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Paris : Few words evoke more emotion and promise than this one. Paris, the capital of France, the northern border of the Latin spirit. Paris, where the clichés are so potent that they ultimately become the real thing. Paris—briefly challenged in the early 1990s by Prague as the world’s finest hangout for English-speakers looking for high-quality lifestyles—has never lost, and will never lose, its place in the world as the Capital of Sophistication and the Hormonal City-State of Desire. It is here that you can best contemplate what it is you want from life.

Discover all of Paris with Aeon Tours

With Aeon Tours, you can see Paris like you've never seen it before. One of the world's most famed cities, Paris ignites the senses like no other place on earth. There's a part of Paris that tugs at everyone; it's at once historical, romantic, and exhilarating. Paris also happens to be the world's premier walking city, best explored on foot. A walking tour of Paris is truly a feast for your senses.

All of our Paris walking tours are designed to show you the most iconic Paris sites as well as the lesser-known local favorites that you'll want to return to again and again. Our flexible itineraries mean you can design your own tour and spend more time seeing what you want.

Aeon Guides are passionate and dedicated to making your Paris experience unforgettable. All of our tour guides are true residents of Paris, committed to sharing firsthand insight into their beloved city.

To take advantage of this tour, just visit aeontours.com for more info.

Notre Dame

Construction on this masterpiece of Gothic architecture began in 1163 by Bishop Maurice de Sully and it was only after 182 years that it was fully completed. Over the years, it has undergone several restorations, particularly during the 19th century; however, the architecture has always been kept very similar to the original style used by Sully. During the Revolution for example, the anti-royalists destroyed the statues of kings that graced the building’s façade. (They are now to be found at the Musée de Cluny.

The cathedral’s interior is immense and can fit an amazing total of 6000 people inside. The 7800-pipe organ is another of the cathedral’s wonders, as are the stained glass rose windows that decorate its walls. When visiting this medieval masterpiece, keep in mind that the north tower is open to the public and climbing up the 387 stairs will bring you up to the west façade to admire the beautiful view of the city alongside the gargoyles adorning the top.

Map of Paris

Here is a simple map of all the main monuments in Paris France that will let you organize your journey from the Eiffel Tour to the Gare de Lyon to Vers Villepinte.

Short History of Paris

Gauls of the Parisii tribe settled in Paris between 250 and 200 BC and founded a fishing village on an island in the river that is today Ile de la Cité which is the center around which Paris developed.

Aged more than 2,000 years old and known as Lutetia (Lutece) in ancient times, Paris was conquered by Julius Caesar in 52 BC and existed as a regional center under the Romans and in the early Middle Ages.

The Count of Paris, Hugh Capet, became King of France in 987. And under his successors, the Capetians, the city's position as the nation's capital was established. In 1355-58, the people of Paris first declared themselves an independent commune under the leadership of Etienne Marcel.

During the French Revolution, the storming of the Bastille in 1789 was the first of a series of key actions by the Parisian people. Paris also played an important role in the revolutions of 1830 and 1848.

Later in 1871, the city was besieged for four months until France surrendered during the Franco-Prussian War. French radicals briefly established the Commune of Paris after German troops withdrew. During the World `War I, the Germans were prevented from reaching Paris, but in World War II from 1940 to 1944, they occupied the city.

Today, though Paris's appearance is being transformed by structures such as the Beaubourg and by the ambitious "grands projets" building program carried out under the presidency of Françoise Mitterrand, Paris still maintains its importance, character and unique charm.