This 2-hour walking tour of Paris uncovers gruesome secrets from the city’s dark past. Learn about public executions, ritual worship and the devastations of the plague. An expert guide narrates chilling stories that are bound to give you a fright.
About this activity
- Free cancellation
- Cancel up to 24 hours in advance to receive a full refund
- COVID-19 precautions
- Special health and safety measures apply. Learn more
- Mobile ticketing
- Use your phone or print your voucher
- Duration 2 hours
- Check availability to see starting times.
- Instant confirmation
- Live tour guide
- English
Experience
Highlights
- Learn about Paris’ long history of torture and execution, from Henry VII’s many wives to the French Revolution and the reign of terror
- Give yourself a fright as you discover the dark and violent history that lurks beneath the city’s sparkling façade
- Visit the Hotel de Concierge, where Marie Antoinette was once imprisoned, and the old Place du Greve where many were tortured and killed
Full description
On this 2-hour walking tour you will learn about the city’s darker side as you glance in to its macabre underbelly. Paris has a long and tragic history of murder and execution, of rampant disease among the lower classes, and of bitter wars fought against a corrupt monarchy. The tour rips open the cloak of darkness, as you wind down alleyways and cut through the hushed night.
Your English-speaking guide will take you to sites such as the Place de la Vert Gallant, where the last of the Knights’ Templar was burned at the stake. You will visit St Germain de Auxerrois, where estimates say some 30,000 people were killed in the St. Bartholomew’s Day Massacre.
Your guide will point out places of interest as you stroll, leaving no stone unturned. As you delve into stories of ritual worship, you will learn about characters like Napoleon Bonaparte, Marie Antoinette and Henry IV, as well as the serial killers that once stalked these ghastly streets.
Includes
- Expert English-speaking guide
- Group no larger than 25 people
- Hotel pick-up/drop-off
Not suitable for
- People with mobility impairments
- Wheelchair users
COVID-19 precautions
Safety measures in place
- All areas that customers touch are frequently cleaned
- The number of visitors is limited to reduce crowds
Traveler requirements
- Customers are required to bring and wear masks
- Customers will get a mandatory temperature check
Select participants and date
Participants
Date
Prepare for the activity
Meeting point
Meet your guide by the statue of Henri IV, in the middle of Pont Neuf, at the western end of Ile de la Cite. Pont Neuf is the bridge that links Ile de la Cite to both the left and right banks of the Seine in central Paris. The statue is of a man on a horse sitting in the middle of the bridge. Nearest Metro stops are Pont Neuf (line 7) or Cite (line 4).
Open in Google Maps ⟶Important information
Not allowed
- Baby strollers
Know before you go
- Unfortunately this tour is unable to accommodate guests with wheelchairs or any impairments requiring special assistance. Strollers or baby carriages are also not permitted on group tours.
