Summary

Beginning on the smaller island of Saint-Louis, this tour will slowly take you around the Island of la Cité, ending in front of the gothic masterpiece of Notre-Dame cathedral. While you step over the traces of Roman walls and walk past royal palaces, Matthew will show you how this flood-prone island rose to become the seat of French power. Through the stories of audacious kings and emperors as well as fallen knights and queens, you will see how power was built and broken across two millennia – shaping not only this island, but Paris and France itself. As we approach Notre-Dame, you will learn of its tragic story and how it was almost lost to us twice, giving you the perfect opportunity to explore the restored interior on your own and see the results of centuries-old techniques the artisans used to rebuild it after the 2019 fire.