Le Marais in the French Revolution: Private Paris Walking tour
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:
- Enjoy an introduction to pre-revolution France in Le Marais;
- Visit the remains of the famous Bastille prison, along with other physical traces of the revolution in the area;
- Stroll down rue Saint-Antoine, where you will see and hear the history of the first exclusively female political club;
- Take a pause inside beautiful Place des Vosges, where Victor Hugo lived - famous author of Les Miserables and the Hunchback of Notre Dame;
- Learn about the Jewish community who settled here;
- Step into the largest church in Le Marais, which still has graffiti on its walls from the Commune of 1871;
- Discover a section of a wall remaining from the prison de La Force.
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.