5 good reasons to go shopping in France

The passages

• In Nantes, the Passage Pommeraye, named after its creator, is home to elegant boutiques and art galleries perfectly integrated into the neo-classical aesthetic. Organised on three levels around a monumental staircase, this bright, luxurious enclave has been a source of inspiration for cinema and artists since the 19th century.
   
• For its part, the Passage de L'Argue in Lyon, the jewel in the crown of the Rue de la République, offers a shopping trip back to the early 19th century in the former gold and silver weaving workshops. The shops in the passage are surprisingly busy, celebrating the skills of yesteryear and offering accessories such as pipes, hats, umbrellas and walking sticks.
   
• Shopping in Paris requires a long stopover at the Passage Jouffroy. This is undoubtedly the most famous and elegant of all. Under its glass roof and black-and-white chequered floor, it's a real invitation to travel back in time. A Parisian experience to be repeated in the capital's other passages and galleries: the Galerie Vivienne, the Passage Choiseul, the Passage des Panorama and the Passage du Grand-Cerf.

The traditional Parisian department stores

Built in 1905, Le Bon Marché, the first of the Parisian department stores, and whose interior structures were created by the Eiffel workshops, is a jewel of Art Deco architecture conceived as a cathedral of modern commerce and immortalised by Zola in ‘Au Bonheur des Dames’.

Reopened in 2021, La Samaritaine has retained its legendary Art Nouveau lustre while becoming a 20,000 m² showcase for the French art of living. From early morning until late into the night, the Samaritaine offers gastronomy, fashion and beauty, all with a magnificent view over the Pont Neuf.

Inaugurated in 1865, Printemps Haussmann is a mainstay of luxury shopping in Paris. With its famous 1923 dome, this department stores' is an emblematic work of Art Nouveau, offering an unparalleled visual and shopping experience. With floors dedicated to fashion, beauty and homeware, Printemps celebrates French elegance and is the place to be for lovers of trends and refined products.

Galeries Lafayette, founded in 1894, dominates boulevard Haussmann with its majestic neo-Byzantine dome, completed in 1912. This temple to upmarket shopping stands out for its bold architecture and constant innovation. A meeting point for fashion and luxury enthusiasts, Galeries Lafayette offers an immersion in the chic Parisian art of living, while regularly organising exhibitions and events that bring the heart of the capital to life.

The docks

The Docks de Marseille are 365 metres long and 7 storeys high, in the Joliette district. A living space open to the sea, it offers day and night a selection of shops in keeping with the city's identity, places to relax and stroll, and quick access to Marseille's artistic institutions such as the Mucem.

Located at the entrance to the city centre, Le Havre's Docks Vauban, the first in France, has also preserved this maritime industrial spirit since 1884. Today, you can enjoy a coffee between the splendid brick walls and on the many terraces.

Rehabilitation

From maritime transport to rail transport, renovations are well under way. The Viaduc des Arts - in the heart of Paris - has transformed a disused nineteenth-century railway line into a temple to crafts and arts. Under each brick and glass arcade of the viaduct, splendid workshops showcase the very best of today's creativity. Once you've reached the end of the 1.5 km viaduct, climb the stairs to enjoy the coulée verte, a bucolic garden running the length of the viaduct.

In the heart of the capital, the Cours Saint-Emilion has become Bercy village, a haven for culture, shopping and gastronomy. On old railway tracks (still visible), shops of all kinds rub shoulders with cinemas, climbing gyms and restaurants of all kinds. 

Shopping breaks in the French countryside and villages

In the Cher (Loire Valley), the splendid Galerie Capazza has been housed in the stables of the Château du Nançay since 1975. This haven of peace and simple elegance, 35km from the magnificent medieval town of Bourges, is home to waxed bricks, top-flight gastronomy, innovative artists and craftsmanship turned into art (goldsmiths, painters, draughtsmen, photographers, ceramists, sculptors, glassmakers).

In the heart of the Berry region, Levroux, a town more than 2,000 years old, is the stronghold of ancestral know-how that has transformed this charming town into a leather-making capital. Chanel has bought one of the village's ancestral tanneries. Levroux's leather festival in October features fashion shows showcasing the latest creations by Parisian designers.

• In Paris, historic shops are renowned for their high-quality artistic associations. It's not unusual to see an immersive theatrical performance or an opera aria in La Grande Epicerie du Bon Marché. Every year, the fashion and beauty building is enhanced by a monumental and poetic work of art by renowned talents. A truly free programme.
   
• The BHV, a veritable shopping institution in the Marais district, focuses its activities on arts and crafts and the culinary arts, with constantly renewed workshops and immersive aesthetic experiences.
   
• In Metz, the Muse centre lives up to its name. Built opposite the Centre-Pompidou-Metz and the new Hôtel Stark, the huge 112-store shopping mall pays tribute to architecture and design, and offers a strolling tour of four original works by four international artists, designed exclusively for Muse.
   
• The Polygone Riviera, an open-air shopping centre in Cagnes-sur-Mer on the Côte d'Azur, puts contemporary art at the heart of its many spaces. ‘Format Paysage’ features works by eleven local, national and international artists on a permanent basis.
   
• The Nice Étoile shopping centre, in the heart of the city, regularly features innovative, surprising, playful and unexpected works in temporary exhibitions.

The way we shop is changing, and so are the places to go shopping in France. Many new districts and new types of shops are springing up in the heart of cities or on their outskirts.

• In Bordeaux, the Chartrons district, formerly a warehouse for storing and ageing wine, is now a must for shopping sprees. Close to the city centre, with its typical old architecture and wine museum, it is now a haven for antique dealers, second-hand goods dealers, avant-garde restaurants, street art and young designers.
   
