Tour Details
Photos & Highlights
- Examines the role of immigration in France
- Led by a social historian or political scientist
- La Grande Mosquée de Paris, Gare du Nord, Belleville, and La Goutte d'Or
Tour Description
In the summer of 2005, France erupted in flames. For weeks, disgruntled youth—many from the country's North African immigrant communities—set thousands of cars ablaze and vandalized shops and schools, turning the streets of Paris' infamous banlieue (suburbs) into war zones. Following this and other more recent events—notably the attacks on Charlie Hebdo, the Bataclan, and in Nice—the question of identity is raised. In the wake of so much conflict, we find ourselves in the midst of a vivid debate on what it really means to be French. The French people have been forced to grapple with the changing face of the country, now home to Europe's largest Muslim population. Our 3.5-hour France Immigration tour, led by a social historian guide, will explore immigration to France, analyze its history, and examine the root of the issues which plague France's current political climate.
France Immigration Tour & La Goutte d'Or
We will begin our walk with an overview of French colonization and its subsequent waves of immigration (a subject also explored on our Marseille Walking Tour) while we stroll around the lively streets and open-air market in La Goutte d'Or, around métro Barbès Rochechouart. This traditional working class district, located in northern Paris, attracted North African immigrants during the thirty years after WWII when France desperately needed manpower to rebuild the country (for more, see our Paris WWII Tour). However, this era was soon fraught with the demise of the French colonies and the violent Franco-Algerian war (1954-1962). We will discuss this period while walking along the rue de la Goutte d'Or, where, during the war, many Algerians lived in hotels and where the harkis (Muslim Algerian auxiliaries in the French army) had one of their headquarters.
Paris and La Banlieue
As we work our way further east we will reach the Gare du Nord train station, an important gateway where we can observe the vast network of tracks that transport hundreds of thousands of people in from the suburbs every day. Here we will address how the situation has evolved since the sixties, with the marginalization of immigrants who have been relegated to vast concrete housing projects outside of the capital. Far removed from the elegant shops and tree-lined boulevards of central Paris, it was there that growing discontent from poor living conditions and high unemployment acted as a catalyst for much of the recent unrest.
A Multicultural City
Descending into the metro ourselves, we will travel a few stations to Belleville, another former working class suburb incorporated into Paris through 19th century Haussmanization. As a neighborhood with North African, Asian, and Jewish people living and working side by side, Belleville is now one of the city's most multicultural centers, making it the perfect location for our discussion of the changes to Paris' immigrant populace.
"This was a very interesting tour to us. It covered a lot of ground. . . It was interesting to hear the past as well as current day situations. Our guide was personable and interesting. He answered our questions and went deeper into areas we were interested in. It was great to understand Paris outside of our regular touring areas.
A Celebrated Paris Mosque: La Grande Mosquée
We will finish our walk by reentering the metro, this time heading south to our final stop, the Grand Mosque of Paris. The largest mosque in France, it was inaugurated in 1926 in recognition of the Muslims who fought for France in WWI. Over a glass of mint tea in the garden, we will discuss some current issues surrounding immigration, such as the veil, France's concept of their national identity, recent upheaval, or even the difference between American and French understanding of identity.
NOTE: Depending on the guide, the order of stops on the walk may differ from what is outlined above.
FAQ
Are the neighborhoods we'll be visiting safe?
Yes, the neighborhoods we visit on this walk are very safe.
Yes, the neighborhoods we visit on this walk are very safe.
In 2014, Fox News highlighted Paris' "No-Go-Zones". Will we talk about this on the walk?
This will very likely come up as a point of discussion on the walk, and if it does not, please feel free to ask about it. It should be noted that Fox News' reported "No-Go-Zones" are baseless; no such zones exist. We will talk about how such fear-mongering claims come about and the dangers they present in perpetuating stereotypes.
This will very likely come up as a point of discussion on the walk, and if it does not, please feel free to ask about it. It should be noted that Fox News' reported "No-Go-Zones" are baseless; no such zones exist. We will talk about how such fear-mongering claims come about and the dangers they present in perpetuating stereotypes.
Will we be traveling to the banlieues mentioned in the description?
No. Our tour will be focused on neighborhoods in central Paris, though we will certainly discuss the significance of the banlieues.
No. Our tour will be focused on neighborhoods in central Paris, though we will certainly discuss the significance of the banlieues.
Will we be entering any houses of worship on this tour?
It depends on accessibility. We may take tea at the garden of La Grande Mosquée, and if possible, enter the mosque, but we usually don't enter any other religious sites.
It depends on accessibility. We may take tea at the garden of La Grande Mosquée, and if possible, enter the mosque, but we usually don't enter any other religious sites.
Is this tour walking intensive, and/or wheelchair accessible?
We do cover extensive territory on this tour, and the route includes métro transfers. Please contact us with any questions; we will be happy to advise if this tour will be appropriate for you, and can design a private, customized tour for visitors with mobility concerns.
We do cover extensive territory on this tour, and the route includes métro transfers. Please contact us with any questions; we will be happy to advise if this tour will be appropriate for you, and can design a private, customized tour for visitors with mobility concerns.
Where You'll Start
24 Reviews
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Reviews can only be left by Context customers after they have completed a tour. For more information about our reviews, please see our FAQ.
Very knowledgeable and willing to answer questions and share insights. Much more "true" view of Paris than from U.S. media.
Mike
Mar. 6, 2017
He made the walk - he was very knowledgeable and did a good job of answering questions and customizing the content based on what each of us wanted to learn.
Eric
Dec. 15, 2016
What worked: Arun is very knowledgeable about the immigration subject matter; he was happy to extend the duration of the tour to cover all the areas of the city he wanted us to see; he appreciated questions and answered them fully; he is a personable guy and generally nice to be with.
What didn't work: He often did not speak loudly enough for us to hear him (he frequently talked while walking, so everyone behind him could not hear; even when he stopped to talk, he didn't position himself so that he was addressing everyone. I mentioned this to him several times, but he was slow to adjust); He didn't have a well-organized presentation (I would have appreciated an introduction that framed the issues he would address, highlight the key themes, give a brief overview before plunging in. We were left to try to figure out where the pieces of the puzzle fit in); He deviated from the tour topic to address US issues and topics of personal interest to him that were not related to the subject of the tour. (Comments about Trump, policing, etc.-- this was distracting and interrupted our attempt to follow the threads of his narrative)
Kristen
Sep. 20, 2016
