Paris in World War 2: A Walking Tour
Into European history since I was a child, it wasn't until the age of 27 that Paris made sense to me to live and work! Originally from the UK, guiding in Paris since 2017, I'm in the transition of becoming a moody Parisian! With this curiosité, Paris feels like showing you around my home. Alors venez nombreux !
Pickup
I will be by Metro exit Saint Paul (Line 1)
Description
Step back in time and explore the heart of Occupied Paris on this fascinating walking tour through the city’s storied streets. From the days of resistance and repression to liberation and celebration, each stop reveals a chapter in the city’s dramatic wartime history.
Begin at Saint Paul Metro (line 1), and head to the Marais...
Then to the Hôtel de Ville, where the French tricolor once flew again in triumph after the 1944 Liberation. The building’s façade still echoes the fiery battles that raged nearby as Parisians fought to reclaim their city.
Just around the corner lies the Préfecture de Police, a crucial stronghold of the French Resistance. In August 1944, courageous officers barricaded themselves inside, sparking the uprising that would lead to Paris’s freedom.
We'll continue on and make several stops until we finish at the glittering Place Vendôme, where the scars of battle have long since been hidden by luxury. Here, amid timeless elegance, reflect on the courage, sacrifice, and resilience that saved the City of Light from the darkness of war.