the passages of Paris

The streets of Paris are, of course, charming and beautiful. What I didn’t know, though, is that there is a whole network of somewhat-hidden covered passages between the streets waiting to be explored.

These arcades typically have some kind of skylight, flooding them with natural light from above. Varying in width, some are crowded with tables and shop displays while others are more spartan and open. Almost all of them are lined with stores, cafes, and restaurants.

The entrances are in plain sight, but I didn’t notice them at first. It’s easy enough to glance right over them. Once I knew they were there, however, I started seeing them everywhere.

We spent the better part of a day exploring several in the 1st and 2nd arrondissements, as well as stumbling onto others throughout our stay in the city.