From the Right to the Left bank tracking the remains of the wall of Philippe Augustus
See description of
You can be sure you will learn what most Parisians totally ignore when they hurry by these places daily.
Furstenberg Square
The Tour ends in Saint-Germain-des-Prés, again, close by a tiny hidden square where several famous painters lived.
Unlike the later walls surrounding Paris, interesting evidence of these defenses remain, so let’s discover them together. One of them is in a picturesque medieval spot equipped with a strange three-foot iron mounting-block, the last one that can be seen in Paris; what the hell was that for?
The Nesles Tower (J.CALLOT engraving, early 17th C.)
Where was the famous “Tour de Nesles” built and did the King’s daughters-in-law really have good times there with their lovers? What is true in the legend? And what is not?
This 13th century tower was part of the formidable Philip Augustus Wall. Why was this wall built? What were the dangers from outside?
What is “The 4 Nations College”?
Véro-Dodat Passage (1826)
After the discovery of an amazing “Passage”, we will cross the river listening to a short history of the footbridge from which you can see the most beautiful panorama of Paris (don’t forget your camera!).
TOUR 1
All tours are organized in the historical heart of the city and comprise an overview of how Paris evolved: a quick summary takes you from pre-historic times to the 13th century. Tours do not cover the famous tourist monuments such as The Louvre or Notre-Dame but they focus on charming, off-beat places, from the 13th to the 20th century, covering their history and accompanying anecdotes, be they funny or tragic.
Tours are entirely on foot, and last from 2 to 3 hours depending on your level of interest and questions asked. Rain is never a cause for cancellation (although we prefer sunshine to umbrellas!)
The TOURS