• In a different style, La Vallée Village, on the outskirts of Paris and not far from Disneyland parks, has been entirely created to offer a total experience. 110 boutiques selling prestigious French and international brands at discounted prices sit alongside restaurants and leisure areas in a whimsical, chic setting.
   
• In a similar spirit, Roppenheim The Style Outlets awaits visitors just outside Strasbourg. Under the open sky, in a typical recreated village, more than 100 top brands offer their collections from previous seasons all year round, with a minimum discount of 30%.
   
• In Lyon, the workshops and boutiques in the Passage Thiaffait incubator focus on designers working in association. The Yellow Purse, a new shopping centre, focuses on the ecological experience, with buildings equipped with photovoltaic panels, green car parks and a farm on the roof terrace.
   
• A few minutes from Grenoble city centre, a similar spirit drives the eco-design of Neyrpic in Saint-Martin d'Hères. This magnificent living and shopping space, with its many suspended, plant-covered terraces, boasts a remarkable view and a collection of emblematic brands, new, ethical and innovative concepts, coworking and events facilities, and local services provided by local retailers.
   
• In Montpellier, the new art of living and consuming is embodied in the Marché du Lez. The new Bassin Jacques Cœur/Port-Marianne district is home to this progressive, responsible, innovative and contemporary venue. It's a real village in the city, where you can indulge yourself, nourish your body and your mind.  
  Le Lez, a market like no other in Montpellier
   
• On a smaller scale, the delightful port of Calvi, in Corsica, is the place to discover new local designers, a trend perfectly embodied by Maison Macci. Passing on traditional know-how, demanding style and sustainable innovation all come together to create unique pieces in idyllic surroundings.
   
• In Colmar, in a charming vintage decor and relaxed atmosphere, The Store - Collections d'envies invites you to find the piece that lasts and stays among the collections of hand-picked and accessible designers.
   
• Sometimes the new district is nomadic! This is the case in Rennes with Komet Story, an ephemeral boutique of local and international designers that operates without sales assistants or cash registers, like a private, connected showroom. The ‘box’ to follow is being set up on Breton beaches and in railway stations.

• In France, shopping can be a truly prestigious, pleasurable and unforgettable experience. Among the countless shopping venues in Paris, the personal shopper at Le Bon Marché is a must. With or without an appointment, you can be guided by a specialist through the fashion, beauty, watchmaking, jewellery and homeware departments of the legendary store.
   
• Established in Pantin since 1992, the Hermès House offers tours of its historic workshops in the splendid Cité des métiers. Leather goods, dressmaking, carpentry, goldsmithing: an incomparable moment at the heart of luxury craftsmanship.
   
• In Besançon, the watchmaking capital of France, the Utinam Philippe Lebru factory offers a journey back in time. A fascinating discovery of exceptional expertise, the immersive experience of being in the shoes of a watchmaker makes the purchase of a watch priceless.
   
• Staying true to local craftsmanship, a trip to the magnificent Basque country includes a visit to the Tissage Lartigue workshops in Ascain or Bidos. Part of the local heritage since 1910, the company works traditional linen with absolute chic and a great sense of innovation, respect for its original values and the environment.
   
• With over 40 years in business, Série Noire is a pioneer in the world of luxury and designers in fashion, design, culture and art. Family-run and located in the heart of Lille's old town, the magnificent 400 m² boutique champions sustainable, personalised fashion. On request, the concept store can help you build a made-to-measure, long-term wardrobe using timeless pieces selected from designers with similar values.
   
• More intimate, the Alicia Keane agency in Bordeaux practises fashion therapy, making style a pillar of self-knowledge. By appointment, this is an opportunity to rediscover yourself on an authentic, guided shopping trip to the city's off-the-beaten-track boutiques.
   
• In Brest, the L'habit fait le moi concept store offers a complete before-and-after makeover experience in a cosy tea-room atmosphere. There are no sales assistants, just image consultants to help you tackle every aspect of your look, from clothes to hairstyle and make-up.

• Everywhere in France, second-hand, vintage, short-run and craft products are now playing a major role. So it's possible to treat yourself while limiting your impact and even encouraging positive initiatives.
   
• The big cities offer a whole range of vintage, from luxury to second-hand. Like many Parisian stores, La Samaritaine offers a second-hand section. The magnificent Didier Ludot boutique, under the arcades of the Palais Royal gardens, also offers very top-of-the-range luxury vintage. On the outskirts of Paris, the Saint-Ouen flea market is brimming with finds, treasures, the unusual and terraces where you can spend hours watching the hustle and bustle of this temple to second-hand goods.
   
• When it comes to affordable luxury, Marseille is a destination of choice, and specialists in unique second-hand pieces await enthusiasts at Mercato, Coco Vintage, Mélanine vintage, Maison mère, Santa Marius and Blow up. Vintage street and chic furniture and textiles are also on offer at Joli Rouge, at the top of the legendary Rue d'Aubagne.
   
• Lille has established itself as a ‘city of second-hand goods’ thanks to its huge annual second-hand goods fair. It attracts people from all over the world. Vintage has found its rightful place here with the enlightened and passionate professionals at Fripeur le Dauphin, Tony and Maiterama Vintage, where you'll find bargain-hunted pieces unearthed with taste.
   
• In Bordeaux, the remarkable Darwin space and its alternative culture offer great opportunities for responsible shopping.
  Own Darwin, the other side of Bordeaux
   
• The beautiful and friendly MERCI concept store in Paris also offers a different way of consuming by questioning our lifestyles. Whether it's homeware, design, fashion, stationery, books or coffee, the shop is constantly fine-tuning its offerings to reflect its own convictions and discerning taste. Not far from there, in the chic 3rd arrondissement, is the Front De Mode concept store, the result of collaboration between stylists committed to Made in France and designers keen on ecological recycling.