Private tour in Paris Ellen L
5.0
(22) reviews
3 hours
1
3 hours
1
Ellen L.
4.8
Guide rating
82
Reviews
Tours delivered
2 hrs
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Hi there ! I am a friendly Franco-American who has lived in Paris for 30+ years. I know the best secrets of the city - where to eat, shop, visit. Stroll with me on my unique Paris tours & discover the hidden Paris. I am a trained historian with a Masters in Medieval History. Through my commented walks you will learn about the city's rich history. My tours are thoroughly researched, documented & scripted to ensure accuracy & interest, using illustrations, photos & video material. Paris is a great city to visit, but most of the tourists who come to Paris end up visiting the same monuments & attractions. Come walk with me & experience the real Paris, the city beyond the monuments. I will show you the hidden Paris, the places you won't find online or in the guide books. The secret side of a city where people live, shop, work, eat. . . a city that is 2000 years old ! Let me be your personal tour guide & discover the authentic Paris !! Master's Degree (MA) in Medieval History I am not a licensed guide. I am not a driver. I can arrange for taxis or Ubers for those who require transportation.
Have a question or want to customize this tour? Message Ellen L.
There is a famous saying : "Everyone has 2 countries, their own & France". This was especially true for numerous artists, writers & jazz musicians between the 2 World Wars, many of whom flocked to Paris not only for artistic inspiration but also to find themselves. Known as the Lost Generation, these were men & women who had suffered through WW1. Eager to share ideas they would gather in the numerous cafés of Montparnasse to work & to drink . We will visit the places where these people lived, worked & partied…bearing in mind that the bohemian Left Bank of starving artists & struggling writers has now given way to chic boutiques & high end bistros. What makes this tour unique: the rich photographic & literary content that brings the period to life, selected excerpts of novels & poems, as well as archival recordings of the authors reading their work. For poetry lovers I also offer a tour of the Poets of the Lost Generation.
Ellen L is an extraordinary guide with so much knowledge! My husband and I thought we had an "okay" background on the greats of The Lost Generation and were ready to learn so much more. Whether you have no knowledge going into this tour or consider yourself an expert on one or more of these writers you will find yourself overflowing with a new understanding of these geniuses in their chosen town, Paris.
Ellen was very knowledgeable about the era of 1920's Paris and the 'Lost Generation'. She wanted to provide a tour tailored to our interests in the era and to focus on the writers and others of the time that we most wanted to hear about. She reached out to us ahead of the tour as well as checking to be sure she was providing what we wanted throughout the morning. Great tour for those interested in the era.
Ellen was wonderful. Despite the crazy rain Ellen navigated us through great neighborhoods and the Luxembourg Gardens. All the while sharing her wealth of knowledge about many authors, their work and their lives. She was fully prepared , very knowledgeable and a pleasure to be with. We would recommend time with Ellen. It was a joy. Thank you Ellen, Scotty and Gina
Very interesting and informative. There are a few books that I now must read!
The tour was a wonderful experience. Ellen is very knowledgeable. She is full of history as well as a wealth of interesting tidbits about expat life in the 20’s. Highly recommend. You will see parts of Paris that would not see otherwise. Thanks for going out of your way to make this special!
Ellen does an exceptional job researching her tours and providing context and information in a thoughtful manner. She engaged with us and asked questions while explaining some true literary gems. We wished we could spend even more time with her.
- Mouffetard district, where Hemingway discovered the bohemian life of an expat writer & James Joyce finished writing his groundbreaking novel, Ulysses; - St Germain, the literary district, where Sylvia Beach opened her bookshop Shakespeare & Company; - The area around the Luxembourg Gardens - Where William Faulkner lived for 6 months & discovered modernism; - And where Man Ray, famed surrealist artist & celebrity photographer, had his studio; - Hemingway moved to a posh flat oppposite the gardens with wife #2 & published his 1st novel; - the Fitzgeralds moved nearby just months after Scott published his masterpiece The Great Gatsby; - Gertrude Stein, self-proclaimed creative genius & leading light of the Lost Generation, held her salon a few blocks away. - Montparnasse, we end of the tour over coffee (or cocktails !) in one of the legendary Montparnasse cafes, where Hemingway wrote his 1st novel & met up with fellow Lost Generation authors.
Tell your guide which places matter to you, skip what doesn't, and tailor the experience for your group's needs. Not finding what you want? Message your guide to build something unique.
This is a private walking tour of the Left Bank. Customers meet at the starting point of the tour but private transportation can be arranged for an additional fee. Please contact me before booking the tour for a cost estimate.
57 Rue Lacépède, Paris, Île-de-France, 75005, France
We will meet in front of the Café La Contrescarpe, a charming café with a yellow awning located on the Place de la Contrescarpe (street address 57 rue Lacepede). If you copy/paste these coordinates into Google Maps, you can see the exact location (48.84444297581748, 2.349350369311436).
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If your tour is valued over $200 USD and booked at least 45 days before the tour date, you can book with a deposit!
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