Galeries Lafayette

Théophile Bader and Alphonse Kahn opened a small haberdashery on this corner in 1893, which grew to fill the block. The great Art Nouveau stained-glass dome, 43 metres high, was unveiled in 1912, and a glass walkway over the central atrium lets you step out above the void.

On the top floor, a free terrace has views of almost 360 degrees: Opéra Garnier right opposite, the Eiffel Tower, Sacré-Cœur and the zinc rooftops. At Christmas a giant tree goes up under the dome and the boulevard windows fill with animated displays.