history tour paris

... six self-guided walking tours of Paris organized around six eras of Paris history and architecture. The walks are free, fun, and easy to follow. They’ll help you explore the city of Paris, and its many layers of history, at your own pace.

Most Paris walking tours are organized geographically around particular sections of the city. They usually cover a lot of historical territory and can get a bit overwhelming at times — too many people, events, and building styles — from too many centuries — all jumbled together.

These Paris “history walks” are different . They’re organized historically around eras of Paris history. As a result, you can focus — on common historical themes — a limited cast of characters — and buildings with similar architectural styles.

The walking guides for these walks are easy to print out, fold up, and take with you.

• Each guide begins with some historical background for the walk you’re about to take. Short summaries focus on politics and economics, religion and philosophy, architecture, and urban growth and development.

• You’ll also find a walking tour route map, detailed descriptions of the buildings and monuments on the tour route, walking directions, information on opening times and admission fees, and lots of photos.

To get started , just click on one of the pictures or titles to the left. The link will take you to an overview of that walk, and a quick list of information you’ll need to plan your day. From there, all you have to do is click on and print the Guide and Map pdf and you’re on your way.

Contact: [email protected]

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The 9 best walking tours in Paris

Get to know the glorious French capital on foot via one of these themed walking tours in Paris

Landed in the City of Light for the first time? Don’t be intimidated. This place is big. Really big. And there’s so much going on it can be hard to know where to start. But luckily for you globe-trotters, we’re here to help out. If you’re an out-of-towner with next-to-no knowledge of Paris, we think booking a walking tour might be your best bet. Thanks to a guide who knows what they’re talking about – and, more importantly, where they’re going – you’ll have sussed out this city in no time. So, what are you waiting for? Pack your comfiest shoes and set out on a tour of one of the finest cities in the world. Here’s our pick of the best walking tours in Paris right now, from tip-top  chocolatier trips to erotica-themed excursions (yes, really). 

RECOMMENDED: Full guide to the best things to do in Paris

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Best walking tours in Paris

1.  Hit all the main sights in one go

One for the newbies: this two-hour tour will take you to all the big Parisian landmarks. Think Notre Dame, the Arc de Triomphe, the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre, all in a smaller group setting. It’s even led by a clued-up guide who’ll keep you informed as you go. Or you can just Google stuff along the way instead. 

Time Out tip:  Be sure to wear something that covers your shoulders and knees, as certain pit stops are places of worship and can deny entry if you're too exposed. 

2.  Ramble around hilly Montmartre

Immerse yourself in la vie bohème – Bohemian Montmartre is one of Paris’s most charming (and historic) areas. This tour will take you around the hilly northern district, stopping at cool shops and some of the finest food spots in the area. Of course, you can expect the odd historical anecdote... or three.

Time Out tip: Make sure your camera's fully charged, as atop the highest hill in the city lies some of the best panoramic views Paris has to offer. 

3.  Stroll through streets rich with criminal history

True-crime fans will love this historical crime Paris walking tour. Embrace the Parisian streets from a different, slightly eerie, perspective. Join the darker side of Paris on a walking tour learning all about the dangerous past of the criminals who roamed the streets before you. Visit sites of executions, stroll the routes known for dodgy dealings, and discover the maze of side streets – the helping hand for criminals to outrun the law. Hold onto your purses.

Time Out tip:  Listen out for the surprising facts and shocking anecdotes your clued-up guide has up their sleeve. 

4.  Delve into the depths of the Catacombs

You know, like that film? One of the French capital’s eeriest attractions, these underground  ossuaries hold the remains of more than six million Parisians. Your guide will fill you in on the long and storied  past of this spooky subterranean cemetery. Definitely one for fans of spine-chilling adventures.  

Time Out tip: You can opt for a hosted tour, which comes with a 30-minute briefing outside the catacombs, or dive straight in with a self-guided audio tour. 

5.  Explore Paris by night

This late-night tuk tuk tour will introduce you to the city just as it starts to get dark – you’ll journey along the Seine, around the courtyard of the Louvre, and then pay a visit to some lesser-known (and largely tourist-free) attractions.

Time Out tip:  This is the perfect tour to do with your significant other if you happen to be on a couples holiday. 

6.  Walk in the footsteps of Coco Chanel

Fashionistas can see Paris through the eyes of one of the 20th century’s greatest designers. The tour will begin at Coco’s favourite café, Angelina – renowned for its hot chocolate. Then you’ll venture on to Rue Saint-Honoré, where Chanel lived, and see the site of her first shop (which remains today). Lastly, you can rummage through a vintage shop in the hope of scoring some old-school designer goods. 

Time Out tip:  The audio guide set-up of this tour means you can begin at any time and go completely at your own pace. All you need to do is download the VoiceMap app. 

7.  Spy some stunning street art

For something beautiful and slightly less touristy, take a moment to admire the in-your-face artwork lining walls all over the city. Learn about some of the capital’s most well-known street artists, and discover the techniques they use to scale those mighty Haussmannian façades. Make sure to bring a camera, you'll have heaps of good photo ops. 

Time Out tip: Make the most of your local, knowledgeable guide by asking as many questions as you like. 

8.  Satisfy your sweet tooth

Treat that sweet tooth with a delectable tour of the city’s most impressive chocolatiers. Learn all about the history of confectionery in Paris by visiting some swanky sweet shops along the Right Bank and, best of all, get your sticky mitts on some freebies. Our pro tip: wear elasticated trousers and thank us later. Bon Appétit.

Time Out: Be sure to get your fair share of hot drinks, with tea, coffee and even hot chocolate available. 

9.  Whizz round the coolest kid-friendly sights

It can be hard keeping the tots entertained when you’re in a new city. But we've got you covered. This fun tour caters to families with young children, with light commentary, frequent breaks, stops for food and a playground included in the route. 

Time Out tip:  You'll be able to secure some amazing family pictures on this tour worth hanging up at home. 

Not done exploring the city yet?

More Paris tours

Take a look through our complete list of the best tours in Paris. 

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In Paris there's a palpable feeling of history, as befits a city over 2000 years old. In its earliest days it was the often-reluctant host to the Celts and the Romans . Paris as we know it today was largely formed in the Middle Ages , in the subsequent royal periods, and by the two Napoleonic emperors. To delve into this story, we recommend these history-themed walking tours. Let's strap on our history boots.

Our Top-Rated Paris History Tours

1. Walking Tour of Père Lachaise Cemetery… The graves of the rich & famous

2. The French Revolution Walking Tour… Historic sites of this tumultuous period

3. Walk in Napoleon's Footsteps… Visit the places Bonaparte trod

4. Art Nouveau Architecture Wonders… Marvel at the ageless splendor

1. Walking Tour of Père Lachaise Cemetery……

2. The French Revolution Walking Tour…

3. Walk in Napoleon's Footsteps…

4. Art Nouveau Architecture Wonders…

1. The Graves of the Rich & Famous

You may think that a history walk through a graveyard is a bit… unusual. We did, until we signed up for this tour of Père Lachaise Cemetery. It turned out to be one of the most enjoyable walking tours we have ever been on.

We learned so much about the history of Paris and the fascinating cast of character who are buried here. Just read this list — Oscar Wilde, Chopin, Edith Piaf, Jim Morrison, Gertrude Stein, Marcel Proust, Molière, Proust and Balzac, famous star-crossed lovers Heloise and Abelard. You know that guy who popularized the eating of potatoes (they used to be considered poisonous)? He's here, too! Highly recommended by us and hundreds of other visitors who've rated it 5-star.

2. The French Revolution Walking Tour

Tumultuous, revolutionary, horrifying and uplifting — the French Revolution was one of the most important events in modern European history.

As you visit the historic sites an expert in French history explains the French Revolution, the events leading up to, and its consequences. The tour visits the site of the former Tuileries Palace; the site of the infamous Bastille prison; the Conciergerie, where Marie Antoinette was held; and other sites of historic note.

3. Tour Napoleon's Paris

Following the French Revolution was another era of great importance to France — the Age of Napoleon . Bonaparte made it his job to aggrandize Paris, to turn it into a worthy capitol of his empire. Hence, there is a lot to see from the Napoleonic era.

With an expert historian as guide you'll visit sites important to that era, including L'École Militaire , Place Vendôme, and Les Invalides. This is a small-group tour to ensure individual attention.

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4. art nouveau architecture wonders.

This historical walking tour focuses on the second half of the 19th century when Art Nouveau was in vogue. Along the way an expert in the period makes it all come to life.

Of course, the centerpiece of Art Nouveau in Paris is the Palais Garnier (photo above), the sumptuous opera house built during Haussmann's reconstruction of the city, and that's also a centerpiece of the walking tour, although there's plenty more, including impressive Gare Saint-Lazare. You visit a traditional brasserie (and have a quick drink) and stroll along vibrant Boulevard Haussmann.

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An Independent Paris Tour Guide

My paris history walks, revolution and napoleon walk.

The years 1789-1815 changed everything. Relive the dramatic story of France's fight for liberty, equality and glory!

Louvre Highlights Tour

The unmissable Paris experience. Renaissance paintings, Ancient Greek statues, the palace of the kings and more.

Historic Latin Quarter Walk

Paris' oldest neighbourhood. Explore more than 2000 years of history; Roman, Medieval, Revolutionary and Hemingway.

The Eiffel Tower Neighbourhood Walk

The amazing Eiffel Tower origin story few know. This walk explores the 1889 and 1937 World's Fairs, World War II and more.

Louvre Specialist Tours

Already seen the Mona Lisa? Join me for a specialist tour of the Ancient Near East or the era of the Revolution and Napoleon.

Secrets of Roman Paris Walk

For Paris history nerds like me.

Discover the forgotten traces, visible only to those who know where to look.

Paris Highlights Walk

Versailles gardens walk.

Take in the most famous monuments of central Paris: Pont Neuf, Louvre, Tuileries, Invalides, Grand Palais, Alexander III bridge, the Eiffel Tower. The perfect way to orientate yourself in a new city.

Walk in the footsteps of Louis XIV and Marie-Antoinette. Every fountain and statue has a story to tell. Experience the history, luxury and glory of the height of the French monarchy.

Welcome to Paris

Book a private walk with me for an expert and personal experience designed for people who love history.

My philosophy centres on the joy of historical time travel, in-depth knowledge and greeting new acquaintances like old friends.

Time Travel

Hospitality, guiding tarifs (excluding tickets), private paris walking tours.

