Passage du Havre

The Passage du Havre began its life in eighteen forty-six as a modest covered arcade, built on land owned by local property holders who sought to capitalize on the booming traffic of the nearby Saint-Lazare train station. Its name serves as a geographical compass, pointing directly toward the port city of Le Havre, which became the primary destination for passengers departing from the station to reach the coast. During its early years, authorities frequently monitored the arcade with suspicion, viewing the shops within its narrow corridor as disreputable, particularly given their close proximity to the students at the nearby Lycee Condorcet.