Behind the scenes at the Bon Marché | M6 | 66 minutes

24 rue de Sèvres, in the heart of the Left Bank. Here sits the Bon Marché, the department store where life’s winners come to shop. This legendary shrine to luxury excites and pleasures the wealthy Parisians and tourists who have been flocking there since 1852. At the end of October a whole army of handpicked designers, craftsmen and various decorators will begin to deck the Bon Marché in its finest apparel in preparation for the greatest commercial celebration of the year: Christmas. Gilding for the staircases, 200 flying reindeers, 5 soaring Christmas trees, a plethora of lights and glittering garlands: we shall be there at their side during this epic enterprise aimed at adding even more sparkle than ever to the temple of spending. Crowned with the halo of purchasing paradise, the imposing edifice is host to dozens of dazzling boutiques, such as Dior, Channel and Louis Vuitton, a toy department to satisfy a child’s wildest desires; contains mysterious gastronomic laboratories and two gourmet restaurants, and exudes a pampered atmosphere that delights its rich visitors whom we follow, in particular during the famous “service by appointment”. At 9 o’clock sharp on Saturday November 1, under the supervision of Managing Director Patrick Wagner, all must be ready for the gold rush of customers. Bon Marché, a Christmas to dream of: we penetrate the mystery surrounding the incredible success of this history-packed department store.