Walking Tours in Paris
Tours can be arrranged for families, couples, individuals as well as larger groups up to 25 people.
Gift certificates can also be arranged as a special present for someone ; they will receive a voucher and then we will work together to create a memorable tour. My professional fees are for your group, not per person. They do not include your travel costs, refreshments or any admission fees.
Most Frequently Booked Tours
Stroll in Montmarte
Explore one of the most emblematic neighborhoods in Paris that has maintained its old-world
charm and a few hidden corners while offering Paris' beautiful views. This leisurely walk around
the Montmartre hilltop's picturesque cobblestone streets will reveal its genuine allure and debunk
some clichés. The abundant artistic heritage which began here in the 19th century with
impoverished artists looking for cheap housing will fuel the Modern Art movement. On the Place
Emile Goudeau, you will see an old piano factory that became an incubator for such talents as
Braque, Miro, Juan Gris, Matisse, and Pablo Picasso. A little further up the hill is the charming
Montmartre Museum, where that Renoir and Suzanne Valadon had their ateliers. Their wonderful
permanent collection and temporary exhibits overlook a garden and a vineyard. You will also
discover that the Sacré Coeur Basilica is just one example of the rich sacred architecture to
appreciate here.
Canal St. Martin
When Napoleon Bonaparte decided to have the Ourcq, St Denis and St Martin canals built in 1802 he was looking to bring clean drinking water into the City and a more efficient way to transport merchandise by avoiding some of the buckles of the meandering Seine river. Little did he know that the St Martin Canal would become ‘THE’ place to shop, dine and live some 200 years later. Remnants of the 19th century are still visible – factories, warehouses, taverns and tollhouses all hint at the industrial world that once was as well as a few dilapidated corners. Our interesting stroll will be just under 3 miles long and uncover some of Paris’s lesser known and less polished historic monuments of Paris along with charming iron footbridges and locks. Discover with me where a basilica once stood in 541, cruel punishments were doled out, overlooked architecture from the early 17th century, the location where a cinematographic masterpiece was conceived and of course a garden or two.
Marvels of the Marais
This tour will explore many picturesque streets lined with medieval and renaissance architecture along with its pocket gardens, courtyards and churches. It is a wonderful opportunity to actually visualize the history of Paris and discover the pre-19th century aspect of the City that was almost completely erased from the urban landscape were it not for the preservation laws passed in 1962. We’ll begin facing the Seine River in front of one of Paris’ must-see landmarks before heading north towards the luxurious private residences created in the 16th century, past a recent vertical garden and along smaller streets towards the Jewish quarter. Little known squares and gardens will be revealed and narrated as we walk towards the Place des Vosges, passing
museums, trendy boutiques and bakeries before finishing at a gothic church now sporting a 17th century façade.
Green Ribbon Walking Tour along the Seine: Pont Neuf & the Right Bank
Starting with the beautiful western view from the Pont Neuf, we will retrace the City of Paris'
evolution as it grew and developed over the centuries before crossing over to the Louvre
courtyards on the Right Bank. This defensive fortress has evolved into one of the most well-known museums in the world, with I.M. Pei's breathtaking pyramid at its heart. From Napoleon Bonaparte's impressive Carrousel Arch, we will enter into the oldest public garden in the City, the Tuileries, where André LeNôtre designed one of his classical chef d'ouvres. The southern terrace will take us past the Orangerie and Rodin's Kiss. Before discovering the restored Champs Elysées promenade, gardens, and sculptures marked by over three hundred years of turbulent history, we can also admire the Place de la Concorde.
Green Ribbon Walking Tour along the Seine:
Left Bank & the Islands
Parisians have always loved strolling along the Seine River; on this walk, we will combine amazing views with Paris' history while exploring the architecture, statuary, and plants that enhance this promenade. One of the many highlights is the Jardin des Plantes, which has one of the finest botanical collections in the City, along with its zoo and labyrinth. Amateurs of contemporary sculpture will enjoy discovering the open-air museum on the quai before crossing onto the islands: the charming Ile Saint Louis and historic Ile de la Cité, home to the Notre Dame Cathedral and the oldest bridge in Paris.
Latin Quarter Promenade
As the Romans were the first to occupy this area of Paris, we will begin our walking tour at their
2000-year-old amphitheater before passing by some of the universities that strongly influenced this
district. In addition to seeing the Sorbonne and the Panthéon, we will wander down the charming
rue Mouffetard market street, perhaps stopping at one of the many cafés before visiting one of the
oldest churches in Paris. On our way to the St Michael fountain, we will see a lovely medieval
garden surrounding the Bishop's Palace and then take several narrow, cobblestoned streets
towards the booksellers that line the quais of the Seine.
Sights of Southern Paris
Surprises await in this bucolic corner of the City, from various artist’s ateliers, past one of the City’s five main water reservoirs, through the majestic Montsouris park and ending at the most diverse student housing project ever created in France. While development of this area began here in the late 19th century, it was only after WWI that the southern tip of the 14th district found & has luckily kept, its true colors. Many townhouse lined streets still exist as well as ateliers where Soutine, Seurat and Braque once lived and worked. Inspired by the parks of London, the magnificent 90 acres Montsouris garden is planted with over 1400 trees, with interesting sculptures & generously curving alleyways which wind around its lake. The ‘Cité Universitaire' was utopian student housing project begun in the 1920’s and has resulted in a very rich architectural collection of over 40 residences with contributions from Le Corbusier and Willem Dudok, among others, in addition to its extensive arboretum.
In the Footsteps of the Founding Fathers
Thomas Jefferson once said, "A walk about Paris will provide lessons in history, in beauty, and in the point of life…" Our walk together will cover at least two of these points as we explore the connections between France, the birth of the United States and their mutual bond over the years. Beginning at the Square Thomas Jefferson we will move on to a quiet, tree lined square where the American Embassy once stood. In addition to the Revolutionary bonds that we share, the adjoining square highlights other Americans and their contributions including Joseph Pulitzer, Horace Wells and Edith Wharton. Many of Paris’s gardens are also open-air sculpture museums, and here is no exception with a beautiful composition to the American soldiers who died for France during WWI as well as a statue of Washington and Lafayette by the creator of the Statue of Liberty, Frederick Bartholdi. Continuing on towards the Seine, we will pass by several museums dedicated to fashion, modern art, architecture & ethnography before discovering one of the best views of the Eiffel Tower. Our walk will conclude at Yorktown Square where a statue of America’s first ambassador to France is seated, the much-admired Benjamin Franklin.