One of the entrances to the Passage du Cerf is from the rue Saint-Denis. It is one of the oldest streets in Paris, built by the Romans during the 1st century and famous from the Middle Ages for having representatives of the world's oldest crafts and their associated businesses there. Wandering around this corner of Paris, you'll consider the Passage du Cerf (1828) to be a real find. It's 100 metres long and joins the rue Saint-Denis with the rue Dussoubs (or trendy Montorgueil district). Built on the site of a former mail coach base, it stood near the Hôtel du Grand-Cerf in a former industrial district. Thus, its shops initially weren't as grand as those at the Galerie Vivienne near the Louvre, as they belonged to local craftsmen rather than affluent shopkeepers. Today, light shines through the glass ceilings, warmly embracing the wooden façades of about 20 little shops that sell doorknobs, jewellery, antiques and soap from all over the world, among other things. There's also a small colourful wine bar, Le Pas Sage, which is always crowded. The passage feels as if it has been a little lived-in, giving it an added air of authentic beauty.
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