Your experience begins in the heart of the Saint Germain de Prés neighborhood. Now known for its winding streets and typically Parisian charm, this neighborhood was a critical location for both Nazi occupiers and the Résistance. You will pause at the hotel where German counterintelligence hid out during the occupation, as well as in front of buildings that served as the meeting place for Jean Moulin and the resistance council, and the headquarters of the Defense de France newspaper. 

From there, you may visit the Luxembourg Gardens, which served as the headquarters for the German Airforce, the Luftwaffe. Or you may head directly north to see where Nazi occupants went for entertainment, and where French communist resistors famously rioted against rationing in 1942. 

You will certainly pass by Place Saint-Michel, where Robert Doisneau photographed a legendary image of resistance barricades, and perhaps see where Samuel Beckett hid from the Gestapo during the war – hint, it's a very popular bookstore in the present day. 

You will move across the river to discover the Deportation Memorial, and the Police Prefecture, where the French were known to have collaborated with the Gestapo.  A stop in front of the Hospitalière-Saint-Gervais Elementary school, where 260 school children were victims of the Vel d’Hiv round-up, will broach the stark reality of the massive reach of deportation in the city. You may even visit the Shoah Memorial to reflect more upon the deportation, time permitting. 

And finally, you will turn the focus toward the liberation of Paris and the final four days. Was Paris really burning? Concluding your walk, you will discuss the reaction of Jewish survivors upon coming back to Paris, what happened to German collaborators, and how France has coped with this dark period since it came to an end. 

 

For more on World War II History in France, try out our D-Day Tour: Day Trip from Paris to Normandy.

Is this tour walking intensive and/ or wheelchair accessible? 
We do cover extensive territory on this tour. If you have mobility problems or concerns, please contact us so we can best advise if this tour will be appropriate for you. 

Is this tour appropriate for children and teens? 
We cover mature topics on this tour. It is not designed as a family tour, though we welcome inquisitive minds of all ages. Please contact us to discuss further if you're concerned about age-appropriate content. Context Small-Group tours do have an age minimum of 13.