- Eiffel Neighbourhood Walk

- Historic Latin Quarter Walk 

- Paris Highlights Walk

- Revolution and Napoleon Walk

- Secrets of Roman Paris Walk

Group Size and Duration

- 1-8 guests (large-group tarifs on request)

- None required. We do not enter any museums.

Private Louvre Tours

- Highlights Tour

- French Revolution and Napoleon History Tour

- Ancient Near East History Tour

- 1-6 guests for a 2-hour tour (large-group tarifs on request)

- Museum entry: 22 euros per person.

- Free entry for under 18s.

Versailles Chateau and Gardens

- Fountains and Gardens tour

- Chateau tour

- Domain of Marie-Antoinette (Hamlet, Trianons).

- Picnic or restaurant by the Grand Canal.

- Chateau and gardens entry: 21-32 euros per person.

- 10 euros for under 18s.

Payment Options

1) Cash payment on arrival.

2) Secure online booking via Paypal.

Once your reservation is confirmed, I will send a link for payment :)

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Ben's paris walks.

3 Avenue de Champaubert, 75015, Paris, France

+33 (0) 6 95 86 42 35

Availability

I'm typically available for private tours:

- 7/7 from late June to the end of August

- Weekends, Wednesdays and Fridays throughout the year

You can follow me on Instagram

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DISCOVER PARIS'S RICH HISTORY

Unforgettable history tours in memorable areas of paris.

Welcome to the heart of France's vibrant past! Paris, a city steeped in history, has witnessed pivotal moments in time. Join us on an extraordinary journey as we delve into the captivating stories of Napoleon, the French Revolution, and World War II through our immersive history tours.

Why Choose Our Paris History Tours?

Uncover Napoleon's Legacy: Step back in time and walk in the footsteps of one of history's greatest military geniuses. Our Napoleon-focused tours will transport you to the era of grandeur and conquest. Explore the iconic landmarks that defined the legacy of Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte like the Arc de Triomphe, the Assemblée Nationale, and Napoleon's Tomb . Gain a deeper understanding of his remarkable life and the lasting impact of his rule on France and the world.

Relive the Drama of the French Revolution: The French Revolution was a turning point in history, marking the rise of democracy and the fall of the monarchy. Our expert guides will guide you through the tumultuous streets of Paris, sharing tales of rebellion, radical change, and the birth of modern France. Witness the significance of landmarks and the revolutionary fervor that reshaped the nation.

Step into the Trenches of World War II: Immerse yourself in the poignant history of Paris during the tumultuous years of World War II. Join our private guide as they lead you through the heart of the city, unveiling the captivating stories of Parisians and their heroic resistance against the German occupation from 1940 to 1944. Our walking tour transports you to the iconic locales of this era, from the historic Place de la Concorde and the prestigious Champs-Elysées to the elegant Opéra Garnier. Explore the rich and evocative past of the French capital, and gain insight into the enduring spirit of its inhabitants. Discover a different side of Paris during these challenging years.

Expert Guides: Our passionate historians and knowledgeable guides will bring history to life, offering fascinating insights into the past.

Small Group Tours: Experience an intimate and personalized journey through history in small groups, ensuring an engaging and interactive experience.

Unearth the secrets of Paris's storied past with our Napoleon, French Revolution, and World War 1I tours. Your adventure begins here! Join us for a memorable exploration of the captivating history that has shaped this enchanting city.

Explore Paris | 21-day Small Group Tour Exploring Parisian Life

On this small group tour of Paris , travellers take the time to join local guides to learn about the destinations within this city. Authentic experiences with like minded people and an Odyssey tour leader. Staying in apartments this European tour immerses itself in Paris' history , art , and culture in the city of light.

From $10,147 USD

Departing Mar, Sep

• 1. Days themed around Art, Literature, History, and fashion, in which we immerse ourselves in the city's rich culture
• 2. A visit to Alexandre Dumas's home, the Chateau du Monte-Cristo
• 3. The Palais Galliera, Paris's only dedicated museum of fashion
• 4. A half-day excursion to Rueil-Malmaison, including a visit to the beautiful Chateau Malmaison

• Departure Dates

Explore Paris Small Group Tour

The Eiffel Tower, the Palace of Versailles , the Louvre (or more accurately, the Mona Lisa seen from behind a crowd of selfie sticks), and the Champs Elysees … sadly, most visitors to Paris only get to see a few familiar tourist highlights. But get away from the crowds and you’ll discover the fascinating, gritty, and beautiful city that earns fierce loyalty from its locals and has entranced writers, artists, and visitors from around the world.

On our small group tour of Paris , we get to know the city beyond the tourist centres. Staying in self-catered apartments in one of Paris’s central arrondissements , we live like locals, shopping for fresh produce and flowers at one of Paris’s many local markets. Our program delves into the city’s history, art, and culture, with a mix of guided tours and day trips, and plenty of time for you to explore the city on your own . We have several themed days, focusing on literature, fashion, art, and history, including:

• Our first day is themed around the life and achievements of Napoleon , visiting the Arc De Triomphe and the Vendome Column; while the following day we visit the luxurious residence of his wife, Joséphine de Beauharnais, the Chateau de Malmaison. Our tour also includes days devoted to the turbulence of the French Revolution, the Industrial Revolution in France, and the French Enlightenment.
• We explore France’s literary history , with visits to sites associated with Denis Diderot, Victor Hugo, and Alexandre Dumas, while investigating the allure of Paris for American bohemians and writers such as Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and Jim Morrison. We soak up the famous literary vibe of the 'left bank' of the Seine River, in the Latin Quarter and Saint Germain des Pres neighbourhoods.
• We see key works of art in some of Paris’s little-known galleries, and explore what makes Paris the world capital of fashion. We make a trip to Montmartre, where artists took inspiration from the demimonde at the Moulin Rouge.
• We see key churches, including Notre Dame Cathedral and Sainte Chapelle on the natural Seine island, Île de la Cité, and Sacre Coeur in Montmartre
• We also get out of the city on a day trip to Amiens, where we take a walking tour of the UNESCO World Heritage listed cathedral, and make a day tour of the Chateau de Vaux le Vicomte, a Baroque palace to rival the Palace of Versailles and the chateaux of the Loire Valley.

While other tours in Paris jump from tourist spot to tourist spot, this extended city tour is for travellers who wish to really get to know the 'city of light', spending time as a tourist and time as a local.

On our tour you will live like a Parisian, living in self-catered apartments, getting around the city by Métro and suburban rail, and shopping like a local in one of Paris's many markets. The markets of Paris go back a long way - the first market can be traced back to the 5th century AD, when the city was called Lutetia. Today, the city’s more than 90 active markets (69 of which are open-air) remain at the heart of daily life in the city. Food tour lovers will enjoy the Marché International de Rungis, the world’s largest wholesale food market (and the go-to of many a Parisian chef) and the upmarket Marché des Enfants Rouges, on a market site dating back to the 16th century. Markets also sell specialty goods, including flowers at the Marché aux Fleurs and books at the weekend Le Marché du Livre, while the city’s famous flea markets are the perfect place to search for antiques or second-hand designer goods.

While our tour includes several group dinners, we also give you several nights to yourself. Since you’re staying in a self-catered apartment, why not pick up some fresh produce and cook like a Parisian? Virtually all of the city’s village-like arrondissements has its own market, selling fresh produce, cheese, cured meats, and bread. Bear in mind that most open-air markets are open only on certain mornings: luckily, the offical website of the Visitors Bureau of Paris has a list of markets along with opening times.

Another highlight of our tour is the chance to soak up some of the subtler details of Parisian architecture, including the city’s many elegant arcades . Paris’s arcades - covered passages built within larger buildings or between two buildings, lined with shops, restaurants, and cafes - were built in the late 18th and early 19th century as a way for the city’s wealthy inhabitants to shop unencumbered by the dark, overcrowded city beyond. The first indoor gallery was constructed at the Palais Royal in 1786, and soon inspired similar walkways. The Passage des Panoramas, built in 1799, is a showcase of elegant 18th century architecture, while the Galerie Vivienne (built 1823) is decorated in intricate neo-classical decor. While in their heyday the arcades played host to a variety of shops, today, most are home to eateries, upscale boutiques, and antique sellers.

Explore Paris Small Group Tour Itinerary: a collection of in-depth experiences

While you're probably familiar with the Louvre Museum, the Musee d'Orsay and Marie Antoinette's hamlet, this tour takes you to twenty-two museums, galleries, and key places of interest in Paris, on a journey designed to go beyond traditional Paris sightseeing. Some of the museums and galleries we will visit include:

• Musee de L’Arme
• Musee Rodin
• Musee les Arts Decortifs
• Musee Yves Saint Laurent Paris
• Musee du Vieux Montmartre
• Fondations Louis Vuitton
• Picasso Museum
• Marmottan Monet Museum
• Musee Maillol
• Musee des artes et Metiers
• Palais Decouverte
• Chateau de Vaux le Vicomte
• Jewish Museum
• Sainte Chapelle

In order to provide a authentic experience, every tour guide is a long-term resident of Paris, with an in-depth knowledge of the city's history, literature, and art, so that our clients can benefit from their expertise.

For more details, click the ‘Top 5’ or ‘Itinerary’ buttons above! If you’re keen to experience this tour, please call or send an email. Or, to book, simply fill in the form on the right-hand side of this page.

Articles about France published by Odyssey Traveller

You may want to browse our country profile about France . Odyssey Traveller also publishes articles, designed for mature aged and senior travellers, to maximise your knowledge and enjoyment on your tour of Paris:

• Exploring France by rail some tips
• Ten of the best travel books on France
• Ten things to do in France when you visit
• Designing Paris
• Paris; leaders and landmarks
• Guillamot prevents the collapse of Paris
• The elegant arcades of Paris.
• Questions about France
• Studying Gargoyles and grotesques
• Around the world in six coffees
• Ten of the best French cookery books.
• Ten of the Best art galleries in Europe to visit
• A guide on France for mature travellers
• Loire Valley History

External articles to assist you plan your visit to France

• A guide to Alsace
• History of Alsace: Britannica.com
• Burgundy's climate: a UNSECO world heritage listing
• Avignon, the Palace of Popes
• History of Avignon, 15-18th century
• Exploring Chatres cathedral
• Wars of Religion: France
• Published articles on French history

Enjoy Odyssey's long stay city tours

This trip to Paris is one of Odyssey's specialty long-stay city tours, which allow our clients to live like locals in some of the great cities of the world. Our in-depth focus was inspired by Ina Caro's book, Paris to the Past: Traveling Through French History by Train, which inspired our first French History by Rail tour in 2012.

