About the Gothic Paris for Families Walk in Paris
Gargoyles, stained glass, flying buttresses-- nothing symbolizes the Gothic mystery of Paris like Notre Dame, which is brought to life by one of our scholars. Paris' mother church symbolizes the dark, mysterious medieval era like no other--evoking Arthurian legends, castles, and a seemingly mythical past. That past, however, is very real. And there are few better places to learn about the Gothic than on Paris' Ile de la Cite--the small island in the city's center that is home not only to Notre Dame, but several other Gothic masterpieces. The goal of this walk is to bring gothic to life vividly for young people.
Our walk is designed with kids (and their enthusiastic parents) in mind. Especially gifted with children, our docents will cater the walk to suit the age of the participants, getting a little more sophisticated with children above 12, talking about the birth of Gothic, and the many changes the cathedral has undergone through many historical events, including the French revolutio
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Gargoyles, stained glass, flying buttresses-- nothing symbolizes the Gothic mystery of Paris like Notre Dame, which is brought to life by one of our scholars. Paris' mother church symbolizes the dark, mysterious medieval era like no other--evoking Arthurian legends, castles, and a seemingly mythical past. That past, however, is very real. And there are few better places to learn about the Gothic than on Paris' Ile de la Cite--the small island in the city's center that is home not only to Notre Dame, but several other Gothic masterpieces. The goal of this walk is to bring gothic to life vividly for young people.
Our walk is designed with kids (and their enthusiastic parents) in mind. Especially gifted with children, our docents will cater the walk to suit the age of the participants, getting a little more sophisticated with children above 12, talking about the birth of Gothic, and the many changes the cathedral has undergone through many historical events, including the French revolution and the restoration that made it what we see today. Saint-Chapelle, a masterpiece of gothic art, comes in handy, providing the backdrop for a discussion of how stained glass was made, gothic symbolism, and the relationship between religion, politics, and the common person during the middle ages. (Don't worry, we make it fun and interesting.)
This kids-focused itinerary is always designed around your children's needs. Although we confine the walk to the Ile de la Cite, in addition to visits to Notre Dame and Sainte Chapelle we may spend time at the Conciergerie, the residence of France's early Kings that later became an infamous prison during the Revolution (Marie-Antoinette was detained here prior to her execution), or the excavated Roman ruins beneath Notre Dame. Regardless of how it unfolds, our focus remains on the learning experience of the children in the group.
