Galeries Lafayette Haussmann is a landmark department store on Boulevard Haussmann in Paris, opened in 1894. Even without shopping, you can look up at the stained-glass dome from the central atrium, then head to the rooftop terrace for wide views across the city, including the Eiffel Tower and Palais Garnier. Inside, the store brings together fashion, beauty, accessories and other goods from French and international brands. Stop at the food hall or rooftop cafés for a break; the building can be busy, so allow time to explore.
A department store opened in 1894
Galeries Lafayette Haussmann began as a novelty shop in 1894 and grew into a large department store on Boulevard Haussmann, in Paris’s Opéra district. Its central building is known for a stained-glass dome and an interior arranged around the open space beneath it. The store has been refurbished over time, including an Art Deco redesign in 1932.
The Haussmann branch is part of a larger group of buildings, with separate Gourmet and Maison stores across the street. Inside the main store, departments include fashion, beauty, shoes, jewellery, children’s clothing and accessories.
Looking up at the dome
The central atrium is the place to pause and see the coloured glass overhead. For a closer look, find the Glasswalk on the third floor, a suspended walkway set above the store floor. A platform on the fourth floor provides another viewpoint toward the dome. From the upper level, you can also see the dome’s exterior metal supports.
The building’s displays and interior decorations change over time. During the Christmas season, a large tree is suspended beneath the dome, and the store decorates its windows for the holidays.
The rooftop terrace
The rooftop terrace gives you a view over Paris, with the Eiffel Tower and Palais Garnier among the landmarks visible from above. You can visit for the panorama without ordering food or drinks. There are also places on the rooftop to sit for a meal or a drink, so it can work as a pause between shopping and sightseeing.
The terrace is a popular place to watch the sunset and take photographs. Expect to share the view with other visitors at busy times. The food hall on an upper floor is another place to stop for refreshments.
Shopping across the departments
The main store brings together French and international labels across fashion, cosmetics, perfume, shoes, jewellery, bags and children’s clothing. The ground floor has cosmetics and fragrances, while the wider store includes departments for women’s shoes and other accessories.
For French wine, Duclot La Cave inside Galeries Lafayette has bottles from producers across France, from Grand Cru wines to smaller wine makers. Staff who speak multiple languages can advise on choosing a bottle. The store is also worth a stop if you are not shopping: the dome, Glasswalk and rooftop terrace give you several reasons to explore the building.
Perguntas frequentes
Is the rooftop terrace free to visit?
The rooftop terrace is open to visitors without requiring a food or drink purchase.
Where can I see the stained-glass dome?
Look up from the central atrium. The Glasswalk on the third floor and a platform on the fourth floor offer closer views.
What can you see from the rooftop?
The terrace looks across Paris, with views that include the Eiffel Tower and Palais Garnier.
What is the Glasswalk?
It is a suspended walkway on the third floor that lets you look toward the dome from above the store floor.
