Notre Dame Island with Medieval History of Paris Guided Tour - 15 People Max

Immerse yourself in the Paris of the middle ages on a 1.5hr walking tour of Île de la Cité with an expert historian guide. Founded on a river crossing by a pagan tribe, this settlement became a global leader by trying out a range of dramatic forms of rule over the course of hundreds of years. Along with your guide, you’ll wander through the picture-book Paris of Place Dauphine which was built by a king and designed for infinite games of boules. You’ll pass by the brooding Conciergerie where they held members of the royalty while the guillotine was sharpened. At the stunning Palais de Justice, you’ll see where Marie Antoinette was sentenced to death. Sainte-Chapelle is also nearby, still standing where it was built as a chapel for the royals and to hold the fragments of Christian faith which French Knights brought back from the crusades. If the spire looks familiar it is because it was the model for the one on Notre Dame which was recently destroyed by fire. As you explore further into the island, you’ll discover the roots of pagans, the remains of Romans and the faith of kings and queens which led them to believe they had a divine right to rule. Your tour will also take you across the Seine to the Left Bank, the playground of thousands of students and artists such as Joyce and Hemingway. While they were attracted by famous bookstores like Shakespeare and Co you will visit it to get the best views of Notre Dame Cathedral*. The Cathedral is, of course, currently closed due to the savage fire that ripped through it, but the exterior can be viewed on the tour. Its flying buttresses still stand strong under the scaffolding which surrounds it as restoration continues. Your guide will fill you in on how it became the Grand Dame of France and why its architecture was a radical departure from European churches of the time. The global outpouring of grief after the fire is a testament to the esteem that this cathedral is held in. You will discover how it has survived more than one occasion like this. *Please note that the streets around the Cathedral are closed until further notice. Therefore, we won’t be able to access the square in front of Notre Dame and see the 0km point. However, your guide will ensure to take you through alternative routes so you can get as close as possible to the Cathedral