History of Paris & City Center Guided Walking Tour - Semi-Private

The journey, in full

Stops generally include but are not limited to: Île de la Cité Begin your tour on Île de la Cité, the island where Paris was first founded. Once called Lutetia by its Roman settlers, this historic site is the birthplace from which the city grew. 30 minutes Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris See the iconic Notre-Dame Cathedral, the world’s most beloved church and a masterpiece of medieval Gothic architecture. Newly restored after the 2019 fire, it remains one of Paris’ most enduring symbols. 20 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included Palais de Justice de Paris Admire the gates of the Palais de Justice, once a royal residence and now a courthouse and judicial center. Formerly known as the Palais de la Cité, it houses some of Paris’ oldest surviving structures. 10 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included Sainte-Chapelle Marvel at the spire of the Sainte-Chapelle, a 750-year-old Gothic chapel built to house the Crown of Thorns and 21 other holy relics. 10 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included Conciergerie See the oldest part of the Palais de la Cité: the infamous Conciergerie. Once a notorious prison, it housed over a thousand “enemies of the Revolution,” including Queen Marie Antoinette herself. 10 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included Fontaine Saint-Michel Pass by the monumental Saint-Michel Fountain, commissioned by Haussmann under Napoleon III and inspired by a painting by Raphael. It depicts the Archangel Michael vanquishing the Devil—or perhaps Napoleon III vanquishing his enemies. 10 minutes Place Dauphine Discover Place Dauphine, a charming historic square at the western tip of Île de la Cité. Commissioned by King Henri IV. 10 minutes Pont Neuf Walk across Pont Neuf, Paris’ oldest stone bridge. Now a UNESCO World Heritage site, it remains an iconic feature of the Seine river. 10 minutes Statue of Henri IV View the equestrian statue of King Henri IV located on the Pont Neuf. Learn about the original statue, destroyed during the French Revolution, and its modern replacement. 10 minutes Pont des Arts Stop by Pont des Arts before heading to the Louvre. Built between 1801 and 1804, it was Paris’ first iron bridge and now links the Institut de France to the Louvre. 10 minutes Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel Walk through the impressive Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel, the smaller sibling of the Arc de Triomphe de l'Étoile on the Champs-Élysées. This arch was built to commemorate Napoleon’s military victories. 10 minutes Jardin des Tuileries Stroll through the manicured paths and historic landscapes of the Tuileries Gardens, the oldest park in Paris, dating back to the 17th century. 10 minutes Views of Place de la Concorde Take in the grandeur of Place de la Concorde while uncovering its dark and turbulent past. Where the Luxor Obelisk now stands once stood the guillotine that claimed the lives of King Louis XVI, Queen Marie Antoinette, and countless more. 10 minutes