Dark Heart of Paris: History, Legends & Mysteries Walking Tour

Paris, the City of Light, has a remarkably dark and stormy past. Before the city earned its reputation for culture, art, fashion and romance, it endured centuries of strife – gruesome murders, torture, and beheadings, political and social unrest, brutal monarchies and wars, not to mention terrible plagues. This tour will bring to life Paris's mysterious and often horrific past – its dark stories, legends and historic personalities. You’ll see both rarely visited and well-known sights in a whole new way!

See the Hotel de Concierge, where Marie Antoinette was once imprisoned.

You’ll visit the 7th century church of Saint-Germain-l'Auxerrois, and learn how and why around 30,000 Huguenots were murdered in the infamous St. Bartholomew’s Day Massacre of 1572.

Pass by the Île de la Cité, an island in Seine river in the center of Paris, which in the 4th century was the site of the fortress of the Roman governor.

You’ll learn that the Palais de Justice - which was awarded the Grand Prix de l'Empereur as the greatest work of art produced in France in that decade - was where unfortunates were judged guilty during the French Revolution and sentenced to the guillotine in front of cheering crowds – even if they were Kings or revolutionaries themselves!

Place de l'Hotel de Ville was used for parties organized by the municipality and to celebrate births and marriages of the royal family, but it was also the place for important executions from 1310 to 1830, including those of Ravaillac and La Brinvilliers.