You will discover the Île de la Cité, the historic heart of Paris, on a walking tour that combines Gothic architecture, key episodes of French history and the legends that have inspired writers and artists for centuries. Throughout the itinerary, you will access essential monuments and explore emblematic corners that help explain how this small island became the spiritual, political and cultural core of the city.
At the start of the tour, you will walk along the River Seine and cross the Pont Neuf, the oldest bridge in Paris, before heading to the Conciergerie. There, you will learn about the history of this former palace turned prison, famous for having held Marie Antoinette during the French Revolution. As you explore its rooms, you will hear stories about the Reign of Terror and the evolution of the building through the centuries.
The experience will continue at the Sainte-Chapelle, where you will enter without waiting in line to admire its spectacular stained-glass windows, considered a masterpiece of Gothic art. Your guide will explain the meaning of their scenes and the role the chapel played in the lives of the kings of France. Afterwards, you will walk along cobblestone streets and visit iconic sites such as the Shakespeare and Company bookstore, discovering stories of poets, philosophers and artists who shaped Paris’s intellectual identity.
The tour will end in front of Notre-Dame Cathedral, where your guide will offer a detailed overview of its past, its architecture and the restoration work undertaken after the 2019 fire. Although the visit focuses on the exterior, this conclusion will allow you to understand the cathedral’s historical and symbolic importance, completing a comprehensive itinerary through the most iconic monuments of the Île de la Cité.