Journées du Patrimoine 2024: Printemps Haussmann reveals its secrets in Paris

It's the highlight of the autumn! The Journées du Patrimoine in Paris make their grand return this weekend, September 21 to 22, 2024. Two days during which Printemps Haussmann organizes exclusive guided tours, through the most hidden corners of the department store. There'll be plenty of surprises in store!

Make way for the must-attend back-to-school event! On September 21 and 22, 2024, the Journées du Patrimoine in Paris offers you the opportunity to discover your favorite Parisian sites from a different angle. With guided tours, shows and creative workshops, it's a weekend packed with events to be enjoyed along a cultural itinerary that criss-crosses the capital. With family or friends, explore the treasures of the City of Light and enter exclusive venues often inaccessible to the public!

Heritage Days 2024 in the temples of fashion, luxury and beauty
The Journées du Patrimoine 2024 in Paris takes place this weekend, September 21 and 22, 2024. For the occasion, we invite you to discover the temples of fashion in Paris that are opening their doors to you. The secrets of the fashion houses and department stores are waiting for you! [Read more]

A cultural journey with an obligatory stop at the Parisian department stores, of course. Printemps has stood proudly at number 64 Boulevard Haussmann since 1865. Created by a visionary couple, Jules and Augustine Jaluzot, and rebuilt in 1882 by Paul Sédille following a devastating fire, the building is now one of the most beautiful in the world, dedicated to commerce.

For 157 years, Printemps Haussmann, formerly "Au Printemps", has been at the forefront of trends. Historians have even called it the "prototype of the modern department store", while Émile Zola drew inspiration from it to describe the "cathedral of commerce" in his novel "Au Bonheur des Dames".
Today, Printemps is one of the capital's most important showcases, bearing witness to a rich history of French art de vivre.

For the Journées du Patrimoine 2024 in Paris, discover Printemps Haussmann as you've never seen it before!

2024 Heritage Days program at Printemps Haussmann :

In the heart of the cathedral of commerce, the secrets of Printemps" guided tour
September 21 and 22
Private terraces, underground passageways and never-before-seen archives: discover Printemps as you've never seen it before!
159 years ago, in 1865, the "Au Printemps" department store was born. Created by Jules and Augustine Jaluzot, a visionary couple, in a neighborhood that was still peripheral and not very commercial, it established itself from the moment it opened as a brand with an original identity: "Au Printemps, everything is new, fresh and pretty, just like the title: Au Printemps".
Rebuilt in 1882 by Paul Sédille and considered by historians to be the prototype of the modern department store, Printemps inspired the "cathedral of commerce" described by Zola in Au Bonheur des Dames, published the following year.

During the European Heritage Days weekend, we invite you to take an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the most hidden secrets of Printemps Haussmann. It's a totally free guided walk and a fabulous adventure between architecture, fashion and history: from a private terrace with a 360° panoramic view of Paris to the 7th Heaven, its floor dedicated to circularity; from the monumental gates to the underground passages where craftsmen and technicians work, and where the Salle des Machines and the World War II galleries are hidden; from the majestic glass dome created in 1910 to the monumental Art Deco grand staircase, which last year was restored to its former glory after 40 years closed to the public. The department store reveals itself as you've never seen it before.
Starting point for tours: the reception area on the ground floor of Printemps de l'Homme (boulevard Haussmann side)
Alongside the guided tours, you can discover the "Vestologie" exhibition, presented from August 29 to October 13 under the historic cupola on the 6th floor of Printemps de la Femme, as well as on the walkway on the 2nd floor. The exhibition, organized around a thematic trail, explores the rich social and cultural history of the jacket, a fundamental element of the modern wardrobe and an essential part of both men's and women's dressing rooms. Eight sections contrast works or representations of fashion history with contemporary pieces. You'll find loans from museums and fashion houses, vintage pieces from collectors, Printemps archives, as well as photographic prints, videos, perfumes, materials, drawings, patterns and testimonials. This diversity of objects and media offers an immersive and enriching experience.

Are you ready to discover Printemps Haussmann 's best-kept secrets?