The covered passages developed in the capital over a period of only sixty years or so, between the late 18th century and the mid-19th century. Each passage has its own special character but they have one thing in common: they are all private roads.
Innovative in terms of their architectural shape as well as their social role, and systematically lined with shops, the passages were
places of great diversity. There were usually homes above the shops, and luxury boutiques, toyshops, performance venues, bookshops and restaurants stood side by side. Of the sixty or so covered passages that were built, fifteen or so remain, gathered together on the Right Bank. Most are either classified Historic Monuments, listed on the Historic Monuments register or protected by the Local Urbanism/Protection Plan for the city of Paris.
Each passage has its own special character but they have one thing in common: they are all private roads, some open to pedestrians, some not, and are all run by private owners.