Where Paris was Born: A Self-Guided Audio Tour of Île de la Cité
Description
Discover the neighbourhood where Paris was born with this affordable walking tour. • See how the city transformed from a small settlement along the Seine River into one of the most charming places in the world • Hear from producer Annie Sargent, a tour guide and producer of the Join Us in France Travel Podcast whose passion for France’s history inspired him to craft this bestselling VoiceMap tour • Do it all in an hour or linger at stops along the way with complete control over when you start and finish • Get unlimited use before your booking date and after it • Use the virtual tour option at home Once you’ve booked, you’ll receive a ticket with instructions and a unique code listed under “Before You Go”. Then simply install the VoiceMap app and enter your code. The app displays directions to the starting point, and when you’re in the right place, just pop in your headphones and tap start. VoiceMap has automatic GPS playback, with turn-by-turn directions. It also works offline.
Tour Options
Itinerary
The tour takes place in Paris' Île de la Cité.
This bridge used to be laden with “love-locks”. Couples came to the bridge with special locks that were usually inscribed with their names, locked them on the bridge and then threw the keys in the river. This would presumably ensure that their love would last.
The tour takes you over Pont Neuf.
Under the Equestrian Statue of Henri IV, on one side you'll see a bas-relief panel that shows a humble Henri IV bringing loaves of bread to the people of Paris after a siege. What the picture doesn’t explain is that HE was the one who had put Paris under siege!
The park on the tip of Île de la Cité is called the Square du Vert-Galant. We use the word “square” in French to mean a small park but the Square du Vert-Galant is actually triangular!
The tour passes by the Saule Pleureur de la Pointe.
Place Dauphine plaza was financed by Henri IV and named “The Dauphin” after his son Louis who would become Louis XIII.
The tour passes by the Maison Paul restaurant.
Palais de Justice means courthouse, but it's no ordinary courthouse. It's the Cour de Cassation, one of the highest jurisdictions in the country.
The tour passes by Quai de l’Horloge.
The Conciergerie Museum is where you can learn about the French Revolution and Marie-Antoinette. It's a must-see for people who have an interest in the French Revolution.
Inside the Sainte Chapelle you'll see the most spectacular Gothic stained-glass windows in the world. On a sunny day it feels like you're walking through a kaleidoscope!
The tour passes by Archaeological crypt of the Île de la Cité.
As you may know, the Cathedral was severely damaged by a fire in April 2019 and is in the process of being renovated. As a result, access to the Cathedral is now limited and you can only see it from the north and east side.
The Deportation Martyrs Memorial is a somber tribute to all the French Jews that were captured in France and sent to Germany to die during WWII.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(8)
My husband and I each had an earbud in one ear while we took this tour, and it worked out very well that way. We could still hear what was going on around us and talk and both hear where to go on the tour. Annie, the guide, does a wonderful job explaining where to go and what we're looking at and why it is important to stop at each spot. Will definitely buy her other tours.
Fabulous tour! This was the first tour we took when we arrived in Paris. It was such a great way to explore Ile de la Cite and the heart of Paris. It gave us a great overview of the central part of the city, my husband and I shared a pair of earbuds and listened through my iPhone. Annie has the ideal voice to lead you through the area. We found the tour very easy to follow, and lots of "hidden gems". I highly recommend this tour!!
Annie’s audio tour is perfect—one can meander at your own pace, listening and learning about the sites right before your very eyes. I highly recommend her tours, especially this one, “Where Paris Was Born.”
My favorite so far of Annie’s VoiceMap Tours - I have them all and have done 3 others. Although I had been to Sainte Chapelle and Notre Dame several times before, with this tour I felt that I really saw them. I loved finding the actual objects with the help of Annie’s photos and instructions.
Voicemap tours are such a great way to learn more about what you are seeing without breaking the bank for a personal tour. You have flexibility in stopping and starting and I listened to them before going to have a little preview. This one has a lot about history and I would have missed so much without this tour. I love the Join Us in France podcast, facebook group and Annie is a wealth of knowledge. I just bought one of her new ones for my next trip. **note this tour does include some torture descriptions!
The host, Annie Sargent, provides Warm, engaging narration with strong historical storytelling • GPS-triggered audio makes navigation effortless. You can pause anytime • Focuses on dramatic stories (Templars, medieval Paris, Henri IV, Notre-Dame) • Great for travelers who want a self-paced but rich experience
Excellent tour from Annie Sargent. Easy to navigate and so informative and interesting. You can stop anytime and continue whenever. I downloaded before our trip to become familiar with the area and to daydream. Such fun!
This was a really well done tour. I loved that you could speed it up. I listened at 1.5x speed. So many great stories that was told. I felt like I was actually with a realTour guide.
