Île de la Cité, the Old Town of Paris Private Guided Tour – Paris, France

EXPERIENCE:

Join us on an private tour of Ile de la Cité, the birthplace of Paris. This is where the story of the City of Lights begins. Let a master storyteller guide you through the history of France, from the Roman Times to today. Learn about the island’s role as an important religious center and the site of the trials of aristocrats during the French Revolution. See the heart of Paris!

Choose the basic 2-hour tour to see highlights of Ile de la Cité only from the outside, with no tickets included. Your amazing tour begins on the bank of the Seine River with a story of Bonaparte’s victory, which is commemorated by the Fontaine du Châtelet. Nearby you can also see Saint-Jacques Tower, which is the only remaining part of a 16th-century church that was demolished during the French Revolution and the historic city hall Hôtel de Ville, which witnessed the proclamation of French Third Republic in 1870 and the Liberation of Paris in 1944.

Enjoy the picturesque views as you walk across Pont d’Arcole to enter Ile de la Cité. Here, you will find traces of the darker days in the city’s history. See the Deportation Martyrs Memorial to the people deported to concentration camps and the famed Notre Dame Cathedral, which almost completely burned down in 2019. Nevertheless, Notre Dame’s architecture, history and cultural value still make it one of the most beloved monuments of Paris. Another point of interest will be the mighty Conciergerie, a medieval palace and the last prison of Marie Antoinette. The tour will end at the charming Place Dauphine, where you can admire Pont Neuf and the equine statue of King Henri IV.

Choose the extended 3-hour option to visit the Conciergerie with skip-the-line tickets and learn more about its role as the medieval residence of the kings of France and a prison during the French Revolution. Discover the secrets of the oldest vestige of the Palais de la Cité. Visit the Hall of the Men-at-Arms, which is the largest non-religious Gothic hall in Europe, the Prisoners’ Corridor, and Memorial chapel to Marie-Antoinette dedicated to the Queen who was imprisoned, tried and sentenced at Conciergerie.

Choose the full 4-hour option to also visit the Sainte-Chapelle, the royal chapel of Palais de la Cité. We provide skip-the-line tickets to this attraction as well so you can skip all the waiting lines. This opulent Gothic chapel was built in the 13th century for King Louis IX and no expense was spared to decorate its interiors. Marvel at the extensive, original stained glass windows that depict biblical scenes, colorfully painted walls and ceilings, and numerous statues of the Apostles. During this tour you will also have a chance to take a closer look at the Louvre Palace, which now houses the popular museum of art.

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS:

Explore Ile de la Cité with a 5-Star Local Guide
Discover the origins of Paris and its history
See the symbol of the city – the Notre-Dame Cathedral
Learn about the French Revolution at the Conciergerie (only in 3 and 4-hour tour
Visit the ornate Sainte-Chapelle with skip-the-line tickets (only in 4-hour tour

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