ThePassage Choiseul (French pronunciation:[pasaʒʃwazœl]) is one of thecovered passages of Paris, located in the2nd arrondissement.[1] It is the continuation of the Rue de Choiseul.
The Passage Choiseul is on a site previously occupied by fourhôtels particuliers, acquired by theMallet Bank [fr] for a real-estate development that included theOpéra-Comique's nearbySalle Ventadour.[2] The passage was built between 1826 and 1827, first to the designs of the architectFrançois Mazois [fr], then Antoine Tavernier.[2] Mazois died before the building was complete, and Tavernier completed the work.[3]
The authorLouis-Ferdinand Céline lived there 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 andDeath on the Installment Plan.[2] Céline described it as havinggas lamps that "stank as badly as the stagnant air", and the aroma of "dogs urine" in the passage.[1]
In 1907, the glass roof was replaced (although its ironwork dates from 1891[4]). The passage later fell into disrepair. In the 1970s, visitation increased whenKenzo opened a boutique in the passage. They have since relocated to thePlace des Victoires.[citation needed]
The Passage Choiseul is a shopping and food area. It has restaurants, clothing stores, book stores, jewellery shops, art galleries, art supply shops and a hair stylist. The entrance to theThéâtre des Bouffes-Parisiens is located in the passage.[1] The ground floor is mainly retail and the upper floors are primarily residential. It is the longest covered passage in the city, at 190 meters long and 3.7 meters wide. In 2012, renovations and restoration were begun under Jean Frédéric Grevet. It is a registeredhistoric monument in France.[3]
| Located near theMétro stations: Pyramides and Quatre-Septembre. |
It is just west of theGalerie Vivienne on theRue des Petits-Champs in the2nd arrondissement.[1]
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48°52′08″N2°20′09″E / 48.86889°N 2.33583°E /48.86889; 2.33583