Day 1: Welcome dinner
Day 2: Full day at Versailles: palace, gardens, Tennis Court
Day 3: Walking tour of the Revolution and Empire, free afternoon
Day 4: Conciergerie, Notre-Dame exterior, Carnavalet Museum
Day 5: Louvre in small groups, Arc de Triomphe, Napoleon’s Tomb, Army Museum
Day 6: Full day at Château de Fontainebleau
Day 7: End of tour, onward travel

Guests arrive independently in Paris and make their way to the group hotel near the Panthéon. There are no scheduled activities during the day, allowing time to travel, settle in, or explore the surrounding neighbourhood at your own pace.

In the evening, the group comes together for a welcome dinner at a local restaurant. Over a three-course meal with drinks included, this is an opportunity to meet fellow travellers, discuss the week ahead, and ease into our journey together.

Today is devoted entirely to Versailles, the heart of the French monarchy. With a specialist guide, we spend the day moving through the palace complex, including the State Apartments and the surrounding grounds.

Inside the palace, time is taken to examine how authority was displayed and exercised at court. Outside, we explore the gardens and the Tennis Court, situating Versailles not only as a royal residence, but as the centre of French power on the eve of revolution.

The morning is spent retracing the key events of 1789–1815, as unrest in Paris gave way to Revolution, Empire, and ultimately Restoration. On foot, we follow the sequence of events that culminated in the storming of the Bastille, the Terror, Napoleon’s rise, and more, moving between sites on the Right Bank that played decisive roles.

The afternoon is left free, allowing time to rest, explore Paris independently, or pursue personal interests. Suggestions will be provided for those who would like ideas on how to spend the afternoon.

The day begins at the Conciergerie, one of the most important surviving sites of revolutionary justice. With a specialist guide, we explore the former prison complex, including Marie Antoinette’s cell, and examine how the building functioned during the Terror as countless prisoners passed through its walls on their way to trial and execution.

Time is also taken to understand the Conciergerie not only as a revolutionary prison, but as a much older institution embedded in the life of Paris, including its earlier role as a royal palace and centre of administration.

Remaining on the Île de la Cité, we continue on foot for an exterior visit to Notre-Dame, situating the cathedral within revolutionary Paris and its changing relationship with religion and authority. A break for lunch follows, with time to eat independently nearby.

In the afternoon, a licensed local guide leads a visit to the Carnavalet Museum, the home of the history of Paris. Housed in the Marais, it offers one of the city’s richest collections for understanding Revolutionary and Napoleonic France, with galleries that trace the upheavals of 1789 through to the age of Bonaparte and Empire.

The late afternoon is left free before the group comes together again in the evening for a shared dinner.

The morning is spent at the Louvre, with visits conducted in small groups of no more than six to allow for a considered and intimate experience of the museum. Working with local specialists, the itinerary has been shaped to focus on selected works that illuminate the Revolutionary and Napoleonic periods, alongside some of the Louvre’s most recognisable masterpieces, including the Mona Lisa.

After a self-directed lunch break, the afternoon turns exclusively to Napoleonic Paris. We explore the Arc de Triomphe, examining its symbolism, reliefs, and the complex history of its construction across successive regimes. From there, we continue to Les Invalides to stand before Napoleon’s Tomb, one of the most imposing and carefully choreographed monuments in the city.

To end the day, we enjoy a guided tour of the Army Museum, France’s national military museum and home to exceptional collections that illuminate the armies, campaigns, and military culture of Revolutionary and Napoleonic France.

A principal residence of the Napoleonic Empire, we explore the phenomenal Château de Fontainebleau. One of the great royal palaces of French history, our tour explores the apartments, gardens, and ceremonial spaces of this magnificent estate.

With Versailles largely overlooked during the Imperial era, Fontainebleau became the setting for major events in the early nineteenth century. Most notably, it was here that Napoleon abdicated in 1814. Less well known is the château’s use as a prison, with Pope Pius VII held at Fontainebleau after his seizure in 1809. Reflecting this legacy, the château today houses an extensive Napoleonic museum, along with the only surviving Napoleonic throne room in the world.

After breakfast, the tour comes to an end. Check-out is in the morning, and you’re free to depart or continue exploring Paris independently. If you’d like, we can suggest onward plans and the easiest routes to airports and train stations.

William Clark
The tour is accompanied throughout by William Clark, creator and host of Grey History: The French Revolution & Napoleon. William personally designed the itinerary and will introduce each day’s themes and key places.

Licensed local guides
At major sites, visits are led by licensed local guides selected for their expertise. These specialists provide in-depth tours at places such as Versailles, the Louvre, and the Conciergerie, with William alongside the group throughout.