Paris History Tour: The French Revolution

Learn about 18th century revolutionary Paris and its historical importance with a history expert
From US$122 for 1 person
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Tour Details
Duration
3 hours
Product Type
Tour
Venues
  • Bastille
  • Hôtel de Ville
  • Place de la Concorde
  • Église Saint-Paul-Saint-Louis
  • Place des Vosges
  • Marais
Photos & Highlights
  • Clarifies the tangled timeline of the 1789 Revolution and those that followed while highlighting the vestiges of 18th century revolutionary Paris
  • Led by an expert historian
Select a date
Tour Description
On the afternoon of July 14, 1789, a rebelling rabble laid siege to France's most hated fortress: the Bastille. Freeing the few remaining political prisoners, the mob began, stone-by-stone, dismantling the building that had come to symbolize the injustice of the old regime. This was the Revolution of 1789.

On this 3-hour French Revolution Tour in Paris, we will discover the influences that contributed to this rebellion, forever transforming the country. Led by a local expert, we will visit some of the locations that provided the stage for key events during the period. Starting near the Place de la Bastille, the site of one of the more famous rebellions in history, you will walk on the same roads as the revolutionaries and deep dive into the historical context of the period. As you wander through the nearby Marais, your expert will give you insight into daily life during the period, including giving you color on class tensions that sparked the uprising. 

Stopping in front of the Hôtel de Ville, Paris' city hall, a symbol of the government, you will learn how its central square became a key location in each subsequent revolution. It was even set alight by revolutionaries during the Commune of 1871. You will visit several squares which played host to the horrific and infamous guillotine, and speak about its enduring image and influence throughout history. Ending at the most well-known home to the guillotine, Place de la Concorde, you will have time to discuss the impact of these historical events on politics, society, and culture in France today. 

Emerging with a clearer understanding of how the Revolution of 1789 indelibly transformed French society, you will leave your tour having done a true deep dive into a subject that has had global repercussions throughout history. 

Experts
Anthony Anthony
Art Historian
Erell Erell
Art Historian
Ange
Historian
Thierry Thierry
Historian
Cecile Cecile
Local Guide
Gil Gil
Local Guide
Michael Michael
Local Guide
Christina Christina
Local Guide
Thibaud Thibaud
Art Historian
Aymeric Aymeric
Local Guide
Edwige Edwige
Local Guide
Adam Adam
Local Guide
Eva Eva
Local Guide
Laura Laura
Historian
Tatiana Tatiana
Art Historian
Sean Sean
Tour guide/Historian
Christopher Christopher
Local Guide
Amélie Amélie
Local guide - Historian
Irene Irene
Architectural Historian
Georgia Georgia
Art Historian
Fatah Fatah
Local Guide
Emmanuel Emmanuel
Local Guide
Jean-Philippe Jean-Philippe
Historian
Marie Marie
Art Historian

  • You are a self-confessed history nerd. This tour dives deep into the period of the French Revolution, and the important places and people of the time. This tour is for those clients who come to Paris hungry to learn! 
  • You have taken other focused subject matter tours with Context and are hoping to expand your knowledge to a new time period. 
  • You are planning on visiting Versailles during your time in Paris. What better pre-cursor to visit Marie Antoinette’s country home than by learning all about the circumstances around the revolution? 

  • Place de la Bastille 
  • Hôtel de Ville 
  • Place des Vosges 
  • Le Marais 
  • Église Saint-Paul-Saint-Louis
  • Place de la Concorde 

Transportation

Can I be picked up from my hotel?
We can arrange a private transfer from your hotel to for this tour. Our car service will pick you up at your hotel and transfer you to the meeting point, where you will meet your Context expert. Please reach out or leave a note at the time of booking if you would like to add this service for an additional fee. 

Additional Trip-Planning Resources

  • For more information on planning your travels to France, take a read through our Context Stories.
  • If you are looking to learn more about French history prior to a visit, check out our online lectures

Do we visit the Carnavalet museum with this itinerary? 
We will not be visiting the museum on our tour, but do encourage you to visit on your own after the tour. The discussions we have on our tour will provide context for understanding the Carnavalet's revolution rooms. 
 
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We understand that some of our valued guests may have mobility concerns, and we want to ensure you have a comfortable and enjoyable experience throughout your tour. If there are any accessibility concerns that your tour guide will need to be aware of, please let our team know at the time of booking.

Is this tour wheelchair-friendly?
We cover extensive territory on this tour, some of it by public transport. Not all metro stations in Paris are wheel-chair accessible. Please contact us if you have mobility concerns; we will be happy to advise if this tour will be appropriate for you.

Book with confidence — see Context's flexible cancellation policy here.
Where You'll Start
(4.71) 320 Reviews

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Super interesting tour! We learned so much and loved hanging out with Georgia for a morning.
This tour was the high point of my three weeks traveling in Europe and Iceland. I had read "A Tale of Two Cities" and the tour brought to life the history of the French Revolution. We walked the path of the revolutionary activities and were treated to a deep and insightful presentation of the context and the activities that took place in the locations we visited. Irene was outstanding in her knowledge and communication of the history. We learned so much about the history and the feelings of the French people who realized this dramatic transformation of world events. Thank you.
Christopher was very knowledgeable and was good company on the tour