Galeries Lafayette is a Paris flagship store and one of the most famed department stores in the city. It was established as a small fashion outlet by Théophile Bader and his cousin Alphonse Kahn in 1893. The store quickly developed and in 1912 a glass dome and an Art Nouveau staircase were added.

Today the gallery is a huge and chic shopping complex with a broad collection of the latest trends in fashion, jewelry, cosmetics, home accessories, foodstuffs and gifts. The prices are high, but there are some affordable offers and many Parisians shop there on a daily basis.

Unfortunately the complex is packed with people. Many tourists come to Lafayette not to shop, but to admire the impressive architecture - some parts of the shopping center have been classified as historical sites. Moreover the terraces offer panoramic views of the nearby located Opera Garnier House and Basilica of the Sacred Heart that can be seen in the distance.