From the Bastille to the Marais—Paris at the Heart of the Revolution

Our tour begins at Place de la Bastille, a major symbol of the Revolution. But behind the famous image of the storming of the Bastille lies a more complex story: that of a fortress turned prison, a working-class neighborhood, and a day that would become one of the great symbols of 1789.

From the Bastille, we’ll gradually make our way into the Marais, a former aristocratic neighborhood where townhouses, historic mansions, and narrow streets still bear witness to the Paris of the Ancien Régime.

As we walk, we’ll discuss the key moments of the revolutionary period while exploring the people, places, and anecdotes that help us understand this era at street level.

The tour is not limited to a list of dates: the Revolution serves as a common thread to tell the story of the Marais, its heritage, and its residents—before, during, and after 1789.

A historical walk from the Bastille to the Marais to discover Paris from a different perspective, spanning the Ancien Régime, the Revolution, and the birth of a new France.