Passage Verdeau, a perfect illustration of neo-Classical style of the mid-19th century
The Passage Verdeau is a splendid example of mid-19th-century Neoclassical style.
75 meters long and 3.75 meters wide, it is one of only 30 covered passages remaining in Paris. It connects No. 6 Rue de la Grange Batelière to No. 31 Rue du Faubourg-Montmartre.
Félix de Jouffroy commissioned its construction around the same time as its neighbours, the Passage Jouffroy and the Passage des Panoramas.
However, the passage was named after Jean-Baptiste-Ossian Verdeau, the principal shareholder of the construction company that built it.
The architect Jacques Deschamps designed an imposing glass roof, topped with a basin-shaped arch, to shelter the adjoining houses and the ground-floor shops.
Their elegant and understated facades are characteristic of the neoclassical style then in vogue.
Although the Passage Verdeau opened to the public in 1847, its success was not immediate, unlike that of its neighbour, the Passage Jouffroy.
Indeed, it was only in 1852, with the opening of the adjoining auction house, the Hôtel Drouot, that the Passage Verdeau began to attract crowds.
Over the years, the passage has housed numerous antique dealers, specialising primarily in postcards and rare books. Surprisingly, the layout and decor of these shops have remained virtually unchanged since their creation.
The oldest establishment, a photography shop located at Nos. 14-16, has occupied the same premises since 1901.
While not as opulent or as glamorous as its neighbours, the Passage Verdeau exudes a unique, old-world charm.
Opening hours: Monday to Friday – 7.30am to 9pm – Saturday and Sunday – 7.30am to 8.30pm – Free access
Directions: 9th district – no6 Rue de la Grange-Batelière – no31 bis Rue du Faubourg-Montmartre
Metro stations: Richelieu-Drouot or Grands Boulevards on Lines 8,9
Coordinates Lat 48.873255 – Long 2.342242
