Carnavalet: The Story of Paris, Privately

Two thousand years of Paris in two Marais mansions: the best way to understand the city before you walk it.

Quick Overview

• Your group only (up to 6 people)
• Duration: About 1.5 hours
• What we see: The shop signs, your chosen thread (the Revolution or the Belle Époque), the gardens
• What's special: Whole rooms rescued from vanished Paris, including Mucha's jewellery shop and Proust's bedroom
• Days: Tuesday to Sunday (closed Mondays)
• Free entry to the permanent collections
• Pace: Unhurried, and shaped around what you love
• Languages: English or French
• Best for: First-time visitors who want Paris explained, families, history lovers
• Your guide: Me, a state-licensed guide-conférencier with a background in French art history

The Experience

If you want to understand Paris before you walk it, start here. The Carnavalet fills two Marais mansions with shop signs, paintings, models and whole rooms rescued from buildings that no longer exist.

The museum is huge, so we follow one thread. The Revolution: the fall of the Bastille and the royal family's last days. Or the Belle Époque: the complete Fouquet jewellery shop designed by Alphonse Mucha, and the bedroom where Proust wrote In Search of Lost Time.

We finish in the gardens, in the heart of the Marais, a perfect starting point for the rest of your day.

Route & Walking Info

• Distance: About 1.5 km inside the museum
• Terrain: Stairs between floors, lifts available
• Pace: Whatever feels good to you. We take breaks when we need them.
• Accessibility: If you need to avoid stairs or long walks, tell me before booking and I'll adapt the route.

Good to Know

• Meeting Point: Entrance of the Musée Carnavalet, 23 rue de Sévigné. I'll send a map link and very clear instructions once you book.
• Timing: Try to be there 10 minutes early so we can start smoothly.
• Metro: Saint-Paul (line 1) or Chemin Vert (line 8).
• Shoes: Wear your most comfortable ones. Really.
• Bags: Keep them small; many sites have security checks.
• Late Arrivals: If you're late, it cuts into our time, but I'll make sure you still see the essentials.

Optional Add-Ons

• Marais walk after the museum (3 hours in total)
• Marais & Montorgueil food tour the same day
• Other Languages (Ask me about availability)
• Afternoon Planning (I can help you map out the rest of your day nearby)

After You Book

• A personal confirmation once I've checked the date. I confirm every booking myself.
• My meeting instructions, clear and simple.
• I'll ask what you're most curious about (or what you'd rather skip), and shape the visit around it.
• