Galeries Lafayette presents “La Saga des Grands Magasins” (The Saga of Department Stores)

Since November 6, 2024, the Cité de l’architecture et du patrimoine has been hosting the exhibition “La Saga des Grands Magasins”.

This exhibition, supported by the Galeries Lafayette Group, immerses visitors in the fascinating history of department stores, from their golden age in the 19th century to their transformation in the face of contemporary challenges.

Inaugurated in the presence of Julien Bargeton, President of the Cité de l’architecture, as well as Philippe Houzé and several Galeries Lafayette figures, the exhibition explores the evolution of the department stores that have profoundly influenced consumer habits and urban architecture. In particular, it highlights Galeries Lafayette’s history on Boulevard Haussmann, an emblematic site that combines tradition and modernity. Visitors discover rare works and documents, from the famous Art Nouveau cupola to recent avant-garde collaborations.

The exhibition offers a complete panorama: from the beginnings of department stores, where the effervescence of employees was reminiscent of a beehive, to their adaptation to the emergence of supermarkets between 1930 and 1980. In response to economic crises and the rise of supermarkets in the 1980s, department stores redefined themselves as unique places of experience.

Today, the rise of e-commerce means that department stores must constantly reinvent themselves. With this exhibition, Galeries Lafayette illustrates its ability to combine past and future, presenting its architectural innovations and social evolution.

The exhibition is open every day except Tuesday until April 6, 2025 at the Cité de l’architecture et du patrimoine, Place du Trocadéro, Paris.

Also read: 130 years of festivities at Galeries Lafayette Haussmann