A historic walk between the two fortresses of Paris – from the Bastille to the Louvre

Walk through the narrow streets, look outside the gates of private mansions, go to small churches, slip into the picturesque corners and courtyards where Parisians live and feel the mysterious atmosphere of old Paris!
This historic walk through medieval Paris will begin at Place de la Bastille, where the fortress of the same name was once built, which later became a famous prison. I will tell you the true story of this terrible place, its prisoners and the "symbolic" capture during the Revolution of 1789.

We will visit the Marais quarter, once the swamp of Paris, then the site of the famous Order of the Templars, later the quarter of the French aristocracy, and now - a magnificent historical quarter with many private mansions and museums.

We will see one of the royal squares - the Place des Vosges, built instead of the ruined Catherine de Medici, the royal castle of Tournell, see the fortress wall of King Philip Augustus, built in the 12th century, the remains of the royal palace of Saint Paul, medieval narrow streets and through, rare for Paris, courtyards, half-timbered houses, as well as the magnificent churches of Saint Paul - Saint Louis and Saint Gervais - Saint Prote, built in a new luxurious style. We will see several private mansions - Duke Sully, Hotel Beauvais, the first woman in the life of Louis 14, Hotel Sens, where Queen Margot lived in exile and other mansions of this quarter.
We will visit the central city hall of Paris, in the former Greve Square, with its once eventful turbulent life, learn who was the first prefect of Paris and how he managed to get this position.
We will see the tower of St. James, talk about the Paris alchemists, as well as learn the true story of Quasimodo. We will see the Palace of Justice Conciergerie, its old clock, ominous towers and the oldest bridge in Paris, called exactly the opposite – the New Bridge.
We will visit the Chatelet Square, once known for the gloomy prison of the same name, but now famous for its theaters, in one of which Sarah Bernard herself played, and in the other Sergey Diaghilev began his project “Russian Seasons”.
We will finish our walk near the Louvre Palace, which was once the main defensive fortress of Paris on the west side, and now the largest and most famous museum in the world!
During our walk I will tell you about the change of architectural styles of the Middle Ages, Renaissance and Great Century of France, as well as the influence of historical events and church reforms on them. And, of course, we will talk about the history of Paris and famous personalities who have lived in it for centuries!

The best way to get to know the city is to walk around its historic part!

See you soon!

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