All the Secrets of Paris, or from the Bastille to the Russian Seasons of Diaghilev

What to Expect

The Bastille: Myths and Truth
Route will pass along the former city wall of the 12th century that surrounded Paris - its impressive remnants are still visible in some places today. One of the components of the wall was the Bastille. I won't show you the famous prison, as its capture and subsequent destruction became a symbol of the French Revolution. This heroic story is known to us from school textbooks. But do you know the extensive mythologizing associated with this topic? You will hear information from archives closed to the general public, understand how even then 'fake news' was used in the struggle for power, how history was heroized, and what life was really like in the Bastille.

Non-touristic Courtyards of Paris and the city 150 years ago
Someone said that you could traverse all of Paris via the rooftops (Belmondo did just that in the movies), but you could also pass through it inside out - from one courtyard to another - and much of the life of the Parisians happened there. You will get acquainted with its modernity by peeking into such preserved and hidden corners. I will also help you imagine what the city looked like 150 years ago: you will see what remains of the typical Paris of Zola, Hugo, Dumas, and other writers who immortalized the city in their works.

Bright Stories Behind the Facades
At every square and street, a kaleidoscope of interesting facts from different times and spheres of Parisian life awaits you. For example, you will learn how the monastery of Saint Antoine and its pigs played a key role in the history of France, how the Louvre is connected to the first Franco-English conflict, and how Parisian racketeers are linked to the city hall. You will hear the true story of Quasimodo, a tale of the most original execution in French history, about Queen Margot's refuge and her numerous favorites.

Place-Story Châtelet and the Russian Seasons of Diaghilev
At Place Châtelet, we will talk about the ancient fortress, which, unlike the Bastille, was a truly grim prison - few left here alive. I wouldn't want to part on a sad note, so I will tell the stories of two theaters that appeared here in the 19th century. In one of them, despite the circumstances, the famous Russian Seasons of Diaghilev began, which so impressed the French that even today France remains the most Russian-speaking and Russian-cultural country in Western Europe.