Paris boasts one of the richest literary histories in the world, and this ten-day tour offers bibliophiles and Francophiles alike an illuminating exploration of the living library that is the City of Lights.
Retrace the steps of literary giants — they can be found on practically every street corner here — and immerse yourself in the culture that gave birth to their masterpieces. Marvel at the city’s beauty and historical complexity like Victor Hugo, people-watch with the critical eye of Michel Houellebecq, lounge in jazz bars like Jean-Paul Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir, explore the backstreets with the adventurous spirit of Daniel Pennac, and engage in lively book debate with your fellow travellers like Rousseau and Voltaire.
And of course there will be daily opportunities to appreciate the wider wonders of French culture. Wander through centuries-old palaces, museums and churches, stroll through spectacular gardens in full springtime bloom, and indulge in fine food and wine, like a true Parisian.
To quote Henry Miller, “To know Paris is to know a great deal.” Our French/Australian Tour Director Fabienne is a bookseller and the co-founder of Better Read Tours, and her in-depth local knowledge of Paris is matched by our tour guides Eglantine, Martine and Maisie. Together they provide unrivalled insight into historic and contemporary Paris and will be on hand at all times to make your time in Paris a dream come true.
WHAT WE OFFER
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SMALL GROUP SIGHTSEEING — Our exclusive small group tour is designed for an in-depth, intimate guided experience of Paris
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LOCAL SPECIALISTS — Led by a French/Australian Travel Director and local Parisian guides and literary experts
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CULTURAL INSIGHTS — Discover Paris on Parisian terms as your Travel Director reveals some of the hidden gems of the city's rich literary heritage
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
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Visit the apartment of Victor Hugo, best known for his book The Hunchback of Notre Dame, and learn about his life, political exile and writing during the Romantic Movement
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Discover the treasures of the Palais Garnier, from its Grand Stairway to its famous ceiling by Chagall, and find out why it became associated with an urban myth after Gaston Leroux's 1910 novel The Phantom of the Opera
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Explore the best-known and most spectacular palace in France, whose origins date back to the seventeenth century… With the gardens and the palaces of Trianon, the environs of Le Château de Versailles spread over 800 hectares!
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Dine in style at some of Paris's most iconic restaurants including Le Train Bleu (a lavish neo-baroque restaurant, now one of Paris National Monuments ), Cafe Procope (the oldest café in Paris, a legendary restaurant in the 6th Arrondissement of Paris since 1686).
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Wander through Montmarte and the Latin Quarter with local guides, retracing the steps of famous literary expats like Ernest Hemingway and F. Scott Fitzgerald
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Discuss selected books in a series of book club gatherings where you and your fellow travellers will enjoy the insights of a local insider