Tourist Information
In 1865, Jules Jaluzot decided to open the most modern departmental store of the time in a district that was still under construction. That visionary had understood that the booming district would help make his project a success. From the start, Printemps was the store of innovations. First of all, with the launch of mail-order sales, it enabled all the housewives of France of the time to be up to date with Parisian fashion. After a terrible fire due to gas lighting that ravaged the building in 1881, Printemps was the first store in France to have electric lighting. Printemps was also the birthplace of sales! Jaluzot came up with the clever idea of liquidating the older stock of fabrics at the end of the season by selling them at a knock-down price. Today, the Printemps store in Paris has three shops. It is a must-see for those who are interested in fashion and design. But it is also a historical monument thanks to its splendid Art Nouveau dome decorated with gilded statues, home to the Café and Brasserie Flo, two establishments offering a pleasant place for a break. To visit the most innovative of Parisian stores, go to metro station Havre - Caumartin.
