Paris Left Bank and Latin Quarter Tour: Historical and Architectural Exploration
5.0
6 Ratings
Paris
Embark on a historical and architectural exploration of Paris' Left Bank and Latin Quarter. Discover ancient Roman ruins, the city's oldest church, and the sites where revolutionaries plotted their insurrections. Join a private tour with a trained historian for insightful commentary.
Duration:
2 hours, 30 minutes
Cancellation:
1 day
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Highlights
- Saint Germain des Pres Quarter - We start the tour in this lovingly restored church which just happens to be the city’s oldest (parts date from 990AD). After a complete tour of the church itself, we will visit the neighbourhood, seeing one of the city’s most charming squares & visiting a local food market.
- Cour du Commerce Saint Andre - We will visit one of the city’s oldest passages, where many of the early Revolutionaries lived - Danton, Marat, Robespierre. We will see the city’s oldest café, now a restaurant, where Franklin & Jefferson rubbed shoulders with the French Revolutionaries as well as philosophers such as Voltaire. Napoleon reputedly left his hat when he couldn’t pay his bar tab!
- Les Thermes de Lutece - We will visit the remains of the Roman Baths at Cluny - using video & visual material I explain the history & construction of the baths - showing 3D models.
- Luxembourg Gardens - The next stop is at the Luxembourg Gardens, one of the loveliest l parks in the city. It holds 110 statues (including a working model of the Statue of Liberty) & many leisure attractions. The park also holds the Luxembourg Palace (built 1612) now home to the French Senate & the Medici Fountain (built 1630).
- Pantheon - We will see the Pantheon, a mausoleum to the nation’s great. It holds the tombs of philosophers such as Voltaire, Diderot & Rousseau, authors such as Hugo, Dumas & St. Exupéry, as well as scientists such as Pierre & Marie Curie. And we will learn the fascinating story of Foucault’s pendulum.
- Eglise Saint-Etienne-du-Mont de Paris - We will visit one of the city’s loveliest baroque churches with the nation’s largest rood screen - a carved 30ft wide stone screen. The church holds other baroque treasures which we will see in detail.
- Arenes de Lutece - We end the tour at the Arenes de Lutece, another roman vestige. I explain the fascinating history & construction of the site using video & other visual support.
What's Included
- Local expert guide
- Photographic and video documentation using a tablet by the guide
- Exclusive private tour
What's Not Included
- Entrance fees to museums & monuments are not included
- Food and drinks are not included
- Gratuities
Additional Information
Unearth the jewels of Paris’s Left Bank, encompassing the Latin Quarter and St Germain-des-Prés, through this exclusive tour. It takes you on a journey to explore some of the most exquisite gems of the Left Bank.
- Experience the oldest church in the city alongside another later church from the baroque era.
- Uncover Roman relics which are among the last pieces of evidence of Roman times in Paris including thermal baths and arena remnants.
- Visit the locations where the Revolutionaries assembled and planned their uprisings in 1789.
Tour commentary will be provided by a professional historian who will elucidate the historical and archaeological context of this distinct area of Paris.
Please be advised that educational institutions and business groups are welcome; this tour can accommodate up to 40 individuals. Group pricing is available upon request.
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- Operated by a bi-lingual guide
- Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately - bring umbrellas for rain, wear warm clothing in winter, bring bottled water & wear solid walking shoes
- All customers must sign a liability waiver before starting the tour
- Please note that I am entirely vaccinated
Location
Benedictine Abbey of Saint-Germain-des-Prés
Place Saint-Germain des Prés
The meeting point is at the entrance to the Church St Germain-des-Près
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
5.0
(6 Ratings)
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1 star
Chad_o
Aug 30, 2022
Dress appropriately - The weather was quite hot when we went, but it just so happened it coincided with a heatwave, so conditions weren't ideal. The chosen sites were great and the guide was very informed. We learned a lot!
Review provided by Viator
Carol_g
Jun 4, 2022
Outstanding tour of St. Germaine with Ellen ! - Ellen, our guide, had extensive knowledge about the St. Germaine area. Her use of her iPad added extraordinary details. It was a thorough tour of the area’s historic highlights! We enthusiastically recommend Ellen as the expert guide of St. Germaine !
Review provided by Viator
648dustiw
Dec 22, 2021
An absolute requirement! - This was an excellent walking tour! We felt like we got so much out of this. Ellen has a well mapped and planned tour including historic photos and info omg an iPad she share with you for reference.
Ellen is an American in Paris, 30+ years so her knowledge is epic and she speaks both English and French flawlessly.
We definitely recommend this tour to anyone coming to Paris.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Daytrip18898340318
Sep 9, 2021
The perfect Latin Quarter introduction - Ellen is a wonderful person with an intimate knowledge of Paris. She is very professional and prepared. We weren’t driven by price but we could not imagine any other guide offering better value. Highly recommended.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
989brentl
Sep 4, 2021
Best tour of our three weeks in Paris - Susan was fantastic! We’ll prepared, knows the history, brought iPad power-points for support.
Of several tours on this trip she was a standout!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Deborah
Nov 2, 2019
Latin Quarter Roman Ruins & Gothic Art - Although I've been to Paris many times and even stayed in the Latin Quarter, I had not visited most of the places Ellen took us, nor did I know all of the history she related. She has an in-depth knowledge of the area. In addition to her expertise, Ellen was caring and made sure I was feeling up to the trek (I have some health issues). Of all the tours I've done in Paris, I would place this one at the top. We covered a great deal of ground both literally and figuratively. I highly recommend the experience.
We began at Eglise St. Germain de Pres and explored up/down streets that I didn't even know existed. We stopped at the Roman bath ruins, and Ellen was equally as knowledgeable about the history there as everywhere else. As an undergraduate history major and grad school English/literature specialist, I was impressed by her knowledge and grasp of her subject matter. She has great breadth and depth.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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