Historical walk through Paris with background travel

I like hiking. Long-term readers know that when you’re in the city, I always recommend you do the first thing. The type you do is OK. Food, history, art – anyway! Just do something. They are an incredible way to learn, get a location and talk to locals about city life. (Also, you can ask your local guide for tips on restaurants, attractions or how to browse the city! Win-win!)

I’ve been hiking since my first backpacking trip in 2006, when I joined the hotels around Prague for free hiking. I’m obsessed with it, and over the years, I’ve been on hundreds of tours, dozens of companies touring. There are plenty of hiking companies out there, but my favorite is context travel.

The context was founded in 2003 and I have been using and recommending them since 2010, when I first stumbled upon a trip to Rome. I walked with art historians around the Vatican and learned not only there about the Vatican itself, but also the story behind art. I’ve been on numerous trips with them since then.

Always set the context that they are not using regular staff trained guides, but rather using experts (those with MA- or PHD levels!) to guide you in their field. That way, you get someone who really knows they are talking about. You will get someone who can share small details that only experts in your field can know.

On my recent trip to Paris, I took the Context of the History of World War II in Paris. Now, I know a lot of About Paris. I’ve been visiting for 15 years, lived there for a while, probably done over 50 trips there, and read a lot of books in the city, and sometimes I feel like I’m studying for a degree in Paris History.

But my interest in the city was based primarily on the 1920s (I like the jazz era!) and the Middle Ages. I don’t know much about World War II in Paris. Of course, I know Some From things from my general research, but I don’t know much specific knowledge, so I’m happy to take this trip to learn about the important period in recent Parisian history.

This tour takes you from the Saint-Germain Mountains through the Luxembourg Gardens to the Latin quarter before reaching Marias before ending at Ville Hotel de Ville. It records the beginning of the Nazi occupation, the daily life during this period, the resistance movement, what happened to the Jews, and finally the liberation. (Last for about three hours.)

As I mentioned before, what makes context travel so special is the expert guide, and my guide Jill is no exception. He has been in France for nearly two decades, holds a degree in politics and literature, and has been a guide for more than a decade. ((notes: There are several guides for this tour, and they are all experts. ) He knew all sorts of mysterious details and brought an iPad with photos and first-hand materials.

We start with Saint-Germain and discuss how the Germans entered Paris so quickly and that in the beginning, life was relatively the same as building strength. Local Parisians continue daily life (although restricted). Because France was so swift that the battle never reached Paris, the city was never damaged.

As we walked we stopped at the buildings used during the war (the current Mandarin Oriental Hotel used to be Gestapo headquarters…creepy) and discussed how the resistance to eventually form and operate in the city was formed and operated. As you walk, the tour moves forward in time, Jill talks about collaborators, the ultimate evacuation of Jews and how the victory of French troops in Africa led to repression in the city. Finally, we arrived at the Hotel de Ville (City Hall) and the finale, as the Parisians and resistance fighters liberated the city from Nazi rule in August 1944. He and first-hand papers photos and first-hand papers photos he did help draw pictures of life and resistance in World War II Paris. I walked away, like I learned a lot.

That’s why I traveled in the background. You do get tiny details and facts and deep dives. There are plenty of hiking companies out there – I suggest a wide variety – but the environment has always stood out for the quality of its tour leaders. You are not a guide to script training, but someone with a deep topic knowledge. One of my favorite trips is walking along New York City’s famous 42nd Street with award-winning architects. From architects to historians to artists to chefs, the guide here is a trained expert, which is rare.

The environment is perfect for travelers who want to really dig into the subject or location. Whether you are on a Louvre or a walking neighborhood tour like this, you will find some level of detail in other trips. After all, with the tour lasting 3 hours, there is a lot of information covering a lot of information. Plus, they can also do full-day and half-day tours, where you can take a day trip outside Paris.

It’s been a while since I finished one of their trips and I’m glad the quality I’m in love still exists. The context mainly does private tours, which means they are perfect for a group of people or families looking for private tours, but they also have many tours where you can join an existing group. And, if you just want to do your own thing, they can also choose to travel a lot of audio. They operate in over 70 cities and cover everything from all the famous places you want to see, to unique side paths.

I’ve been loving them since I started using them and they’ve expanded a lot over the past few years, so I want to re-appreciate your next trip to the company. Absolutely considering your next trip.

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