A compact, sun-proof walk through the absolute center of Paris. Duck into elegant 19th-century covered passages, stroll tree-lined royal gardens, and discover hidden green courtyards—never breaking a sweat.
This route has 7 stops.
Anne Frank Garden: Start at Jardin Anne Frank, a hidden garden in the northern Marais. Its canopy of trees and quiet benches make it a perfect cool retreat before heading into the covered passages.
Passage des Panoramas: Step into Passage des Panoramas (1799), Paris's oldest covered passage. Under its original glass roof you'll find vintage stamp dealers, traditional bistros, and a constant cool breeze.
Galerie Vivienne: Continue to Galerie Vivienne (1823), widely considered the most beautiful passage in Paris. Its spectacular mosaic floors and neoclassical elegance are fully sheltered from sun and rain.
Galerie Colbert: Adjoining Galerie Vivienne, Galerie Colbert (1826) offers a stunning glass rotunda and classical columns—an architectural masterpiece that stays deliciously cool year-round.
Palais-Royal Garden: Walk through the Jardin du Palais-Royal. Its double rows of lime trees create deep shade over gravel alleys, while Buren's striped columns and historic arcades offer sheltered galleries to explore.
Cour du Commerce-Saint-André: Cross to the Left Bank and enter the Cour du Commerce-Saint-André (1735), a narrow cobblestone passage where tall buildings block the sun. This revolutionary-era arcade is where Marat was assassinated and Dr. Guillotin tested his invention.
Eugène Delacroix: End at Place de Furstenberg, one of Paris's most beautiful and shaded little squares. Four paulownia trees cast a thick canopy over the cobblestones, right beside Eugène Delacroix's former studio and museum.