30pm – Free access
Directions: 2nd district
Metro: Sentier on Line 3
Coordinates:
2 Place du Caire: Lat 48.868099 – Long 2.348745
33 Rue d’Alexandrie: Lat 48.868386 – Long 2.349820
239 Rue St-Denis: Lat 48.867596 – Long 2.351554
16 Rue du Caire: Lat 48.867486 – Long 2.351210
