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Paris on the dark side

Photo : Cultival

Oct 1, 2024 – Dec 31, 2027

Paris on the dark side

Forget the City of Light for a moment and venture into the dark corners of Parisian history. From royal conspiracies to lingering alchemy and legendary ghostly hauntings, this guided tour turns familiar streets into a thrilling cinematic experience.

Sur le Pont Neuf, au pied de la statue équestre d’Henri IV

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About

Explore the darker side of the capital with the Paris côté obscur guided tour. Led by a Cultival lecturer, you will uncover the legends and blood-curdling events that have shaped the city's history, from the mysteries surrounding Notre-Dame Cathedral to the alchemical secrets of Nicolas Flamel. This immersive journey reveals historical shadows from the Middle Ages to the reign of Catherine de Medici. The tour is open to visitors aged 12 and over, with tickets priced at 14,50 € for adults and 10,00 € for those under 18. Meet your guide at the base of the Henry IV equestrian statue on the Pont Neuf.

Your Cultival tour guide will tell you the legends surrounding the famous Notre Dame Cathedral and will detail a dark affair that shed so much blood in the Middle Ages. Your journey continues in front of the Tour Saint-Jacques into the meanders of alchemy with Nicolas Flamel, a scholar who experimented with transforming lead into gold. Then, near the Place Sainte-Opportune, you will discover, terrified, the narrow and dark Rue Courtalon, where once, in the time of the Sun King, a dark affair took place. A little further, in the heart of the Rue de la Ferronnerie, you will learn how the "Vert Galant" lost his life...

Your unusual guided tour will end at the astrological and astronomical tower of Catherine de' Medici, alias the Black Queen. Legend has it that even today, during stormy nights, the ghost of the queen's mage returns to haunt the Tower...

Our take on this event

The Paris côté obscur tour offers a deep dive into the mysterious past of the city. Guided by a professional from Cultival, you will unearth forgotten tales and dramatic historical events. The route begins on the Pont Neuf, at the foot of the statue of Henry IV, before moving through the legends of Notre-Dame and the alchemical experiments of Nicolas Flamel near the Saint-Jacques Tower.

The walk continues through streets steeped in history, such as Rue Courtalon and Rue de la Ferronnerie, where the secrets of the Sun King and the tragic demise of the Vert Galant are revealed. The experience concludes near the astronomical tower of Catherine de Medici, where local lore suggests the queen's mage still haunts the site during stormy nights.

This guided visit runs from October 1, 2024, to December 31, 2027. It is suitable for participants aged 12 and up. Admission is 14,50 € for adults and 10,00 € for visitors under 18. Join this unique tour in the 1st arrondissement to discover the hidden and darker narratives of Paris.

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