Guided tour of Notre Dame and Towers, Sainte Chapelle and Marie Antoinette's prison cell

This is an in-depth exploration of the histories, myths, legends, and lore hidden behind the stones of Paris’ most interesting neighborhood. From the gothic splendor of the bell towers of Notre Dame that inspired Victor Hugo to create his hunchback bell-ringer, to the darkest cells in the Conciergerie where condemned dissidents awaited death during the Revolutionary Reign of Terror, the Île de la Cité has witnessed the best and the worst of Parisian history and you’ll hear all the stories that make it such a special place.

Your tour begins at Notre Dame where you’ll meet your expert guide and an intimate group of 15 people or fewer. Inside, you’ll marvel at the famous Rose Window, admire the stunning arches of the cathedral’s gothic architecture and learn how Victor Hugo and his Hunchback of Notre Dame actually saved this beautiful building from demolition.

Next you’ll head to the city’s most beautiful chapel - Sainte Chapelle. If you thought Notre Dame’s Rose Window was beautiful, Sainte Chapelle is going to blow you away. This royal chapel was originally built to house relics and today it’s still one of the most jaw-dropping rooms in Paris. It’s also one of the city’s most popular attractions. Luckily, you have skip the line tickets and early entrance so you’ll enjoy the chapel when it is nearly empty.

After a short walk, you’ll stop in the Conciergerie, a lovely building with a dark past that was used host the tribunals of the French Revolution and to imprison political prisoners awaiting their date with the guillotine. The building was recently renovated, including the cell where Marie Antoinette spent the last days before her execution, under heavy guard and in very difficult conditions. You’ll also see a second cell where she was briefly kept, now converted into a tiny chapel.

As your tour is ending at Concergerie, your guide will provide further information how to get back to Notre Dame to redeem your flexible skip the line tickets to the Towers. You will past the long lines and go straight inside to get up close to the famous gargoyles and inside the bell tower to see where Victor Hugo’s hunchback lived. This ticket has access to the highest point of the cathedral too, with 360 degree vantage point, for our favourite views of the city. After all, when you climb the Eiffel Tower, you can’t see the Eiffel Tower. From Notre Dame you have the whole city at your feet.

Sites Visited:

• Notre Dame
• Sainte Chapelle
• La Conciergerie
• Notre Dame Towers