Since that first long-stay tour, we have added the following cities to our list:

• Berlin walking tour
• Discovering Berlin
• Contemporary Japan
• Lisbon & Barcelona

There will be more long stay tours to follow, centred on the cities that our clients have indicated that they most want to return to explore further. If you've ever imagined living in Paris, Berlin, or Tokyo in a period of historical or cultural ferment, our tours are for you. Spend three weeks living as a local, and delve into all that a city has to offer.

Day 1: Paris

On arrival in Paris, you will make your own way to your apartment. In the evening, we meet for a welcome dinner.

Day 2: Paris

Today we enjoy a full guided tour of Paris, constructed around the life and achievements of Napoleon.

Napoleon did a lot for Paris and many of the monuments he built can still be seen today. A local guide take us to see some of the main sights related to the grand historical figure, such as the Vendome Column, the Arc du Triomphe and the Boulevard des Marechaux.

Day 3: Paris and Rueil-Malmaison

Today, we continue with the theme of Napoleon. In the morning, we take an excursion to Rueil-Malmaison where we visit the Chateau de Malmaison. This chateau was oncethe residence of Empress Joséphine de Beauharnais and the final residence of Napoleon in France. In the afternoon we return to Paris and the rest of the day is free to enjoy at your leisure.

Day 4: Paris

Today, we embark on a full-day guided tour that guides us through the drama of The French Revolution, one of the most influential historical events not only in France, but also globally.

We visit the Place de la Bastille, the Tuileries Gardens, the Place de la Concorde, and finish the day with a visit to the stunning Musee de l’Armee. In the evening, we enjoy dinner at a local restaurant.

Day 5: Paris

Paris is among the richest cities in the world when it comes to art, and this tour takes advantage of that. Today, we enjoy a full day guided tour which includes the Outdoor Sculpture Museum, the Musee Rodin and the Musee les Arts Decoratifs. Pending availability, we will attend an opera performance in the evening, possibly at the Palais Garnier.

Day 6: Paris

Today is all about fashion. We have a local guide for the day to take us through a number of fashion museums and areas with high fashion shops

We’ll visit the Palais Galliera, the only dedicated fashion museum in Paris, the Musee Yves Saint Laurent and walk through the famed Triangle d’Or.

Day 7: Paris

You have the full day to explore Paris at your leisure.

Day 8: Paris and Le Port-Marly

In the morning, we take a trip to Le Port-Marly, where we visit the beautiful Chateau du Monte-Cristo, once the home of Alexandre Dumas and named for his famous novel. Today, the chateau is a museum dedicated to the writer’s life. In the afternoon, we return to Paris and the rest of the day is at leisure.

Day 9: Paris

Today we take a guided tour of Paris that is themed around the Enlightenment period, following in the footsteps of some of the great eighteenth century thinkers. We visit the Pantheon, a neoclassical church, and view le Procope and le Palais Royal, and a statue of the magnificent philosopher Denis Diderot.

We end the day with dinner at a local restaurant.

Day 10: Paris

Today, we turn once again to the history of the city, with a guided tour of central Paris. We enter the Musee du Vieux Monmartre, visit Sacre Coeur, Place du Tertre, Moulin de la Galette, Moulin Rouge, and more!

Day 11: Paris and Lille

In the morning we board a train to Lille. On arrival, we take a walking tour of the city, before having free time to explore Lille on your own. We return to Paris by train in the late afternoon.

Today is another day dedicated to art in Paris. We have entrance to the newly opened Fondation Louis Vuitton, le Jeu de Paume, and the Picasso Museum, each magnificent in its own way.

Day 13: Paris

Throughout the years, Paris has been the home to many authors , natives and those who have moved there. Today, we enjoy a tour that focuses on the city’s literary side. With a local guide, we visit the Cimetière du Père Lachaise where many famous authors and artists such as Jim Morrison are buried. Then we visit the Maison Victor Hugo and the Notre-Dame Cathedral which inspired Hugo’s “Hunchback of the Notre Dame”.

We also visit the old and well known bookshop Shakespeare & Company, the first outlet to publish James Joyce’s Ulysses . Other stops on the tour include the British Embassy where Somerset Maugham was born and La Closerie des Lilas. Ernest Hemingway lived nearby this café and it was here that he read the first finished manuscript of The Great Gatsby by Scott Fitzgerald. Pending availability, we end the day with an evening ballet performance.

Day 14: Paris

Today is themed around science, and the industrial revolution. We visit the Musee des artes et Metiers and the Palais Decouverte with a local guide. During the tour the group will also view the Institute de France, the building itself is only open to visitors one weekend per year (the 3 rd weekend of September). During the tour the guide will discuss the importance of the Industrial revolution and why it was not as spectacular in France as it was in its neighbouring countries.

Day 15: Paris and Maincy

Today the group will visit the Chateau de Vaux le Vicomte in the morning. This is a baroque french chateau with glorious gardens. In the afternoon we return to Paris and the rest of the day will be at leisure.

Day 16: Paris

Today we focus on the various cultures that come together to make Paris what it is. A guide will walk us through the Marais area where many Jews live, here the will visit the Jewish Museum and the Shoah Memorial which commemorates the Jews that were deported during WWII. Afterward we visit Sainte Chapelle, a church well known for its spectacular glass stained windows. To end the day we visit the Arab World Institute.

Day 17: Paris

Today is free to explore Paris at your leisure.

Day 18: Paris

Today is another when we focus on Paris’s rich literary history. A local guide takes on a journey through the famous Latin Quarter, including the Bibliotheque Mazarine, La Sorbonne, and the Ceramic Mosaics at Cluny-La Sorbonne metro station. We also visit Jardin de Luxembourg, among other local literary sites.

Day 19: Paris

Today, we focus on the history of film in Paris, visiting locations that have been used in films and television.

We visit the open-air market Carré Marigny which was used in the film Charade (1963), the Pont Alexandre III Bridge which was used in the movie a Midnight in Paris, the Place Dauphine which was used in the series Sex and the City, The Louvre Pyramid, Le Nemours, and many more sights.

Day 20: Paris and Amiens

In the morning we board a train to head to Amiens. On arrival, we’ll be met by a local guide to show us around the city. We will also visit the late-19th-century home of Jules Verne, with preserved interiors, his effects & a winter garden. In the afternoon we will return to Paris, with the rest of our final full day free to wander the city. In the evening we will enjoy a farewell dinner.

Day 21: Paris

Today, we make our own way to the airport for departing flights.

Includes / Excludes

What’s included in our Tour

• 20 nights of serviced apartment accommodation.
• Applicable entry fees and services of local guides.
• Service charges and gratuities.
• Touring by local public transport and local inter city trains.
• Transport and field trips as indicated.
• Services of a Tour Leader.
• Detailed tour information booklet.

What’s not included in our Tour

• Return international airfares and departure taxes.
• Comprehensive international travel insurance.
• Items of personal nature like laundry, phone calls and meals not included in the itinerary.

Participants must be able to carry their own luggage, climb and descend stairs, be in good health, mobile and able to participate in 3-5 hours of physical activity per day, the equivalent of walking / hiking up to 8 kilometers per day on uneven ground.

09 September 2024

Ends 29 September 2024 • 21 days

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If less than 30 days before your tour starts you are unable to travel as a result of Government travel restrictions, Odyssey Traveller will assist you with a date change, provide you with a credit or process a refund for your booking less any non-recoverable costs.

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The safety of our travellers, tour leader, local guide and support staff has always been our top priority and with the new guidelines for public health and safety for keeping safe for destinations around the world, we’ve developed our plan to give you peace of mind when travelling with us.

See Peace of Mind Travel for details.

Reading List Download PDF

France: a history: from gaul to de gaulle.

John Julius Norwich

I can still feel, as if it were yesterday, the excitement of my first Channel crossing (as a child of nearly 7) in September 1936; the regiment of porters, smelling asphyxiatingly of garlic in their blue-green blousons; the raucous sound all around me of spoken French; the immense fields of Normandy strangely devoid of hedges; then the Gare du Nord at twilight, the policemen with their képis and their little snow-white batons; and my first sight of the Eiffel Tower...This book is written in the belief that the average English-speaking man or woman has remarkably little knowledge of French history. We may know a bit about Napoleon or Joan of Arc or Louis XIV, but for most of us that's about it. In my own three schools we were taught only about the battles we won: Crécy and Poitiers, Agincourt and Waterloo. The rest was silence. So here is my attempt to fill in the blanks...

John Julius Norwich (at 88) has finally written the book he always wanted to write, the extremely colourful story of the country he loves best.

From frowning Roman generals and belligerent Gallic chieftains, to Charlemagne (hated by generations of French children taught that he invented schools) through Marie Antoinette and the storming of the Bastille to Vichy, the Resistance and beyond, FRANCE is packed with heroes and villains, adventures and battles, romance and revolution. Full of memorable stories and racy anecdotes, this is the perfect introduction to the country that has inspired the rest of the world to live, dress, eat -- and love better.

Parisians: An Adventure History of Paris

Graham Robb

No one knows a city like the people who live there - so who better to relate the history of Paris than its inhabitants through the ages? Taking us from 1750 to the new millennium, Graham Robb's Parisians is at once a book to read from cover to cover, to lose yourself in, to dip in and out of at leisure, and a book to return to again and again - rather like the city itself, in fact.

'Quirky, amused and très British' Julian Barnes

'A collection of true stories, culled from Robb's insatiable historical reading and lit by his imagination . . . So richly pleasurable that you feel it might emit a warm glow if you left it in a dark room' John Carey, Book of the Week, Sunday Times

'This book is the sort of triumph that we have no right to expect to come from anyone in the steady way that Robb's masterly books come from him' Philip Hensher, Daily Telegraph

'As Parisian and as bracing as a freshly mixed Pernod and water' New York Times

Paris: Biography of a city

Colin Jones

'Paris is the World, the rest of the Earth is nothing but its suburbs' - Marivaux In this intelligently-written and supremely entertaining new history, Colin Jones seeks to give a sense of the city of Paris as it was lived in and experienced over time. The focal point of generation upon generation of admirers and detractors, a source of attraction or repulsion even for those who have never been there, Paris has witnessed more extraordinary events than any other major city. No spot on earth has been more walked around, written about, discussed, painted and photographed. With an eye for the revealing, startling and (sometimes) horrible detail, Colin Jones takes the reader from Roman Paris to the present, recreating the ups and downs in the history of the city and its inhabitants. Attentive to both the urban environment and to the experience of those who lived within it, PARIS: BIOGRAPHY OF A CITY will be hugely enjoyed by habitual Paris obsessives, by first-time visitors, and by those who know the city only by repute.

