Galeries Lafayette, Paris

About Galeries Lafayette

Galeries Lafayette Haussmann is the flagship of the French department store chain, in the 9th arrondissement near the Palais Garnier. It began in the 1890s, when Théophile Bader and his cousin Alphonse Kahn opened a small fashion shop on the corner of Rue La Fayette and Rue de la Chaussée d'Antin. The business grew fast, and in the early 20th century the company bought the neighbouring buildings on Boulevard Haussmann.

Today it's a 70,000-square-metre store with clothing for every budget, from everyday wear to haute couture, plus beauty, jewellery, homeware and gourmet food. But what draws visitors most is the architecture and the rooftop view.

What to see

• The dome — glass and steel, 43 metres high.
• Art Nouveau stairs and balconies — gilded tiers beneath the dome.
• The rooftop terrace — a free view over central Paris.
• The Christmas tree — suspended under the dome every winter.
• The fashion show — a weekly show for visitors, by booking.
• The food hall — delicacies and sweets.

The dome and architecture

The Boulevard Haussmann building was remodelled by the architect Georges Chedanne and his pupil Ferdinand Chanut. Chanut designed the famous neo-Byzantine dome of glass and steel, 43 metres high, inaugurated in October 1912. Beneath it rise tiers of balconies with gilded ironwork and Art Nouveau staircases, one of the most beautiful interiors in Paris.

In 1932 part of the store was updated in Art Deco style by the architect Pierre Patou. From the centre of the main hall, crane your neck to admire the dome's coloured stained glass, the store's most photographed spot.

The rooftop view

The rooftop terrace offers one of the best free panoramas in Paris. Right beside you are the green dome and gilded statues of the Palais Garnier, and beyond them the Eiffel Tower, the Tour Montparnasse, the golden dome on the Left Bank and Sacré-Cœur on Montmartre.

The roof has seen some drama: in 1919 the pilot Jules Védrines landed a plane on it, a publicity stunt that made every newspaper. Today you can have a coffee or a glass of wine up top with the city at your feet.

Christmas and events

Every year at Christmas a huge Christmas tree is suspended beneath the dome, a tradition begun in 1976. The store's windows on Boulevard Haussmann are dressed with animated figures, drawing thousands of families with children.

Exhibitions run all year, and the cultural space shows contemporary art. A fashion show for visitors is held regularly; you need to book in advance.

What's nearby

Next door on the same boulevard stands another famous department store, Printemps, with its own rooftop terrace, and around them the Grands Boulevards with shops, cafés and theatres. Together they form the main shopping district of Paris.

From here it's five minutes' walk to the Palais Garnier and ten to La Madeleine and the Place Vendôme. A store visit pairs easily with a tour of the Opéra.

Tips for your visit

Without shopping, an hour is enough: stand under the dome, go up to the roof and browse the food hall. If you plan to shop, allow half a day.

Watch your belongings, as the sales floors and boulevard are crowded. Photographing the dome is fine, but don't block the aisles.

Combine the store with the Palais Garnier and a stroll along the Grands Boulevards, with plenty of cafés nearby for a break.

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How to do it right

• Free entry.
• Free rooftop.
• Quieter mornings.
• The Opéra next door.

Questions