At the end of the 18th century, town planners in Paris created a labyrinth of hidden passages across the city. They offered the shoppers of the day a safe haven from the rain, mud and filth of the streets as well as the disorderly traffic of the time There are around 20 of them left. These arcades created by piercing through buildings are all different and often beautifully decorated, with glass roofs, sculpted wooden decor, mosaic floors and aligned with fashion shops, theaters, tearooms, wine bars restaurants, flower and bookshops.
