Notre Dame and the city center
“To breathe Paris is to preserve one’s soul.”
Victor Hugo, Les Misérables
Paris is one of the most beautiful cities in the world, and one of the oldest ones in Europe. It was founded by the Gauls around 250 BC, then conquered by the romans and it helped shape art and philosophy during the Middle Ages. It was home to important kings such as Louis XIV, and survived the Nazi occupation in the 40s of the XXth century. This is an ideal tour to start discovering the city and a perfect first activity.
Duration of the visit: 2:30 hours
Recommended time: early in the morning or right before sunset, as the views of the river Seine are really beautiful
Group size: 30 people maximum
About the tour
The visit starts with a brief history of the founding of Paris and its development during the Middle Ages. The first main stop is the Notre Dame cathedral, one of the first gothic buildings in Europe, and key in order to understand the culture of its time.
Afterwards we will compare the cathedral to the Sainte Chapelle, the finest gothic building in France. Not far from there we will be able to enjoy the beauty of the oldest clock in Paris. We will explore all of the Île de la Cité, the geographical and historical center of Paris, and we will exit by the Pont Neuf (New Bridge), the oldest bridge in the city.
From there we’ll go to the main façade of the Louvre Museum, a crime scene that made History in France. Louis XIV, the Sun King, used to live in this building, which he left after moving to Versailles. After being transformed into a museum, it received its glass Pyramid in 1989.
