This March we will be returning to Paris for a week. The last time we were there, we did the typical touristy things, but this time we%26#39;d like to check out some of the department stores.
Can anyone tell me the names of some ofthe nicer department stores and where they are in town? We are staying on rue Cler in the 7th district. Thanks!
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The largest department stores are Printemps and Galeries Lafayette. They are located next to one another on Boulevard Haussmann, nearest metro stations: Havre-Caumartin, Chaussee d%26#39;Antin.
As you will be staying in the 7th arrondissement you should also visit Le Bon Marche, a bit more upmarket than Printemps and Galeries Lafayette. It is the only department store on the Left Bank of the Seine and is just at the Sevres-Babylone metro station.
Enjoy your stay!
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And if you go to Bon Marche, make sure to pop across the street corner to La Grand Epicerie. It is sort of a food annex to Bon Marche. It has everything (and i mean EVERYTHING) you can imagine that is digestible. Even if you don%26#39;t buy anything, it is so interesting just to look.
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WoW what great information! Thank you both so much!!
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I%26#39;m not sure that Au Bon Marché is more upmarket than Galeries Lafayette and Au Printemps, though - in my experience, things are usually (slightly) cheaper at Bon Marché.
BHV (Bazar de l%26#39;Hotel de Ville) in de rue Rivoli is certainly more down-to-earth, but also worth a visit if you%26#39;re into DIY or home deco.
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Hi
I have marked Galleri Lafayette on this interactive Google map that I have made: http://gardkarlsen.com/paris_france_map.htm . It is the top red marker right next to the opera and the marker title is Café Malongo. This is where we found the best coffee in Paris :-) The map also shows other attractions and places to eat :-)
Regards
Gard
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If you do go to Galeries Lafayette check out the gormand (spelling?) section.
I discovered it quite by accident. As you come out of the Auber station before exiting to street there is a arcade area, I could see these stairs going up and people going up it. so one day I decided %26quot;well, all they can do is tell me I can%26#39;t go there%26quot;. I was like a kid in a candy store (LOL). totally awed by all the food.
The office I was working out of was in the next building and we bought our breakfast and lunch there most days. and then I would wander to either Galeries or Printemps to window shop.
One word of warning, don%26#39;t touch the fruit, just point. Bonjour, merci, etc.
You can buy food for a picnic, to take back to apartment to prepare, even some things you can take back to US.
I%26#39;m sure one of the Parisians can give you more specific details as to where it is.
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In addition to all those places mentioned, you can also take Metro Place d%26#39;Italie and go to the huge shopping mall there. The Commercial Place D Italie Mall. There are many stores including Tati and Le Printemp and a large FNAC too also in the lower floor is a huge Champion grocery and next to it is a very large Go Sport store.
Another good place to shop is Les Halles Commerical Mall with a two floor H %26amp; M store and lots of other great stores.
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GALERIES LAFAYETTE, PRINTEMPS and Le BON MARCHÉ offer %26#39;..De Taxe..%26#39; Desks, where you may take your day%26#39;s purchases (totaling more than the 175 € VAT minimun), and receive an immediate VAT refund of 12 % (only a portion of the usual 19.8% VAT on most consumer goods) on your days purchases. The 175 € minimum purchase requirement for VAT refunds applies ONLY to purchases made in the same store, on the same day. With this in mind, it may be smart to have a shopping %26#39;..plan..%26#39;..and %26#39;..concentrate..%26#39; your purchases at a single %26#39;..grand magazin..%26#39;....so that you may take advantage of the VAT minimum for refunds. Spend 75€ at Printemp, 25 € at Galeries Lafayette and 100 € at Le Bon Marché and you qualify for ZERO € in VAT refunds.
Check store hours and late-openning days...you may be able to %26#39;..extend..%26#39; your ordinary %26#39;..time available..%26#39; a bit by choosing a late-openning day to shop.
GALERIES LAFAYETTE--
galerieslafayette.com/international/index.do
PRINTEMPS--
http://departmentstoreparis.printemps.com/
Le BON MARCHÉ--
http://www.lebonmarche.fr/
BHV--
http://www.bhv.fr/
TATI--
http://tati.ca-interactive.fr/minisite/
FNAC--
http://www.fnac.com/
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GALERIS LAFAYETTE and PRINTEMPS also offer free, in-store Fashion Shows one day (different days) during the week, that might also be of interest to you.
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If you go to BHV (see the reference a few posts down), make sure you hit the basement. It%26#39;s basically the hardware section, but you can find the coolest things for the home. For example - the little white metal signs that say things like - take your shoes off or beware of dog in French. I%26#39;ve seen these two $15+ in the States and there only a few Euros there. They have door knobs, hardware pulls, and other fun things.
And if you%26#39;re into cooking, please go to Dehillerin near Les Halles -
18 et 20, rue Coquillière. You%26#39;ve never seen so many copper pots, wisks, etc....
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