Hemingway’s Paris with Claudine Hemingway
His time in Paris, while it was brief it also left a lasting impression. From the pages of The Sun Also Rises to Moveable Feast he added in some of his favorite places he spent time and wrote. On a cold December night in 1921, Ernest and Hadley arrived in Paris and stayed on Rue Jacob before finding an apartment on Rue de Cardinal Lemoine, and the rest is history. Walk in his footsteps around Saint Germain where he lived, wrote and drank, and captured in a way no one else ever could.
Tours of Jardin des Luxembourg and Saint Germain
Highlights include a fountain made by a Queen and then moved by a Baron. Statues dedicated to the 20 Illustrious Women in French history, Liberty, the leader of the Romantic movement, and the masks of the great painters. Three of the most historic churches of Paris, two of which have made it onto the big screen. And all the wonderful details of one of the most historic areas in Paris.
Reading the Louvre
Inside the walls of the Musée du Louvre hangs some of the most beautiful pieces of art in the world. However, long before it was a museum it was a home to the Kings of France. With a construction that spans more than 700 years, it has quite a story to tell. The outer walls are marked with sculptures and initials that each King left as they added their own touches and a few hidden meanings to this historic structure. This tour is outside the Louvre, in rain or shine.
Rose Valland and the Looted Art of Hitler
Rose Valland was the unassuming woman in the background listening and watching everyday while the Nazi’s gathered and looted art in Paris. During World War II the art taken from mostly Jewish galleries and homes arrived at the Jeu de Paume destined for Hitler’s museum.
Valland was an incredibly smart woman with the ability to remember every single thing she saw and would return home each night and note every detail of each piece of art. From the home it was taken to the number of the crate and which salt mine it would be hidden, she jotted it all down. These journals after the war would help the Monuments Men uncover thousands of pieces of art and return them to the rightful owners.
Today there are still over 1700 pieces in the care of the Musée du Louvre that are waiting to be returned to the families that lost them so long ago.
Join me for a very special tour tracing the steps of Rose Valland from the Jardin des Tuileries and around Paris where a smart thinking Jacques Jaujard orchestrated the evacuation of the art ahead of the Nazi plunder and also allowed them a spot to “store” the art so he could keep an eye on it.
Bridges of Paris
In Paris every detail has been thought out over the hundreds of years, this is evident in the 37 bridges that cross the Seine. Much more than just linking the left to the right bank, each bridge has its design, history, and story. From the gilded Pont Alexandre III to the niches of the Pont Neuf and the thistles of Pont Notre Dame, you will leave with a whole new appreciation of these beautiful spans across the Seine.
The Islands of Paris
At the heart of where Paris was born the île de la cité and the île Saint Louis are filled with historic treasures waiting to be discovered. From a randy King that holds a court at the end of île de la cité to the King who became a Saint and built a chapel for his relics. All the history of Paris began here. After the tragic fire at Notre-Dame de Paris, a renewed interest in Medieval Paris and where she started has made its way into the minds of visitors. While the Gothic cathedral is closed, there is plenty to discover down the small side streets. On the île Saint Louis, one only needs to walk a block to find quiet streets, beautiful architecture, historic markings, and the best ice cream you will ever have. I’ll even show you some of the best places to eat on the two islands, one of which I head straight to as soon as I arrive.
A foodies tour of Saint Germain
Let’s face it, the food of France is one of the best in the world. From the cheese to the foie gras and let's not forget the wine, it is foodie nirvana. But, it can be overwhelming and many visitors rest their weary feet at the first bistro they find only to end up spending a lot more on a not-great meal. On this tour, I will show you my favorite of all places in Paris that have the best cheese, pâté, charcuterie, and produce to create the perfect picnic. Or if you want to leave all that in the hands of others I can guide you through one of the greatest wine bars in Paris. Loved by the dearly departed Anthony Bourdain, Yves Camdeborde’s L’Avant Comptoir de la Terre is a must for everyone visiting Paris. With its ceilings filled with tiles of the tastiest food you will find, you may not know where to start, we can help with that and the amazing staff’s knowledge of its natural wine selection will round out the perfect meal.
Odéon, the Literary Home of Paris
Home to the publishers and writers of Paris from before the Revolution, through the ex-pats of the 20’s to today. The historic streets are still lined with bookshops and publishers and the past still whispers as you walk by. Leap back into the footsteps of Hemingway, Joyce, and Stein down the streets where Sylvia Beach opened her two stores and the street that led to a theater. Not to mention the amazing restaurants.
Custom Tours
Have a historic moment or person you want to learn more about and visit their old stomping grounds in Paris. Let me know, I can create a tour just for you.
Get adjusted to Paris
For those first-time travelers, Paris can be overwhelming. With its busy streets and honking traffic to the tons of tourists swarming the sidewalks it can be a little much. However, Paris is a very user-friendly city and once you learn a few things, you will traverse it like a seasoned Parisian. Can be customized to the area you are staying in and will include some great places to eat, the best markets, and how to use the metro.
Seeing Paris through my eyes, meet with Claudine in Paris
Coming to Paris and want to understand the city a bit better and more organic than taking a tour with me. Book a few hours or even a full or half day with me to discover more of Paris.
From my favorite wine bar, cafes, and hidden treasures or just strolling the cobblestones I will share it all with you. If it is your first or tenth trip you will see a new point of view through my eyes that love the city so much.
** Tours are paid for 7 days in advance and non-refundable at that point.
BOOK A TOUR Or MEET WITH CLAUDINE
Contact me and let me know what you would like to see. Most tours last 2 1/2-3 hours
Email me or fill out the form below.
***if you send the form below and haven’t heard back from me within a day, email me at Claudine@Claudinehemingway.com The form isn’t always going through, oh technology