Passage Choiseul

Passage Choiseul is one of the covered passages of Paris located in the 2nd arrondissement. It is the continuation of Rue de Choiseul.

The Passage Choiseul is on a site previously occupied by four hôtels particuliers, acquired by the Mallet Bank () for a real-estate development that included the Opéra-Comique's nearby Salle Ventadour. The passage was built between 1826 and 1827, first to the designs of the architect Francois Mazois, then Antoine Tavernier. Mazois died before the building was complete, and Tavernier completed the work.

The author Louis-Ferdinand Celine lived here as a child in the early 20th century. The Passage Choiseul is mentioned in two of his novels: Journey to the End of the Night and Death on the Installment Plan. Celine described it as having gas lamps that "stank as badly as the stagnant air," and the aroma of "dogs urine" in the passage.

In 1907 the glass roof was replaced (although its ironwork dates from 1891). The passage fell into disrepair. In the 1970s visitation increased when Kenzo opened a boutique in the passage. They have since relocated to the Place des Victories.

Passage Choiseul is a shopping and food area. It has restaurants, clothing stores, book stores, jewellery shops, art galleries, art supply shops and hair cutter. The entrance to the Théâtre des Bouffes-Parisiens is located in the passage. The bottom floor is mainly retail and the upper floors are primarily residential. It is the longest covered passage in the city, at 190 meters and 3.7 meters width. In 2012, it began renovations and restoration by Jean Frédéric Grevet. It is a registered historic monument in France.

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Wikipedia