The Invention of Paris: A History in Footsteps

A radical guide to Paris through art, literature and revolution.

The Invention of Paris is a tour through the streets and history of the French capital under the guidance of radical Parisian author and publisher Eric Hazan.

Hazan reveals a city whose squares echo with the riots, rebellions and revolutions of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Combining the raconteur’s ear for a story with a historian’s command of the facts, he introduces an incomparable cast of characters: the literati, the philosophers and the artists—Balzac, Baudelaire, Blanqui, Flaubert, Hugo, Maney, and Proust, of course; but also Doisneau, Nerval and Rousseau.

It is a Paris dyed a deep red in its convictions. It is haunted and vitalized by the history of the barricades, which Hazan retells in rich detail. The Invention of Paris opens a window on the forgotten byways of the capital’s vibrant and bloody past, revealing the city in striking new colors.

We'll Always Have Paris: Trying and Failing to Be French

Emma Beddington

As a bored, moody teenager, Emma Beddington came across a copy of French ELLE in the library of her austere Yorkshire school. As she turned the pages, full of philosophy, sex and lipstick, she realized that her life had one purpose and one purpose only: she needed to be French.

Instead of skulking in her bedroom listening to The Smiths or trudging to Betty's Tea Room to buy fondant fancies, she would be free and solitary, sitting outside the Café de Flore with a Scottie dog at her feet, a Moleskine on the table and a Gauloise trembling on her lower lip.

And so she set about becoming French: she did a French exchange, albeit in Casablanca; she studied French history at university, and spent the holidays in France with her French boyfriend. Eventually, after a family tragedy, she found herself living in Paris, with the same French boyfriend and two half-French children. Her dream had come true, but how would reality match up? Gradually Emma realized that she might have found Paris, but what she really needed to find was home.

Written with enormous wit and warmth, We'll Always Have Paris is a memoir for anyone who has ever worn a Breton T-shirt and wondered, however fleetingly, if they could pass for une vraie Parisienne.

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Articles about Paris

Arrondissements of Paris, France

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Designing Paris: The Definitive Guide for Travellers

Redesigning Paris The Paris that many of us know and love did not always look as it does now. When Napoleon III instructed Hausmann to tear down the urban centre to make way for the…

Getting around Paris by Métro and Rail: A guide for seniors

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Exploring Paris and France by rail, tips for learning about history

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Marmottan Monet Museum, France

Marmottan Monet Museum - home to the world's largest collection of Monets, along with works by the other great impressionists - remains a hidden gem, often left out of the standard tour of Paris.

Monet's Giverny Garden

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Monet's Water Lillies: The Definitive Guide for Travellers

Claude Monet’s Water Lilies are among the most beloved and amazing artworks of the 20th century. Displayed in Paris’s Orangerie in a set of rooms devoted entirely to the paintings, they are Monet’s gift to…

Musée Maillol, Paris

Musee Maillol, a small museum devoted to the work of Aristide Maillol, a pioneering turn-of-the-century sculptor.

Musée Rodin, France

World’s most extensive collection of Auguste Rodin’s work, displayed in the beautiful house and gardens of the Hotel Biron, the Musee Rodin is a highlight of any trip to Paris.

Musée Yves Saint Laurent, Paris, France

The Musée Yves Saint Laurent is Paris's latest must-see destination, an extensive and deeply personal look through the life and works of the revolutionary fashion designer - who embodied the spirit of the 'Swinging Sixties'

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The Louvre Museum (Musee du Louvre) is the world’s largest museum and most visited art gallery in the world, displaying some 35,000 artworks from the antiquities to the mid-19th century and attracting nearly 10 million visitors every year.

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18 best paris tours of 2024: food, versailles & more.

Enhance your visit to the City of Love with one of these specialized tours.

The Best Paris Tours

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From the Eiffel Tower to the Moulin Rouge – plus day trips to Versailles, Normandy and beyond – there are so many things to do in Paris . To make the most of your trip, it can be helpful to rely on the expertise of a few locals via a guided tour. Read on to discover some of the top-rated Paris tours for a variety of interests.

Bike About Tours – Hidden Paris Bike Tour

Price: Adults from 45 euros (around $49); kids 3 and younger from 20 euros (about $22) Duration: 3.5 hours

On this roughly 3.5-hour cycling trip, a guide takes you on back streets to both notable and lesser-known attractions throughout Paris. Along the way, guides share historical and cultural anecdotes. Sights include the Place des Vosges, Jardin des Plantes and the Paris mosque, to name a few. Reviewers love seeing an array of attractions at a leisurely pace and applaud the expertise of the guides. Bike About Tours also offers cycling excursions through Versailles.

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Big Bus Paris Hop-On Hop-Off Tour

Price: Adults from $45; kids 4-12 from $25 Duration: About 2 hours

Create your own Parisian adventure with the Big Bus Hop-On Hop-Off Tour. Double-decker, open-top buses take you to 10 stops near top attractions, including the Arc de Triomphe, the Eiffel Tower, Musée du Louvre and the Grand Palais. All buses are equipped with a prerecorded audio tour in 11 different languages. Reviewers love the convenience of the bus, but some express disappointment that buses are often overcrowded.

Buses run from around 10 a.m. to about 7:30 p.m. daily and typically frequent stops every seven to 15 minutes. If you choose to ride the whole route, you'll be on the bus for two hours and 15 minutes. Ticket discounts may be available if you book online in advance. Big Bus also offers two-day passes, a night tour and combo tours that include a river cruise.

Paris Charms and Secrets

Price: From 59 euros (about $64) Duration: 3.5 to 4 hours

If you're a sucker for a good story, a secret passageway or a long-forgotten historical tale, the Paris Charms and Secrets tour will be right up your alley. On this roughly 12-mile tour, a guide will lead you through the city on an electric bike, stopping at some of Paris' most famous attractions and storied monuments. Hear the legends of Élysée Palace, the controversies of the Eiffel Tower and the curious past of the Notre-Dame Cathedral. Reviewers love the knowledgeable guides and the unique stories.

Older children and teens are welcome to ride their own bikes if they meet the height and weight requirements; a child seat must be reserved ahead of time for younger kids (for 12 euros).

Paris By Mouth – North Marais Food Tour

Price: 130 euros (about $141) Duration: 3.5 hours

If you want an intimate look at one of Paris' most fashionable and beautiful areas, snag a spot on Paris By Mouth's North Marais Food tour. This 3.5-hour tour welcomes up to eight participants to create a more personal feel. For the first part of the tour, your guide will bring you to some of the neighborhood's most prestigious shops, which specialize in bread, cheese, pastry and charcuterie. The second part of the tour stops at a wine shop and includes a seated tasting with wine pairings. Paris By Mouth's guides are experienced food journalists, chefs and foodies – a highlight among reviewers.

The tour is recommended for adults, though children older than age 12 can join. The tour runs daily at multiple times. Paris By Mouth also hosts tours of Saint-Germain-des-Près, south Marais and the Left Bank.

Retro Tour Paris – Retro Classic

Price: From $75 Duration: 40 minutes

Hop into the vintage sidecar of an experienced motorcycle driver and cruise through the city with views of the Champs-Élysées, the Eiffel Tower, Champ de Mars and more on the Retro Classic tour of Paris. Local guides will share unique stories and provide an experience worlds apart from a typical city tour. Reviewers rave about the thrill of riding in the sidecar and the local insight.

If you love your first sidecar experience, you can also opt for the company's 90-minute tours, as well as a ride through Paris after sunset (with a Champagne tasting, naturally).

Blue Fox Travel – Versailles Bike Tour

Price: Adults from 109 euros (around $119); kids from 95 euros (about $104) Duration: 9 hours

The Versailles estate encompasses 2,000 acres, and there's no better way to see it than on a bike with Blue Fox Travel. Spend roughly nine hours with an expert guide and a small group (up to 14 people) touring the royal grounds, including the Grand and Petit Trianon chateaus, Marie Antoinette's private domain and the grand palace with a skip-the-line pass included in your ticket. Guides tell stories of French royal history, including the conquests of the Louis XIV, also known as the Sun King, the controversies surrounding Louis XV, the French Revolution and Marie Antoinette. Reviewers love biking the grounds at a leisurely pace and rave about the expertise of the guides, as well as the picnic lunch with finds from one of the local farmers markets.

Tours include train tickets to and from Paris. Blue Fox Travel also guides visitors on cycling tours of Paris at night and the city's top attractions.

Secret Food Tours Paris – Montmartre

Price: Adults from 109 euros (about $119); kids from 99 euros (about $108) Duration: 3.5 to 4 hours

Peruse and stroll through the Parisian dining scene like a local with Secret Food Tours. On this up to four-hour tour of one of Paris' most picturesque and lively arrondissements, dessert is first (c'est la vie!) . You'll gather chocolates and macarons from local specialty shops, followed by baguettes, cheeses, meats and crêpes – all while learning more about food and Parisian traditions from your local guide. When your bag is full, the guide will lead you to a prime picnic spot to enjoy your bounty with a few wine pairings. Reviewers love the historical tidbits and local insights, as well as the animated and entertaining tour guides.

An upgraded drinks package is available for an additional charge. Tours run daily at several different times, depending on the day. Secret Food Tours also hosts walks through other Paris neighborhoods, such as Saint-Germain-des-Prés and Le Marais.

Intrepid Urban Adventures – Paris Marais Bites and Sights Tour

Price: From $97 Duration: 2 hours

Wander through Paris' gorgeous Marais with a local guide and a lineup of French treats. Intrepid Urban Adventures' Bites and Sights Tour takes you through the well-preserved (and very fashionable) area of the Marais. Throughout the approximately two-hour tour, you'll hear local insights and historical tales as you admire Marais' treasured architecture. Stories are accompanied by stops in neighborhood shops for pastry and macaron samples, plus a French cheese platter and two glasses of wine. Reviewers appreciate the expertise and entertainment provided by the guides, as well as the intimate and conversational environment.

Children 5 and younger can tag along for free, as long as they sample items from their parents' plate. Paris Urban Adventures also offers tours of bohemian Paris and several private excursions.

Paris by Martin & Friends – Walking Tour

Price: 70 euros (about $76) Duration: 2.5 hours

For a truly bespoke experience with a passionate local, take a tour with Martin Muda and his friends, all residents of Paris. On the 2.5-hour walking tour, Muda or one of his tour guides will lead you to treasured spots throughout the city, with stories that give life to Paris' history and legends. Reviewers give high praise for the tour guides and their attention to detail, as well as the customization of each tour.

