Shopping In Paris ... Le Bon Marché

Le Bon Marché ... 

is one of Paris' most lovely shopping venues

and one that I always visit each time I go to Paris.  

It's on the Left Bank and is the only large department 
store on that side of the Seine.  

Yes, there are the Lafayette Galleries and Le Printemps 

stores on the Right Bank but if you want a more personal shopping experience, you must try Le Bon Marché.

Now I do look at all the beautiful merchandise 

when I visit a store but when I visit Le Bon Marché,

it's the architecture that takes my breathe away. 

I'm a tall woman who has difficulty finding clothes 

that fit me in Paris.  My French sisters are so 

trim and petite and they have euros and I have dollars 

which also makes shopping a little too expensive, 

although that may be changing now.....
But architecture can ... it "fits" everyone.

The design of the building was conceived by Gustave Eiffel, the same man who brought us the Eiffel Tower.  

The store dates back to the 1850's.

The style of the building is Art Nouveau and is evident 

in the beautiful details around the interior of the store. 

These beautiful stairs with the lovely railings

 just took my breathe away.

The furniture floor is where I spent most of my time 

when I visited the store on this trip.  How beautiful 

were the new furniture designs when they were 

shown in this lovely space.  The modern light fixture 

stands out in this spacious area.

When you visit Le Bon Marché, you feel like you dropped
 into a very unique museum.  The store was featuring the 
top furniture designers of the past with displays of 
their famous signature pieces.

Eames, Aalto, Saarinen, Jacobsen and Starck 

were just a few of the "stars" I saw that day.

Every little corner of the furniture department 

had a surprise.  At the manager's desk, I spotted 

these 3 lovely judies in the corner covered with modern patterned fabric.  Or notice the large abstract 

painting behind the desk.  
Touches of incredible art were everywhere.

Like this wonderful sculpture just outside the 

book department.

The stationery department with it's colorful displays 

just pop against the backdrop of the 

gorgeous ceiling of the store.  

You know the best part of visiting Le Bon Marché?  

The other two large department stores on the Right Bank 

are constantly filled to the rafters with shoppers 

and many, many tourists.  This beautiful smaller 

store feels like a department store just for the Parisians 

and when you visit,  you have a special window 
into the life of this remarkable city and it's people.  

So next time in Paris, take the time to visit 
Le Bon Marché and then cross the street 
to visit it's unbelievable food emporium.  
"La Grande Epicerie De Paris" is another must-see 
in Paris, especially if you are a gourmet.  

Your mouth will drop at the expanse of this 

establishment and your wallet will empty 

but what a way to go.

Le Bon Marché

24, rue de Sevres

7th arrondissement

Metro:  Line 10, Sevres-Babylon