- Category
- Art, Orientation
- Duration
- 8 hours
- Location
- Paris
- A comprehensive view into the history and culture of Paris for first-time or returning visitors
- Led by a PhD or MA-level historian
- Louvre Museum, Notre Dame Cathedral (exterior only), Opera Garnier, Church of Saint-Séverin, Île de la Cité, Champs-Elysées, Latin Quarter, and Saint-Germain-des-Prés
Sites Visited
- Île Saint-Louis
- Notre Dame
- The Church of Saint-Séverin
- Saint-Julien-le-Pauvre
- Luxembourg Gardens
- Pont des Arts
- Île de la Cité
- Latin Quarter
- Saint-Germain-des-Prés
- Pont des Arts
- Palais Royal
- Opera Garnier
- Louvre Museum
Included
- 8 Hours with a PhD or MA-level guide
- Pre-purchased Louvre tickets
Itinerary Details
Our route will continue across Pont des Arts as we cross over to the Right Bank. We may take the time to explore the grounds of the Palais Royal as we discuss further the French monarchy and all its intricacies in alluring surroundings. At this point, we will break for lunch at a venue selected for our groups’ tastes. Fueled on French food, we have the grand finale of our Context Paris full-day tour: the Louvre Museum. Our expert guide will dive into this vast collection, carefully selecting key works—a mixture of masterpieces (Venus de Milo, of course) and unknown treasures—to craft a narrative of kings, emperors, and the accomplished artists who served them. We will spend the remainder of our time touring the spectacular museum before we finish up our time together with an introduction on Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa. We can leave together or explore freely at our own leisure if we choose.
Mobility concerns? Check out our Paris in a Day, with Context: By Car tour, a replica of this tour with a car-service
FAQ
The daughter of a sculptor, Marie has been surrounded by art ever since she was born. A native Parisienne, she holds an undergraduate degree in history and art history, with a specialty in iconography and French and Flemish paintings from the 16th to the 18th centuries. She also holds a Master's degree in museology from the Ecole du Louvre and one in Art History from the Sorbonne. She currently works for the French National Art History Institute on special cultural events. Since she loves literature, ballet, theatre, opera, jazz clubs, and classical concerts—she has been playing the piano since she was 9—Paris and its artistic life are a perfect fit.
Marie Theres is a painter who has made Paris her home for more than two decades. She works in her studio in Montmartre and shows her paintings in galleries in Europe and the United States. She studied history at the University of Cologne, Germany and painting at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts in Philadelphia before coming to Paris to study art history at the Ecole de Louvre. Her knowledge of art history is enhanced by her practical painting experience. Beyond a purely academic approach, this enables her to convey the emotional dimension of the artwork and to focus attention on the act of creation. She loves to share her passion for art and painting and is fascinated by the 19th-century artistic heritage of Paris, its art movements, and urbanism.
Born and raised abroad, mostly in Asia, Lorraine discovered Paris intimately while studying art history at Ecole du Louvre, a school which holds most of its classes directly in museums and monuments. After several years spent in NYC, getting her Master's degree in Modern Art at Columbia University and working at the Guggenheim Museum, she returned to her adopted city in 2008 to start a PhD. Currently specializing in the history of photography and visual culture, active member of the Laboratoire d'histoire visuelle contemporaine, Lorraine also works as a freelance art critic, teaches art history, and nurtures a few artistic projects of her own.
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