Published
Updated
Video length: 3 min
Heritage: the oldest passage in Paris reveals its secrets
The 20 Heures takes you to discover the oldest passage in Paris: the Passage des Panoramas. The place is full of history.
(France 2)
The “20 Heures” takes you to discover the oldest passage in Paris: the passage des panoramas, a place steeped in history.
It is one of the last witnesses of 18th century Paris. Its signs have stood the test of time. To wander around is to enter a tunnel of history. “For me, it is the most interesting part of Paris today”confides a passerby. This is the passage of panoramas. To understand the origin of its name, we must go back to 1799, the date of its construction. On either side of the passage, there were two rotundas, with inside gigantic panoramas representing city landscapes.
The Passage des Panoramas was then the ancestor of shopping galleries. Parisians came there to do their shopping, sheltered from the elements. Today, the star shopkeepers are philatelists. The Garcia twin brothers are the history keepers of the passage. Next to the passage, we find the Théâtre des Variétés. Actors and spectators can therefore borrow this piece of history before enjoying a good show.