The fierce rival of Galeries Lafayette for over a century, Au Printemps department store boasts the largest beauty department in the world opened in 2003, an entire first floor dedicated to luxury accessories - watches, jewelry, handbags and more - opened in October 2001 and the largest shoe department in Paris on the fifth floor. Au Printemps dates from 1865 and was designed by architect Paul Sédille; in 1923 master glassmaker Brière added the magnificent Art Nouveau-style dome ceiling composed of 3,185 panels of stained glass you can marvel at from Café Flo on the sixth floor.

Au Printemps is divided into three different stores: Printemps de la Mode, Le Printemps de l'Homme and Printemps Maison. Printemps de la Mode is dedicated to women's fashion with designer clothes and accessories ranging from haute couture to items for the active women and teenagers; Yves Saint Laurent, Gucci, Dior, Chanel, Dolce & Gabbana, Moschino, Sonia Rykiel, Cerruti are just a few names you can find there. Le Printemps de l'Homme, opened in 1930 under the name Brummell, an 18th century fashion trend setter, is dedicated to menswear. Printemps Maison sells everything needed to decorate and mantain a house from furniture and linens to coffee makers and pans.

Au Printemps is open Monday to Saturday from 9:35 am to 7pm with night opening on Thursdays until 10pm.

64 bd. Haussmann, 75009 Paris
Metro: Havre-Caumartin
Tel: 01.42.82.57.87
http://departmentstoreparis.printemps.com