Pommeraye Passage

The Passage Pommeraye, a masterpiece of the nineteenth century

The Nantes audio-guided tour has you enter the Passage Pommeraye, this sublime stairway-passage surrounded by fine shops that every visitor remembers. Considered one of the most beautiful covered passages in Europe, it envelops you in a sense of beauty from the very first steps.

The challenge of Louis Pommeraye

The passage was born of Louis Pommeraye's desire to bring the chic Parisian style to a then-wretched district of Nantes. The challenge was considerable: between discontented inhabitants who multiplied the lawsuits and a nine-metre difference in level that was hard to bridge, patience was required. After three years of work, the first covered passage of Nantes opened its doors in 1843, and the success was immediate. Statues and ornaments emphasised the wealth of the city, its industry and its maritime trade.

What there is to see

A monumental staircase, covered by a sublime glass roof, serves three levels of shops with refined decors. The statues, the sculpted balustrades and the light falling from the glass roof make up an exceptional architectural ensemble, a witness to the Nantes opulence of the nineteenth century. A place of passage and strolling, the Passage Pommeraye is one of the most admired and photographed sites in the city.

Practical information

The Passage Pommeraye links the district of Rue Crébillon and Rue de la Fosse, in the heart of Nantes. The gallery can be walked freely during opening hours; a monumental staircase links its levels. The shops follow their own opening hours.

When did the Passage Pommeraye open?

After three years of work, the first covered passage of Nantes opened in 1843, on the initiative of Louis Pommeraye.

What makes the passage so remarkable?

Its monumental staircase covered by a glass roof, its three levels of shops and its statues, which make it one of the finest covered passages in Europe.