A journey through the history of Paris with situational travel

i love Hiking. Long time readers know that I always recommend doing these things first when you’re in the city. The type you do doesn’t matter. Food, history, art – and more! Do something. They’re a great way to learn about a destination, get your bearings, and talk to locals about city life. (Plus, you can ask your local tour guide for recommendations on restaurants, attractions, or how to get around the city! Win-win!)

I’ve been doing walking tours since my first backpacking trip in 2006, when I joined a hostel on a free walking tour around Prague. I was hooked, and over the years I went on hundreds of tours run by dozens of companies. There are many walking tour companies out there, but one of my favorites is situational travel.

Context was founded in 2003 and I have been using and recommending them since I first stumbled across them on a trip to Rome in 2010. I walked around the Vatican with an art historian, where I not only learned about the Vatican itself, but also the stories behind the art. Since then I have been on numerous trips with them.

What sets Context apart is that they don’t use trained regular people as guides, but rather experts in their fields (people with Masters or PhDs!) to guide you. This way, you can find someone who really knows what they’re talking about. You get someone who can share the little details that only experts in their field would know.

on a recent trip ParisI did Context Paris World War II Historical Tour. now i know a lot of About Paris. I have been visiting for 15 years, lived there for a short time, have visited there probably over 50 times, and have read so many books about the city that sometimes I feel like I’m studying for a degree in Parisian history.

But my interest in the city is mostly based around the 1920s (i love the jazz age! ) and the medieval period. I don’t know much about Paris during World War II. of course i know Some My knowledge comes from my general studies, but I don’t know much specific knowledge, so I was excited to take this tour and learn about an important period in Paris’s recent history.

This tour takes you from Saint-Germain, through the Luxembourg Gardens, to the Latin Quarter, then to Maria and finally to the Town Hall. It documents the beginning of the Nazi occupation, daily life during this period, the resistance movement, the treatment of the Jews, and finally the liberation. (Lasts about three hours.)

As I mentioned before, what makes situational travel Expert guides are exceptional and my guide Jill was no exception. He has been in France for nearly two decades, has degrees in politics and literature, and has been a tour guide for more than a decade. (notes: There are several tour guides responsible for this tour, and they are all experts. ) He knew all kinds of arcane details and brought an iPad full of photos and first-hand accounts.

We start in Saint-Germain discussing how the Germans moved into Paris so quickly and how life remained relatively the same in the early days of their establishment of power. Parisian locals continue with their daily lives (albeit with restrictions). Because France fell so quickly, the fighting never reached Paris and the city was never destroyed.

As we walked, we stopped in front of a building that was used during the war (what is now the Mandarin Oriental hotel was once the Gestapo headquarters…creepy) and discussed how the resistance eventually formed and functioned in the city. Time travels forward as you walk, and Gill talks about the collaborators, the eventual expulsion of the Jews, and how the larger French army’s victories in Africa led to the suppression of the city. Finally, we arrived at the Hôtel de Ville (City Hall) and had the finale in August 1944 when Parisians and resistance fighters liberated the city from Nazi rule. His portraits and first-hand accounts really help paint a picture of life and resistance in Paris during World War II. I walked away feeling like I learned a lot.

That’s why I do situational travel. You really get the tiny details and facts and dig into them. There are tons of hiking companies out there – and there’s a huge variety that I recommend – but Context has always stood out for the quality of its tour guides. What you get is not a tour guide trained in scripting, but someone with deep subject matter knowledge. One of my favorite trips was walking along New York’s famous 42nd Street with an award-winning architect. From architects to historians, artists to chefs, the guides here are all highly trained experts, a rare distinction.

Context is great for travelers who want to really learn more about a topic or place. Whether you visit the Louvre or a walking neighborhood tour like this, you’ll get detailed information you won’t find on other tours. After all, the 3-hour tour covers a lot of information. Additionally, they offer full-day and half-day tours as well as day trips outside of Paris.

It’s been a while since I’ve been on one of their tours and I couldn’t be happier that the quality I fell in love with is still there. Context primarily operates private tours, which means they are perfect for groups or families looking for a private tour, but they also have many tours you can join an existing group. And if you just want to do your own thing, they have plenty of audio tours to choose from. They operate in over 70 cities, covering everything from famous spots you want to visit to unique off-the-beaten-track locations.

I’ve loved them since I started using them, and they’ve expanded quite a bit over the past few years, so I wanted to re-emphasize situational travel As the company to use on your next trip. Definitely consider them for your next trip.

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