Tours are available at 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. daily. Children younger than 3 can join the tour for free. Inquiries can be made through the website. The company also offers walking picnic tours at night and electric bike tours.

Fat Tire Tours – Versailles Bike Tour

Price: Adults from 109 euros (about $119); kids from 95 euros (about $103) Duration: 8.5 hours

To see Versailles in all of its glory, take a ride with Fat Tire Tours. On this daylong tour (approximately 8.5 hours), a guide will take you through the Versailles open market to grab a picnic lunch before visiting the Petit Trianon, the Grand Trianon and the estate gardens. The tour also includes skip-the-line access to the palace and an audio guide. Riders love the bicycles and tour guides, and appreciate the sweeping views of the iconic palace and grounds.

Tours are offered Tuesday through Sunday and all depart before 9 a.m. Kids younger than 4 are free to join the tour. Fat Tire Tours also offers a variety of biking excursions around Paris – including an "Emily in Paris"-inspired tour – and the surrounding region, as well as guided walks and Segway rides.

SANDEMANs NEW Europe – Montmartre Free Walking Tour

Price: Free; tips appreciated Duration: 2.5 hours

Stroll through one of Paris' most famous and charming neighborhoods with the help of SANDEMANs NEW Europe. This 2.5-hour tour will take you by the area's most photographed sights, including the Moulin Rouge and up the steps to Sacré-Coeur. You'll recognize streets featured in paintings and in cinema as guides share tales of Montmartre's famous artists, musicians and other notables, including Van Gogh and Picasso. Tourgoers appreciate the guides' expertise and recommend the tour for art history lovers.

Tours depart daily at 4 p.m. (Spanish language) and 5 p.m. (English language). Tickets are free, though tips are appreciated. If you're looking to explore more of the city, the company offers an array of other tours covering Latin Quarter, the Seine River and more.

Boutique Bike Tours – Versailles Food & Palace Bike Tour

Price: Adults from 145 euros (about $158); kids 5 and older from 99 euros (about $108) Duration: 9 to 10 hours

If you're looking to escape the city, let Boutique Bike Tours take you on a ride and stroll through the gardens of Versailles. On this approximately nine- to 10-hour tour, guides lead the way through the sprawling estate before stopping for a picnic lunch with provisions purchased from the market in town. After lunch, you'll skip the line at the famous palace to explore the rooms and hallways of Versailles. Reviewers enjoy the leisurely pace, a day full of activities and informative guidance.

Tours generally depart Tuesday and Friday through Sunday; expect to leave at 8 or 9 a.m. and return around 6 p.m. The company also hosts an evening bike and boat tour of Paris.

2CVParisTour – Legendary Paris Tour

Price: From 160 euros (about $175) Duration: 2 hours

If you're looking for a memorable and personalized drive through Paris, allow 2CVParisTour to take you for a whirl in a Citroën 2CV, a classic French car. Take in sights like the Arc de Triomphe, Luxembourg Gardens, Palais de l'Élysée ,  Église   Saint-Sulpice and more as you cruise through the Paris streets for two hours. Reviewers praise the classic car experience and entertaining guides.

Champagne can be added to the tour for an extra charge. Tours depart at multiple times daily, starting at 11 a.m. and ending after 10 p.m. If you can't get enough of the vintage car experience, you can also sign up for a tour of Montmartre, one that features a picnic and others.

City Wonders – Paris Catacombs Underground Tour

Price: Adults from $119 Duration: 2 hours

City Wonders will take you on a two-hour tour of what's below Paris: a network of tunnels, crypts and tombs that are home to nearly 6 million skeletons. On this Paris Catacombs tour, you'll skip the line with a small group to explore the Port Mahon gallery, the Sacellum Crypt and Gilbert's Tomb. Throughout the tour, you'll hear historical anecdotes from insightful guides. Along with the entertaining guides, reviewers also appreciate the skip-the-line access and recommend this experience in lieu of a self-guided tour.

Ticket prices may increase during busier times of the year. Tours depart Tuesday through Sunday at several times each day. City Wonders also hosts traditional aboveground tours of the Louvre, Versailles and the Eiffel Tower.

Paris City Vision – Half Day Guided Tour of Giverny Monet's Gardens from Paris

Price: From 89 euros (about $97) Duration: About 5 hours

On this roughly five-hour tour, a guide will take you through the life of celebrated painter Claude Monet as you explore his home and garden in Giverny. His garden is what inspired some of his most prized works, including "Irises" and "Water Lilies." Reviewers value the views and insight provided by tour guides, though others warn that the company can be disorganized.

Tours generally run daily at 8:15 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. The company hosts a number of other tours throughout Paris and greater France , including tours to Normandy .

Street Art Tour Paris – Murals XXL

Price: From 26 euros (about $28) Duration: About 2 hours

There's no museum pass needed to see some of the city's largest artwork with Street Art Tour's Murals XXL. An expert guide leads groups through the city to view contemporary works created by the world's most famous and talented muralists, such as Jorge Rodriguez-Gerada and Obey. Reviewers love the insider information and find the tour reveals details (and murals) often overlooked. Plus, the route is accessible for those with limited mobility.

Tours last just over two hours and run Tuesdays and Saturdays at 2 p.m. Discounts are available to groups of five or more. Street Art Tour Paris also offers tours in Montmartre and Belleville, among other options.

Babylon Tours – Louvre Museum + Orsay Museum Guided Combo Tour

Price: Adults from 199 euros (about $217); kids from 159 euros (about $173) Duration: 5.5 hours

View Greek sculpture and famous paintings by greats like Renoir, Monet, da Vinci and Van Gogh during this 5.5-hour tour. As you explore the Louvre and the Musée d'Orsay, guides will regale you with stories of art history. Plus, you'll bypass the long lines at the attractions. Travelers praise the guide's knowledge and appreciate the small groups (no more than eight people can go at once).

Tours run at 10 a.m. from Wednesday to Saturday. Fees include access to the museums. Babylon Tours also operates outings to the Musée de l'Orangerie, the Rodin Museum and individual outings to the Louvre and Musée d'Orsay.

XL Tours – Segway Tour

Price: From 75 euros (about $82) Duration: 2 hours

During this two-hour tour, you'll glide by some of Paris' must-see sights like the Eiffel Tower, Trocadero Gardens and the Musée d'Orsay. You'll also ride in style on Bel & Bel Segways, which are designed to resemble the iconic Vespa scooters. Travelers say the Segways are a great way to see the city and the guides provide clear instructions.

Tours are available daily at 11 a.m., 3 p.m. and 6 or 7 p.m. You may be required to book at least two riders for your tour if you book directly through the company's website. Participants must be at least 12 years old. XL Tour also runs electric bike tours through the city.

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Old Paris Walking Tour: Self Guided Tour, Vintage Paris + Map

By: Author Sophie Nadeau

Posted on Last updated: 11th September 2023

Categories Paris , walking tour

Last Updated on 11th September 2023 by Sophie Nadeau

Paris is a city steeped in history. In certain areas of the city, almost every corner holds a tantalizing secret. Here’s the very best of Old Paris Walking Tour .

Along the way, learn about the fascinating history of Paris, as well as finding some hidden gems and seeing some more of the city’s iconic locations. This self-guided walking tour will take you through the historic areas and arrondissements of the Latin Quarter, Île de la Cité and Le Marais.

Old Paris Walking Tour: Practical Advice, Tricks & Tips

Paris pantheon, paris-sorbonne university iv, shakespeare and company, cathedrale notre dame , paris point zero, au vieux paris d’arcole, sainte chapelle, conciergerie, oldest clock in paris, tour saint-jacques , hôtel de ville, church saint paul saint louis, place des vosges, enjoyed following this old paris walking tour pin this article now, read it again later:.

There’s nothing quite like seeing Paris by foot. The sights, the smells, the sounds; none can be replicated by bus, or indeed by a film.  Many of the areas highlighted in this guide contain cobbled, uneven roads and are unsuitable for flip flops/ high heels. As such, I highly recommend walking strong, sturdy shoes to walk in.

If you’re looking to purchase coffee/ snacks along the route, please bear in mind that many of the cafés restaurants have a minimum card spend, and so make sure to bring cash with you. Paris can be enjoyed any time of the year.

With that being said, my favourite seasons to see the city are the shoulder seasons. For, there are fewer tourists, but the weather is much warmer than the winter months. If you visit Paris in the Spring , then you’ll be sure to see some of the best spring blooms that the city is so famous for.

Walking Time: 56 minutes

Distance Covered: 4.4km

Suggested walking route

The Paris Panthéon sits in the Latin Quater ( so called because in the middle ages students of the nearby Sorbonne University were taught in, and almost exclusively conversed in Latin ). It’s a great place to start this tour as going up the dome will allow you to enjoy a bird’s eye view of the city, including an iconic viewpoint of the Eiffel Tower.

The Paris Panthéon started life as a church built to honour Saint Genevieve (patron saint of Paris). Today, the Panthéon is a mausoleum, housing the remains of some of France’s greatest writers, scientists and engineers.

Indeed, one of the highest honours a French citizen can achieve post-mortem is to be interred in the Panthéon. Purchase your Paris Panthéon ticket here in advance.

The Sorbonne University is one of the oldest in the World and lies in the very heart of the Latin Quarter. Access to the central courtyard (pictured below) is for students only. However, if you ask nicely, you may be allowed in to take photos!

The university was founded as early as 1150 and is considered one of the oldest universities in Europe, if not the World. Second, only to the University of Bologna in Italy, it was officially recognized by Pope Innocent III in 1215.

Nearby, you’ll find former accommodation for some church members of the student body in the form of Collège des Bernardins . If you fancy stopping for a coffee or other drink and partaking in a favourite Parisian pastime (ie watching the world go by), then

The bookshop of Shakespeare and Company is easily the most famous Anglophone bookstore in the city. However, little known is that this is actually  the second  Shakespeare and Company to have existed in Paris.

The first Shakespeare and Co. was opened in 1919 . Sadly it was closed during the German occupation of Paris and never reopened. The current bookstore was opened in 1951 as an ode to the former store, and as a place for writers and book lovers to congregate.

Today, you can wander the shelves, and imagine what it must have been like decades ago. There’s even a quiet library upstairs where you can sit and read.

