Rue de Rivoli

Rue de Rivoli is one of the most famous streets in Paris, connecting Place de la Concorde to Place de la Bastille and boasting no less than three kilometres of arcades. It was designed and built by Napoleon to create an artery through the centre of the city, flanking both the Louvre and the Tuileries Gardens.

The street is named after the Battle of Rivoli, in which the Army of Italy, under Napoleon’s command, defeated the Austrian army.

Today, it is an elegant and refined street, a favourite destination for shoppers, home to souvenir shops, antique shops and fashion labels.

We are in the heart of Paris, in the Louvre district, an elegant, historic and truly enchanting place, overlooking the Seine promenade and full of lush gardens. In this area, you can stroll romantically among sculptures, green lawns, magnificent gardens, fountains and museums: you will feel as if you are going back in time as aristocrats of yesteryear.

In this district you will be spoilt for choice to spend an unforgettable day browsing through boutiques, galleries, jazz clubs and some of the most famous museums in Paris.

If you don’t like to walk too long, know that the street is served by no less than 7 metro lines.

Places of interest

There are many places of interest and open-air works of art to be found along Rue de Rivoli. In addition to the aforementioned Louvre and Tuileries Garden, the Orangerie and Palais Royal also stand along the street, while at number 107, next to the Louvre, is the Museum of Decorative Arts. Finally, at Place des Pyramides, you can admire the imposing bronze statue of Joan of Arc.

In addition to these more ‘traditional’ attractions, Rue de Rivoli boasts a unique and original place: at number 59 is the colourful Maison des Artistes building, an entire building dedicated to emerging artists who have established their workshops there and where evening events are organised. The building, already colourful on the outside, houses contemporary artworks, in a tribute to the most creative and anarchic art. 59 Rue de Rivoli welcomes as many as 40,000 visitors every year.

Shopping on Rue de Rivoli

Undeniably, the real attraction of this street is its shops. Rue de Rivoli is a true paradise for shoppers. Those who love to spend on clothes and luxury products should not miss a stroll down this street, which is dotted with boutiques and shops of the big brands.

Many shops spring up and die in a short time, but some are historic, such as the BHV (Bazar de l’Hotel de Ville) shopping centre opened in 1856.