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| Galerie Véro-Dodat |
Location: 2 Rue du Boulou
English translation
"Here stood the mansion of Antoine de Dreux d'Aubray, poisoned along with his two sons by his daughter, the Marquise de Brinvilliers, who was executed in 1676. The butcher Véro bought the hotel in 1823, having it razed to the ground to build the present building and passageway with his partner Dodat. One of the first gas-lit areas in the capital, the Galerie Véro-Dodat was a great success, made even more so by the proximity of the Messageries Générales, located on rue du Bouloi, the terminus of all stagecoaches in France. The opening of the rue du Louvre in 1854, followed by the disappearance of the Messageries in 1880, supplanted by the railroads, led to the decline of the gallery, which was restored in 1980." (Translated by DeepL and ChatGPT)
Background notes
- Antoine de Dreux d'Aubray was a prominent French civil servant in the 17th century, holding positions such as the civil lieutenant of Paris. In 1666, he was poisoned by his daughter, Marie-Madeleine-Marguerite d'Aubray, known as the Marquise de Brinvilliers, as part of a scheme to inherit his wealth. In 1670, she also poisoned her two brothers for the same reason. Her crimes came to light after her lover and co-conspirator, Captain Godin de Sainte-Croix, died unexpectedly in 1672. Among his belongings, authorities discovered incriminating documents that detailed the poisoning plots, ultimately leading to her arrest, trial and execution.
- In the early 19th century, Paris saw a rise in the construction of covered passages, which protected shoppers from the muddy and chaotic streets of pre-Haussmann Paris. These passages became centres of commerce and social life, precursors to modern shopping malls.
- Benoît Véro and François Dodat aimed to capitalise on this trend by building the Galerie Véro-Dodat, which opened in 1826. It was among the first passages in Paris to be illuminated by gas lighting, enhancing its appeal. The gallery housed various boutiques, including luxury shops, cafés, and art dealers, catering to the affluent clientele of the time.
- The Galerie Véro-Dodat's specific decline was driven by the opening of rue du Louvre in 1854 and the closure of the Messageries Générales in 1880 (Paris's central stagecoach terminal that had brought steady foot traffic to the area).
- More generally, Parisian covered passages declined due to Baron Haussmann's urban renovations (1853-1870) and the rise of department stores.
- The Galerie Véro-Dodat is approximately 80 metres (262 feet) long and 4 metres (13 feet) wide. It features a neoclassical design with black marble columns, a painted ceiling, and a checkerboard-patterned marble floor. The passage is covered with a glass roof, allowing natural light to illuminate the interior. Its elegant design and architectural details make it a notable example of Parisian-covered passages.
- Today, the Galerie Véro-Dodat continues to house a variety of high-end boutiques, art galleries, and specialty shops. Notably, it is home to Christian Louboutin's flagship store, attracting fashion enthusiasts. The gallery's blend of luxury retailers and its preserved 19th-century ambience continues to draw visitors seeking a unique shopping experience in Paris.
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| Galerie Véro-Dodat |