In recent years, Shakespeare and Company have expanded and now have their very own café next door to the bookstore. Though the coffee shop can get pretty busy, it sells delicious speciality coffees, as well as sweet and savoury snacks.

Nearby, you’ll find Square René Viviani, a beautiful and secluded spot built on a former cemetery where there’s also the oldest tree in Paris to be seen. If you’re looking for a quiet place to sit and read amidst the hustle and bustle of busy city life, then Square René-Viviani is the place to head.

Located in the very middle of the Seine, on Île de la Cité sits what may well be the most famous cathedral in the world. A walk inside the cathedral itself is free, and there are free guided tours in various languages throughout the day.

If you see a queue on the Parvis de Notre Dame to visit the cathedral, don’t worry too much… it often takes no longer twenty minutes wait to enter the cathedral. While you’re waiting to enter Notre Dame , keep your eyes peeled for Paris Point Zero , the marker from which all points in France are measured.

Sadly, due to a terrible fire in April of 2019, the Cathedral is undergoing immense renovation works and so is closed to the public until further notice. However, the Parvis de Notre Dame directly in front of the ecclesiastical building remains open to enjoy the fantastic façade of Notre Dame up close. During the renovation works to save the cathedral, there’s also temporary displays on the scaffolding explaining the nature of the works to restore the Gothic building.

On the Parvis de Notre Dame, set into the cobbled floor, you’ll find Paris Point Zero . Often overlooked by tourists and locals alike, few of whom know it’s there, this is the very middle point of Paris. It is from here that all roads in Paris, and indeed France, are measured. Urban myth suggests that if you leave a coin here, you’ll be granted good luck.

A few minutes walk from the Parvis de Notre Dame, you’ll find an ancient road. This is Rue Chanoinesse. Once home to an order of Monks, today it is like stepping right back into the heart of medieval Paris.

Much of the road escaped the large renovations undertaken by Haussmann in the 19th-century (in part thanks to the aforementioned Brothers). Right next to Au Vieux Paris d’Arcole, you’ll find a large maroon door.

Behind it lies the gravestone courtyard of Paris . The café itself is one of my favourites in the city. Decorated with nativity sets in the winter months, it’s covered in wisteria come springtime. The café is one of the cutest coffee shops in Paris and is a great place to grab a coffee (or a quick glass of wine). 

Home to some of the most impressive medieval stained glass still in existence, Sainte Chapelle is a must-see for any history lovers of the city. Located next door to the courts of Justice, you’ll find that Sainte Chapell e is actually two churches.

One was originally built for the King and his Courtiers, while the other was built for his servants. Both are rather impressive and well worth a visit!

Head to the churches earlier in the day for the shortest queues. If you’re looking to visit for yourself, then you may well want to book a ticket in advanace. Check here to purchase your Sainte-Chapelle ticket in advance and benefit from a skip-the-line ticket.

Once a Merovingian Palace, during the French Revolution, the Conciergerie was used as a prison. It even once held Marie Antoinette (yes, the French Royal who may or may not have said ‘ let them eat cake’ ), before her execution.

Today you can visit and see the cell where Marie Antoinette once ate, slept and lived. The Conciergerie also contains the largest Gothic Hall in Europe. If you’re thinking about visiting both Sainte Chapelle and the Conciergerie, then you can save time and money by purchasing a combination ticket like this one.

Of all places on this Old Paris Walking Tour, this may well be the most hidden. As you head out of the Conciergerie and turn left, make sure to look up! For, it’s here you’ll find the Oldest Clock in Paris . You may notice that it’s still pretty shiny, and glows golden in the sunlight. Well, you’re not wrong- the clock was extensively renovated in 2012!

All that remains of a once impressive church Gothic Flamboyant 16th-century ecclesiastical building is its tower. High above the cafés and shops that surround the square, you’ll find the tall tower of Saint-Jacques . In the summer months, it’s possible to book guided tours up the tower.

The town hall of Paris sits impressive and proud in the middle of Le Marais. Right beside the Seine, the square in front is often filled with people going about their daily lives, as well as music performances etc.

Although the interior of the town hall is sadly closed to the public, the neo-renaissance architecture is lovely to look at. Just outside the Hôtel de Ville, you’ll find one of the prettiest carousels in Paris .

One of the most famous department stores in the city is that of BHV Le Marais. This department store is located not far from Hôtel de Ville (on the very same square) and is well worth a peek inside… If only to say you’ve been! Here, you can find international designers, as well as local French brands.

During the winter months, BHV hosts a large number of vitrines (shop windows) just in time for the festive period. Each year the theme is different and going to look at the illuminations is easily one of the best free Christmas activities on offer in Paris .

The Church of Saint-Paul-Saint-Louis was commissioned by Louis XIII himself. Constructed in 1641, the king even went so far as to lay the first stone for the Jesuit church. Apart from its stunning architecture, throughout the years, it has undergone major changes in function.

From its roots as a religious place of worship throughout the 17th Century, during the French revolution, it was utilised by the Cult of Reason, an atheist organisation. When the organisation was banned in 1803, the church was returned to its Catholic origins.

There is no better place to finish an Old Paris Walking Tour than in Place des Vosges . Filled with small boutiques, quirky eateries and plenty more, it’s the oldest planned square in Paris.

Once home to notable residents such as Cardinal Richelieu (you know, that guy from the Three Musketeers)  and Victor Hugo before he was sent into exile, today it’s where Parisians hang out to see their friends and enjoy their lunch.

Sophie Nadeau loves dogs, books, travel, pizza, and history. A Francophile at heart, she runs solosophie.com when she’s not chasing after the next sunset shot or consuming something sweet. She splits her time between Paris and London and travels as much as she can! Subscribe to Sophie’s YouTube Channel.

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Meghan | SparklingPenny

Thursday 19th of March 2020

I love walking in cities. All you need is a comfy pair of shoes and a camera. Thank you so much for the ideas, I now have a plan!

Sunday 5th of January 2020

Hi sophie, i’ve been going in and out of paris for thecpast 8 years and just like you i’m a certified francophile. This walking tours seems so interested , though i’ve been to some places mentioned but the route is really practically to cover. I will be back again this April with the whole family this time and i will suggest to talk this walking tour and hopefully to meet you as well my fellow francophile.

Carol Hicks

Wednesday 16th of October 2019

Thank you for this walking tour. I was planning to see the Sorbonne but now can plan my route with this walk. Paris is my favourite city and I love exploring new places there. I will never get bored with Paris, so many things to see and do.

Claudine Scheer

Tuesday 30th of July 2019

I'm leaving in 2 days for my first trip to Paris. I have been reading all of your ideas about Paris. You are my favorite! Thank you for your wonderful insight!

Saturday 2nd of June 2018

I've been to Paris 3 times already and haven't heard about a lot of these places, definitely a city that keeps surprising you! Great post :)

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Paris History Tour: The French Revolution

• Hôtel de Ville
• Place de la Concorde
• Église Saint-Paul-Saint-Louis
• Place des Vosges

• Clarifies the tangled timeline of the 1789 Revolution and those that followed while highlighting the vestiges of 18th century revolutionary Paris
• Led by an expert historian

• You are a self-confessed history nerd . This tour dives deep into the period of the French Revolution, and the important places and people of the time. This tour is for those clients who come to Paris hungry to learn! 
• You have taken other focused subject matter tours with Context and are hoping to expand your knowledge to a new time period. 
• You are planning on visiting Versailles during your time in Paris. What better pre-cursor to visit Marie Antoinette’s country home than by learning all about the circumstances around the revolution? 
• Place de la Bastille 
• Hôtel de Ville 
• Place des Vosges 
• Place de la Concorde 

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• For more information on planning your travels to France, take a read through our Context Stories .
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Reviews can only be left by Context customers after they have completed a tour. For more information about our reviews, please see our FAQ .

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Historical Tours & Trips from Paris

See the best Historical trips from Paris, France. We have 133 adventures that range from 3 days up to 37 days in length. The most popular time for tours leaving Paris is September.

133 Historical tour packages from Paris with 483 reviews

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The Treasures of France including Normandy (8 Days)

Beautiful. Fantastic. Well organized and amazing

• €100 deposit on some dates Some departure dates offer you the chance to book this tour with a lower deposit.

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French and Swiss Spirit

It a tour of a lifetime. Our tour guide Bilal and tour bus driver Angel were awesome, very helpful and knowledgeable. I enjoyed the Eiffel Tower and Seine River Tours. The Grindelwald tour and cable ride to the Alps were magnificent. This is one of the best tours I ever had. I highly recommend Tour Radar and Europamundo to everyone! Thank you so much for such a great experience!

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Paris to Normandy 2024

It was a very comfortable and enjoyable cruise. The service staff were very friendly and attentive. The fellow passengers were very friendly and sociable which makes the whole cruise line one big happy family.

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France Family Journey: From Paris to Normandy and Beyond

The tour was interesting, fun, and just the right balance of group and independent activities. The tour guides were knowledgeable, helpful, and very organized!

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Normandy, Brittany & The Loire Valley (Classic, 8 Days)

Everything was wonderful. Shantell went above and beyond

Paris, Normandy and the Loire

A truly wonderful experience ... what we saw, heard, and did!! The tour guide (Mike) was excellent in all respects. And the driver deserves lots of kudos (safety, comfort, on time).

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French Dream ( 6 days )

Paris Explorer (8 Days)

Everything about this tour was excellent. The planned trips, the optional trips, the airport transfers, the guides were all top notch. We packed a lot into a week yet, had enough free time. Everything was well planned and kept to schedule. Bruno, our tour guide was charming and informative and kept us on track. Marco our coach drive was a safe and skilled driver. The specialist guides for certain excursions were topnotch. Bruno coordinated all the guides, driver, and venue hosts with efficiency. It was a trip of my dreams for my granddaughter and myself!

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Overall a great tour. Much more than we expected. Highly recommend instead of trying to visit a foreign country without a tour guide and driver-- both of whom were fabulous !!

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Best things to see and do in Paris

Paris is the capital of France and one of the most popular tourist destinations in the entire world. It is one of the places highest on the list of cities you should visit at least once in your life because of everything it has to offer culturally, in terms of its monuments, architecture, and cuisine. In addition to the main attractions of the city like the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame Cathedral, or the Montmartre and Le Marais neighborhoods, take a free walking tour to get to discover some of the lesser-known parts of the city where the River Seine flows. 

