Inkeeping with its bohemian feel, this is one of Paris’ best districts for vintage clothes shopping.
Spread out over the 3rd and 4th Arrondissements on the Right Bank of the Seine, Le Marais is an endlessly charming labyrinth of small crooked alleyways where you can easily wander for a day. It is arguably the most historic district in Paris, with more pre-revolutionary buildings left intact than anywhere else in the city. As well as imbuing the area with a strong sense of history, the age of the place gives Le Marais a completely different feel. While Paris is famed for its wide open squares and avenues (think Place de la Concorde and the Champs-Élysées), these were actually only constructed during the rule of Napoleon after the French Revolution. The architecture and haphazard layout of Le Marais is what all of Paris would once have looked like, and so it offers an intriguing insight into the Paris of old.
The Spirit of the Revolution
Nevertheless, the lack of major world attractions often means that Le Marais is overlooked by visitors to Paris. But what it lacks on this front it more than makes up for in charm, and you can immediately see how its unmistakably Bohemian vibe brought Robespierre, Victor Hugo and Jim Morrison to live here. Particularly worth visiting is the Place des Vosges, one of Paris’ most beautiful parks, built by Henry IV and considered by Napoleon himself to be the jewel of Paris.
One of the most vibrant Parisian districts, the Marais also possesses an unparalleled cultural heritage. Once the place to live for the French nobility, this area witnessed some of the key moments of the Revolutions that would change the history of France forever.
On your private walking tour of Le Marais, you will:
The events of the French revolution were chaotic, historic, and truly extraordinary and on this tour, you will uncover this iconic period of history with an expert guide.
Your tour begins with an introduction to pre-revolution France and the economic and political landscape that led to a great class clash between the clergy, the nobility, and the bourgeoisie. You will learn about the fall of Louis XVI and the dismantling of the Ancien Régime, explore the remains from the storming of Bastille, and hear about France's abolition of feudalism, and the subsequent stream of power conflicts that made France's history so bloody.
On your way, you will discover one of Paris's most charming squares, the Place des Vosges, a luxurious mansion transformed into a prison during the Terror, and the streets where the Jewish community settled in, favoured by the religious freedom granted by the Republican convention.
Helped by your professional guide, you will also hunt for hidden historical vestiges, such as a cannonball stuck in a building dating back to the Middle-Ages and remnants of Republican graffiti inside a church.
Whether you’re new to French history or have been studying this notable period of the country, your expert guide will tailor the tour for you to see the impact of the revolution on Paris and the modern world.
Learn about life under Nazi Occupation during the Second World War on this walking tour of Paris. You'll hear about the French Resistance, the terrifying invasion of Nazi tanks, and the horrific arrest and deportation of the Jews - exactly where it all happened. Learn of quiet daily acts of courage, and how Hitler's generals defied him at the last, which ultimately led to the Liberation of Paris.
On your private half-day tour, you will:
From Nazi Occupiers and Collaborators to French Spies of the Resistance, from famous military heroes to quiet acts of daily courage, from the horrors of the Holocaust to the final triumphant Liberation of Paris, you will discover some of the neighbourhoods and monuments that saw key events take place on this fascinating walking tour of Paris during the Second World War, with an expert and passionate guide.
You'll learn about the hardships of life in Paris under Nazi occupation, like food rationing, poverty and blackouts, as you walk through the charming neighbourhood of Le Marais. Stand in the Pletzl (Yiddish for 'Little Square') the hub and heart of Jewish culture in Paris to hear the horrifying stories of the Holocaust.
You will see evidence of shelling and shrapnel at the Police HQ and hear how the bells of Notre Dame stopped tolling throughout the Occupation, only to ring out once more at the Liberation. Hear about the French Resistance working in underground tunnels, and the role of the Eiffel Tower in disrupting communications.
Learn about Silvia Beech who refused to sell her books to the Gestapo at Shakespeare and Co, Josephine Baker, the nightclub dancer who became an Allied spy; or rumoured collaborators like Gertrude Stein and Coco Chanel.
Hop on a metro to the Tuileries, and walk to Place Vendôme. The Ritz, like all hotels, was requisitioned by the Nazis and was favoured by Hermann Göring, who filled his Imperial Suite with stolen artworks. Later, Ernest Hemingway announced the liberation of Paris from the Champagne bar, which he proceeded to drink dry...
The Hotel Le Meurice became the Headquarters of the military governor of Paris. It is where the German officer Dietrich von Choltitz failed to carry out Hitler's order to level Paris, and lied when Hitler asked "Is Paris burning?" All with consequences that you'll hear about as you reach Place de La Concord and the statue of General Charles de Gaulle on the Champs-Élysées that saw the eventual, triumphant liberation of Paris.
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