Planning to visit the Galeries Lafayette department store? And what nice shops can you find there? Galeries Lafayette is one of the most beautiful department stores in Paris and absolutely worth a visit, even for people who are not very interested in fashion or luxury brands. The Galeries Lafayette shopping center in Paris is located on the famous shopping street Boulevard Haussmann, in the 9th arrondissement. Perhaps the most famous and prestigious store in Paris. The department store has no less than ten floors with thousands of brands. You can go there for haute couture, cosmetics, delicatessen, cooking utensils and design. And don’t forget to look up and admire the extraordinary dome, the iconic symbol of the store, whose stained glass windows in neo-Byzantine style spread a multitude of multi-colored lights.
On the top floor you can enjoy culinary delights in the restaurant with trendy roof terrace and you have one of the most beautiful views of Paris. In addition to the main building, there are also 2 other buildings. Lafayette Homme, with mainly men’s clothing and Lafayette Maison, where you can find everything for your home furnishings. For a drink or a bite to eat, you can go to the Galeries Lafayette Le Gourmet department store. In this article, we will also tell you the address and opening hours of Galeries Lafayette. Are you in Paris at Christmas? Then the department store is very beautifully decorated and an attraction in itself because of the great window displays.
TIP: Learn how to make macarons, attend a fashion show or take a behind-the-scenes tour? Galeries Lafayette offers fun workshops and tours to make your visit to this department store in Paris even more unforgettable.
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1. The Galeries Lafayette shops: the best of fashion and luxury
Galeries Lafayette focuses mainly on French art de vivre and fashion and offers, spread over several floors, clothing, shoes, cosmetics, accessories, as well as jewelry and watches. With no less than 3,500 brands including Chanel, Dior, Louis Vuitton, Saint Laurent, Céline, Cartier, Guerlain or Hermès. And of course also the Galeries Lafayette brands.
In the basement you can now enjoy a brand new ‘Wellness Galerie’ with more than 3000m² dedicated to well-being. With the best of beauty, care and sports, massage cabins, hammam, a sauna area and a fitness room. Enjoy!
On the 3rd floor there is (Re)Store, the new Parisian space dedicated to second-hand and responsible fashion, from accessible to luxury.
Shoes can be found on the 4th floor. From timeless classics to the latest trends, from iconic brands to current designers, from sneakers to stilettos, this is the largest space dedicated to shoes in Europe.
Children are royalty on the 5th floor. On 3000m², from fashion to toys, the brands have been specially selected for them. Men have not been forgotten either. Connected by a footbridge, the Homme store is entirely dedicated to men, with 500 brands spread over 4 floors.
On the 6th floor (under the dome) is a calm and bright bookshop, with a cocooning corner.
2. Admire the (Christmas) windows of Galeries Lafayette
The windows of the Galeries Lafayette are a sight to behold in themselves and are not to be missed before you go inside.
Are you in Paris for Christmas? Every year (since 1976) Galeries Lafayette goes all out during the holidays with beautifully decorated Christmas windows and a gigantic Christmas tree under the glass dome. A magical experience for young and old and essential to get into the Christmas spirit and choose your nice gifts for the holidays.
3. Galeries Lafayette shopping center: History of the building and the dome
In 1893, cousins Théophile Bader and Alphonse Kahn opened a haberdashery called ‘Aux Galeries Lafayette’, within walking distance of the Opéra Garnier. They soon began producing/selling their own fashions and the store quickly expanded by purchasing several buildings across the street. Galeries Lafayette grew into a large department store, selling a wide range of products.
In 1900, Galeries Lafayette was officially registered as a brand name. In 1905, Bader commissioned French architect Georges Chedanne to redesign the newly acquired buildings, a process that was completed in 1907. A few years later, the complex was expanded by Ferdinand Chanut, a student of Chedanne, into the building we know today. The ‘Grand Magasin’ (department store) officially opened in 1912. The building’s most striking feature is its breathtaking Art Nouveau stained glass dome, created by Chanut. The dome gave the building its nickname ‘Magasin Coupole’ (dome store).
In 1916, Galeries Lafayette began expanding outside of Paris, first with stores in smaller cities in France such as Nice and Nantes. With the opening of Galeries Lafayette Berlin in 1996, the department store began a new chapter in its history with expansion outside of France.
4. Panoramic roof terrace with great views over Paris
Looking for a (free) rooftop terrace in Paris to enjoy an exceptional view? La Terrasse des Galeries Lafayette Haussmann offers 1500m2 of rooftop space and breathtaking views over Paris. Head to the 8th floor of the shopping centre to admire the Parisian rooftops, famous monuments such as the Opéra and the beautiful Haussmann buildings of the 9th arrondissement.
The terrace also houses a nice rooftop bar/restaurant (Créatures Paris). Led by chef Julien Sebbag, the rooftop restaurant offers a seasonal and 100% vegetarian menu, garnished with colourful salads and creations with Mediterranean flavours.
5. What are the opening hours of Galeries Lafayette in Paris?
Department store Galeries Lafayette is open seven days a week.
During the week and on Saturdays, the opening hours are from 10am to 8:30pm.
On Sundays, the stores are open from 11am to 8pm.
6. Address of Galeries Lafayette: Boulevard Haussmann in the 9th arrondissement
Galeries Lafayette is located on the famous Boulevard Haussmann in the 9th arrondissement of Paris.
The address of Galeries Lafayette in Paris:
Galeries Lafayette
Boulevard Haussmann 40
75009 Paris
+33 (0)1 42 82 34 56
haussmann.galerieslafayette.com