On any of the free guided tours we offer in Paris , you will be able to find a large selection of unmissable places to visit with your local guide who will show you the hidden charms and the way of life of this amazing city. You can’t leave Paris without having gone to visit the Saint Chapelle Church, the Louvre Museum, the gardens of Champs Elysées, Sacré Coeur Basilica, Pont Neuf (the New Bridge) over the Seine, Luxembourg Gardens, the Parisian Catacombs,  Vendome Square, Les Halles Market, the Pompidou Center, Orsay Museum, the Arc de Triomphe, the Latin Neighborhood, Tuileries Gardens, the Galleries Lafayette, Garnier Opera, or the Pere Lachaise Cemetery. 

Many travelers leave their reviews and opinions after having done their free walking tour in Paris (in the morning or afternoon) and they evaluate the route and their experience with the local guide. After, there may be other cities you want to visit and do a guided tour with a local guru like Bordeaux, Toulouse, Marseille, or Nice. 

What is included in the Essential Free Tour of Paris?

What will i discover on the free tours through montmartre, paris, what is the atmosphere like on the free tours through paris at night, what will we explore on the free tours through the latin quarter of paris, are there free tours at the eiffel tower in paris, what awaits me on the free tours through monumental paris, what are the free tours of parks and gardens in paris like, what do the free tours of street art and graffiti in paris involve, free walking tour near paris, others cities to visit after paris, find other guruwalks in paris, where are you traveling to.

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A Black History Tour of Paris

Follow in the footsteps of prominent african american writers, artists, musicians, and activists who sought refuge in paris during the 19th and 20th centuries..

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Leading jazz musicians such as Lionel Hampton and Art Blakey were among the African American artists to grace the stage at Caveau de la Huchette after the Paris club opened in 1947.

Photo by Alamy

The first time I saw the Eiffel Tower in 2014 I was in awe. In the trips I’ve made to Paris since then, however, my travels have taken a new twist, finding ways to appreciate and understand black history in Paris—both the important role the city played in African American history, and how black Americans helped shape the identity of the French capital itself.

African Americans looked to Paris as early as the 19th century. Some were in search of a more peaceful environment as racism swelled in the United States. Others found themselves in Paris and other parts of France during World War I, when about 200,000 African American soldiers were brought over as part of the U.S. army. Following the war, many of these soldiers decided to remain in the country after receiving a generally welcoming reception from the French people. A second wave of African Americans flocked to Paris during the 1920s Harlem Renaissance, when black artists and activists like Langston Hughes, Richard Wright, Josephine Baker, Adelaide Hall, and Duke Ellington went looking for a place to freely create where they felt celebrated, which Paris provided.

“There, you can be whatever you want to be. Totally yourself,” Langston Hughes once wrote of the city, according to African American novelist Paule Marshall’s memoir, Triangular Road (Civitas Books, 2009) . Legendary jazz musician Miles Davis also declared his love for Paris in a 1989 autobiography, stating: “It was the freedom of being in France and being treated like a human being, like someone important. Even the band and the music we played sounded better over there.”

At these historic Paris locations, you can follow in the footsteps of prominent African Americans who once lived as expats in the city. Use them, like I did, as a starting point to discover the French capital in a lesser-known light.

Café de la Régence

The Palais-Royal is in the middle of Paris’s 1st arrondissement near major landmarks like the Louvre, Jardin des Tuileries, and Arc de Triomphe. This central location and proximity to popular attractions makes the nearby Café de la Régence a special spot to have a cup of coffee or a pain au chocolat . Since the café’s opening in 1670, it’s been a place for intellectuals in Paris to meet, converse, and play chess. This, perhaps, is why it was a favorite for Frederick Douglass, the abolitionist, writer, and scholar who was born enslaved in Maryland but escaped after 20 years. While he was visiting Paris during the winter of 1887, Douglass often met with his close friend Theodore Tilton, a white American abolitionist, at this popular café on Rue Saint-Honoré.

In 1927, Josephine Baker became the first African American to star in a major motion picture, which was a silent film made in France.

Glasshouse Images/Alamy; AGB Photo Library/Alamy

Place Josephine Baker

Celebrated entertainer and civil rights activist Josephine Baker spoke often about her deep reverence for Paris. The African American performer, who in 1937 renounced her U.S. citizenship to become a French national, once said: “I have two loves, my country and Paris.” The City of Lights is where Baker’s dancing career blossomed; in 1927, she became the first African American to star in a major motion picture (the French silent film Siren of the Tropics ), and that same year, her headlining performance at the still-standing Folies Bergère cabaret hall solidified Baker as a main symbol of the 1920s Jazz Age.

There are several nods to Baker’s legacy throughout Paris, one of which is Place Josephine Baker—a square in the Left Bank’s Montparnasse area dedicated to the naturalized French performer, who spent most of her life in the Paris neighborhood. Today, a metal placard affixed on a pole in a shaded area remains as a steady reminder of the life she lived and all she gave—whether it was acting as a spy for her adopted country or refusing to perform for segregated audiences in the United States.

Arc de Triomphe

Although the Arc de Triomphe is already regarded as a must-see landmark in Paris, there are tidbits of little-known histories related to the site—one of which has to do with the legacy of African American soldier Eugene Ballard. Born in Georgia during the late 19th century, Ballard left the United States for France to flee Jim Crow persecution in 1912. While in Paris, Ballard worked as a boxer and later enlisted in the French Foreign Legion. A few years later, he became the first-ever African American military pilot. In 1954, the French government invited Ballard to reignite the flame at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier under the Arc de Triomphe due to his former service. After, he was made a Knight of the French Legion of Honor.

Novelists such as James Baldwin, Richard Wright, and Chester Himes were known to visit the Shakespeare and Company bookstore in Paris’s Latin Quarter.

Photo by Shutterstock

Shakespeare and Company

On a secluded back street in the Latin Quarter, the English-language bookstore Shakespeare and Company has been a safe haven for book lovers in the French capital since it opened in 1919. In its earliest days, African American editors of the literary magazine Paris Review dubbed the shop as their hangout. Since then, many famed African American authors, including Richard Wright and Chester Himes, have hosted talks and discussions in the independent bookstore. James Baldwin, who wrote a number of his famed novels, among them Go Tell It on the Mountain (1953) and Giovanni’s Room (1956), during his time in Paris, was frequent customer at the store, which is still open today.

Café Tournon was a regular spot for African American writers and artists who lived as expats in Paris during the 1920s Harlem Renaissance, including jazz musician Duke Ellington (pictured above).

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Café Tournon

Walk into this 6th arrondissement establishment tucked under classic Parisian apartments on the Rue de Tournon and you’ll be surrounded by locals feasting on escargot or sipping glasses of beaujolais. Throughout the ’20s, this Parisian café was a regular haunt for African American writers, artists, and expats who sought out life in the French capital after the end of World War I. Its most famous frequent customers included jazz legend Duke Ellington, painter Beauford Delaney, and later writers James Baldwin, Richard Wright, and Chester Himes, who often gathered at Café Tournon to converse about the joys and pains of their artistic lives. Dizzy Gillespie’s jazz band even made its debut here, too, in the 1950s. Today, the establishment’s mahogany chairs and speckled floor are an ode to 20th-century Parisian flair, as are the block white letters outside the café that announce its name.

Caveau de la Huchette

Near the Latin Quarter in the Saint-Germain-des-Prés neighborhood, the Caveau de la Huchette —which is often compared to a cavern in appearance (hence its name)—has earned a reputation for being particularly welcoming to African American jazz musicians since its 1947 inception. Lionel Hampton and Art Blakey were some of the leading American jazz musicians who graced the stage at this club. Today, visitors can hear a live performance every evening of the week. (Admission costs $15 on Sunday through Thursday, $17 on Friday and Saturday, and $11 for students under 25 years old with valid identification.)

Take a guided black history tour in Paris

Ricki stevenson’s black paris tours.

For a more structured approach to exploring black history in Paris, consider taking an organized tour through Ricki Stevenson’s Black Paris Tours . Founded by Stevenson in 1998, the tour company offers walking and city bus tours (both group and private) to Parisian sites that were made famous by African American musicians, writers, and activists, including stops at many of the aforementioned locations.

Walking the Spirit Tours

Walking the Spirit Tours also operates similar “Black Paris and Beyond” walking and private bus itineraries. One such tour focuses on the La Goutte d’Or neighborhood in the 18th arrondissement, which is known for its North and West African populations and its open-air market, le Marché Dejean, where various stands sell special herbs and other ingredients for traditional African cuisines.

Entrée to Black Paris

In addition to guided tours, Entrée to Black Paris offers narrated walking tours (downloadable for $28) for those seeking a self-led experience. One audio tour route spotlights Richard Wright’s Parisian haunts; the other navigates Paris’s Montparnasse suburb, which Josephine Baker called home.

>>Next: How Women in Paris Are Changing the Stereotypes of Women in Paris

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Winemaking in Paris is back, and you can discover its history in Montmartre

Winemaking in Paris is back, and tours in Montmartre can introduce travellers to the origins of the capital’s vineyard industry.

It’s a Sunday and the hillsides around the Sacré Coeur are packed with people. But they’re not worshippers, nor the usual crowd of Montmartre selfie-seekers primed for a panorama of Paris unfurling from the basilica’s lofty ramparts. Today, the mission here is to discover wine. It’s mid-October and the annual Fête des Vendanges is in full swing — a festival ostensibly celebrating the grape harvest from the nearby Clos Montmartre vineyard. But so teeny is this patch of historic Parisian vines that the fete also brings viticulturists from across France to showcase their wares, resulting in an annual quaffing free-for-all.

I wade through the throng, passing festival-goers sampling oysters from Nouvelle-Aquitaine with Champagne from family-owned producer Jean-Pierre Marniquet. Temptations are myriad but I’m not here to drink — yet. First, I’m joining a walking tour to learn about the history of winemaking in Montmartre, a tradition with Roman origins but one that few travellers would associate with Paris today.

At one time, the Île-de-France region in which Paris sits was France’s largest wine-producing area, and this famously bohemian neighbourhood was part of it. “Montmartre was once a cheap countryside retreat. A place of dairy cows and wine, full of windmills” says my guide Geoffrey Finch — a Canadian expat nattily dressed in a trilby hat. “We would’ve once been surrounded by vineyards here,” he explains when I meet him nearby at Eglise St Pierre, Paris’s second-oldest surviving church, once part of a 12th-century Benedictine abbey. “The abbey produced immense amounts of wine. And not just for the sacrament — to make money. Winemaking fed the local economy,” he explains. “Viticulture was a prosperous thing to get into.”

