Every year, from mid-November to the first days of January, the department stores on Boulevard Haussmann compete with animated Christmas window displays, a Parisian ritual that draws whole families every evening to admire the scenes staged behind the glass. Galeries Lafayette and Printemps refresh their theme and automatons each year, with a much-anticipated unveiling usually held in early November. Inside, the giant Christmas tree suspended beneath the dome of Galeries Lafayette remains one of the most photographed symbols of the season, alongside the illuminations that dress the entire length of Boulevard Haussmann as far as the Opéra Garnier.
The illuminations on Boulevard Haussmann
Every year, the whole boulevard, between the department stores and the Opéra Garnier, is decked out in Christmas lights that carry the windows' magical atmosphere out into the street.
The giant tree beneath the Galeries Lafayette dome
Suspended each year beneath the store's famous Art Nouveau dome, this spectacular Christmas tree can be seen for free from inside the store, with no obligation to buy anything.
Tips
The windows are especially packed in the late afternoon and evening and on weekends; visiting on a weekday mid-morning usually means admiring them with fewer crowds in front of you. Access inside the stores to see the tree and decorations is free and open to all, but expect heavy crowds at the checkouts and in the aisles if you also plan to shop while you're there.
