La Samaritaine XMas Windows Unveiling - Paris, France - 08 Nov 2023

Acrobats perform during the ceremony of Samaritaine's Christmas window displays revealing in Paris on November 8, 2023. Since 1869, La Samaritaine, with its boldly-lettered Art Nouveau facade looming over the Seine River and the Pont Neuf bridge, had been a reliable fixture in the city landscape. But due to major building safety concerns and some dubious business decisions, the nineteenth-century store so dear to many Parisians closed its doors in 2005. Fifteen years after its closure, La Samaritaine re-opened in June 2021 after an extensive revamp. The two buildings making up the site host a large department store of the same name, in line with its heritage. The shopping concept is decidedly luxury-focused, with a dizzying selection of designer brands and artisanal products, from women's and men's fashion and accessories to luxury beauty and perfumery, jewelry and watches, home design and gadgets.