As Geoffrey leads me around the area’s steep, cobbled backstreets, I learn that Montmartre’s winemaking funded much of the neighbourhood’s gothic architecture. The area’s wine and cheap rent also drew artists. We pause outside the La Bonne Franquette, a cafe frequented by the likes of Monet, Toulouse-Lautrec, Renoir and Van Gogh. The latter recreated La Bonne Franquette’s garden in his 1886 painting La Guinguette, on display in Paris’s Musée d’Orsay.

Urbanisation pushed winemaking out of Île-de-France from the 19th century — but the artists stayed. Our walk takes us past the Cité Internationale des Arts, a large institutional block of apartments. “It’s one of a few affordable artists’ residences left in Paris,” says Geoffrey, also pointing out a neighbouring building that once hosted the Clinique du Montmartre, a shelter for artists and poets whose nerves couldn’t be soothed with wine alone. One inhabitant was Gerard de Nerval, whose habit of walking his pet lobster in the 1840s, Geoffrey tells us, later inspired Dali. We stop to admire some vines growing in the gardens of Commanderie du Clos Montmartre. “Once a firefighters’ water tower,” says Geoffrey. “Now it’s a place for winemakers to gather.”

Île-de-France is fast reviving its viticulture. Several villages are now included in the Champagne zone and hundreds of small vineyards have blossomed in recent decades. In 2019, the region was recognised as an official geographical designation: winemaking in Paris is back, says Geoffrey.

Our small group of vinophile travellers progresses up to the Musée de Montmartre. From the gardens of this local history museum, which adjoins Clos Montmartre winery, we have a good vantage point to study the oldest continuously producing vineyard in the city limits. Founded in 1933, Clos Montmartre’s vines are steeply raked down a 16,748sq-ft plot, co-planted with flowers and fruit trees to enrich the soil. Today, about 25% of the vineyard is planted with the same varietals that originally grew here, along with some gamay and pinot, but the majority crop is disease-resistant hybrids; all of which produces some 1,700 bottles of wine annually. “Most doesn’t leave the area,” says Geoffrey.

And at Chez Eugène, a plant-filled bistro in nearby Place du Tertre, we finally get to taste some: Clos Montmartre Cuvée du Sport, Fête des Vendanges. The red from 2022 is young and fruity and induces a few wrinkled noses from our group. “Yeah, it’s a bit of a mess,” says Geoffrey. But, like all the wines we try, it’s an organic, low-intervention variety currently favoured by savvy Parisians.

We taste several others too, including a fruity, dry Sauvignon-like Fié Gris from the Loire and a 2022 Beaujolais from central France, and Geoffrey encourages us to guess flavours with impunity, offering a crash course in French wine regions as we go. Plates of cheese and sourdough arrive to steady the ship; before long, Geoffrey is quoting Baudelaire: “It is time to be drunk! So as not to be the martyred slaves of time, be drunk, be continually drunk! On wine, on poetry or on virtue — as you wish.” The streets of Montmartre outside, still humming with the sound of wine festival revelry, seem to agree.

For Hungry Minds

Related topics.

• FOOD CULTURE
• FOOD HISTORY
• FOOD TOURISM

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Taylor Swift fever grips Paris as Eras Tour launches in Europe

Taylor Swift-fever struck Paris on Thursday as the highest-grossing tour in history finally arrived in Europe, with fans treated to the first-ever performance of songs from her latest album.

Issued on: 10/05/2024 - 08:20

The Eras Tour began its European leg with four dates at the La Defense Arena in Paris . 

"I wish I could have toured Europe more. This is a dream crowd," the 34-year-old megastar told the ecstatic audience. 

There were deafening shrieks as images of typewriter sheets indicated that songs off the new album "The Tortured Poets Department" were starting late in the show.  

Emerging in a lyrics-covered dress, she ran through several of the darker new tracks starting with "But Daddy I Love Him" and including "Fortnight", a particularly furious rendition of "Who's Afraid of Little Old Me?" and an elaborate "I Can Do it with a Broken Heart" with a golden-era Hollywood dance routine. 

"You were the first crowd to see songs from 'The Tortured Poets Department'," she said, before adding: "Or, as I like to call it, 'Female Rage: the Musical'". 

That was a dream come true for many in the audience.  

"I've been so excited for so long, I can't believe it's actually happening," said 11-year-old Emma, who had flown in with her mother from New York . 

The venue said a fifth of the crowd were from the United States -- many attracted by Europe's rules against charging huge mark-ups on resale tickets that can save Americans thousands of dollars compared with shows at home. 

Georg'Ann Daly decided to celebrate her 23rd birthday with the Paris show. It meant flying from Nashville to Chicago to London and catching the Eurostar to Paris. 

"I've always been obsessed with Taylor Swift ," she told AFP. 

A handful of superfans camped out from Tuesday in Paris to ensure they got a prime spot. 

"I didn't plan to, but I came to check it out and I saw the first tents and I panicked a little," said Chris, 30. 

Noah, 20, is seeing all four Paris concerts -- he used 22 email addresses to get through the lottery system and secure the tickets. 

Read more Eras Tour in Europe: the Taylor Swift effect hits Paris

Some 42,000 people will see Swift in Paris before she heads on for dates in Sweden , Portugal , Spain , Britain , Ireland , the Netherlands , Switzerland , Italy , Germany , Poland and Austria . 

The Eras Tour has worked its way across North and South America and Asia since starting in March 2023. 

By the end of the year, it had already become the first to sell more than $1 billion in tickets and is on track to more than double that by the time it concludes in Vancouver this December. 

Read more Swiftonomics: How US pop superstar Taylor Swift is boosting the economy

Swift's popularity shows no sign of dimming -- the new album shifted 1.4 million copies on its first day and broke every streaming record going, reaching a billion streams on Spotify within five days. 

Swift's tell-all dissections of her love stories have been the fuel powering her global domination, and fans have been poring over "The Tortured Poets Department" for cryptic clues about ex-boyfriend Joe Alwyn, her short-but-dramatic fling with Matty Healy (lead singer of The 1975), and her current partner, American football star Travis Kelce.

"Taylor talks about toxic relationships, impossible love, politics, mental health, and so much more," said Chris as she waited by her tent for the big moment. "I think we can all find a song that resonates with our experiences." 

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Exhibitions to see in Paris this summer during the 2024 Olympic Games

M odern art, cinema, design, archaeology... In Paris, the summer of 2024 promises plenty of outstanding exhibitions. Here's a tour of the events you need to see!

“L’Art de James Cameron” at the Cinémathèque française

Throughout the summer, the Cinémathèque française is celebrating the work and career of American film-maker James Cameron , director and screenwriter of some of the biggest box-office hits of recent decades - Titanic , Avatar , Aliens and Terminator . This exceptional exhibition explores explores the multi-talented man’s life works. James Cameron is also an inventor and explorer, as evidenced with some 300 works and items (drawings, props, costumes, 3D devices), including nearly a hundred previously unseen pieces from the filmmaker's private collection.

From 3 April 2024 to 5 January 2025

Cinémathèque française

51 rue de Bercy

75012 Paris

www.cinematheque.fr

“La naissance des Grands Magasins” at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs

Le Bon Marché, Galeries Lafayette, La Samaritaine, le Printemps... Born from the late 19 th century, products of the French industrial revolution, the Parisian department stores are key sites in the French capital. As part of this summer exhibition, the Musée des Arts Décoratifs takes you back through the history of these consumerist temples, from their inception under the Second Empire to their golden age at the turn of the 20 th century. This exhibition on history and design will please all who come to learn.

From 10 April to 13 October 2024 Musée des Arts Décoratifs

107 rue de Rivoli

75001 Paris

madparis.fr/

“En Jeu! Artists and Sport” at the Musée Marmottan-Monet

Are you visiting Paris during the Olympic Games? Why not go see “En jeu!”, the Musée Marmottan-Monet’s latest exhibition devoted to the place of sports in modern art. Featuring around a hundred works, the museum in Paris's 16 th arrondissement traces the visual history of sport between 1870 and 1930, from Impressionism to Cubism. The programme includes paintings by Monet , Degas and Caillebotte, as well as sculptures by Richer, Maillol and Rodin, depicting all types of activities from the past and the present (horse riding, sailing, kayaking, wrestling, ball games, cricket, etc.).

From 4 April to 1 September 2024 Marmottan Museum of Monet

2 rue Louis Boilly

75016 Paris

www.marmottan.fr/

“Mexica, Offerings and gods at the Templo Mayor” at the Musée du Quai Branly

Over the summer, the Musée du Quai Branly will be shining a light on one of the greatest archaeological discoveries of the last 50 years: the unearthing, on 21 February 1978 in the subsoil of Mexico City , of the ruins of the sacred precinct of Tenochtitlan, capital of the Mexican civilisation (1325-1521). Some of the items on display are artefacts presented for the first time in Europe and offerings found inside the Templo Mayor, this civilisation’s sacred building, once considered to be the last great pre-Columbian civilisation.

From 3 April 2024 to 8 September 2024

Jacques Chirac Museum of Branly Quay

37 quai Jacques Chirac

75007 Paris

www.quaibranly.fr

“Matisse: The Red Studio” at the Fondation Louis Vuitton

Until 9 September 2024, the Fondation Louis Vuitton is taking a look back at the origins of one of the great masterpieces of modern art, one of the best-known works by painter Henri Matisse: The Red Studio , a 1911 Fauvist painting of his art studio. For this purpose, the Fondation partnered with the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York – who acquired the piece in 1949 - and the National Art Museum of Denmark to bring together, for the very first time, all the works depicted in Matisse's painting. The exhibition also showcases archive documents providing more context around how this surprising “painting of paintings” was created.

From 4 May to 9 September 2024

Fondation Louis Vuitton

8 avenue du Mahatma Gandhi

75116 Paris

https://www.fondationlouisvuitton.fr

“Gold, Silver, Bronze. A history of the olympic medal” at La Monnaie de Paris

Another exhibition sure to appeal to Olympic visitors (and others): until 22 September 2024, the Monnaie de Paris (Paris Mint) is celebrating the sports medal, an object full of symbolism side-by-side, an object which means stepping on the podium, victory and a dream come true for athletes. Since the 1896 Olympic Games, when the Parisian institution struck the very first Olympic medal, the Monnaie de Paris kept a close relationship with this object of gold, silver or bronze. This exhibition will take you back to the origins and evolution of the medal by shining a light on the tools and creative processes used to fashion the object.

From 27 March to 22 September 2024

Monnaie de Paris

11 quai de Conti

75006 Paris

www.monnaiedeparis.fr