La Samaritaine
La Samaritaine is a large department store in Paris, France. It is owned by LVMH, a luxury goods company.
The large building is located in the First Arrondissement, on the banks of the River Seine, at the north end of the Pont Neuf. The nearest Metro station is Pont-Neuf.
The store opened in 1869. The style is a blend of Art Nouveau and Art Deco, designed by Frantz Jourdain (1847–1935) and Henri Sauvage.
The department store owes its name to a hydraulic pump installed near the Pont Neuf, which operated from 1609 to 1813. On the front of the pump was a gilded bas relief of the Good Samaritan.
The store has a rooftop café which affords excellent views of the city.
On 10 June, 2005 it was announced that La Samaritaine was to be shut for several years because inspections found it a serious fire risk.[1].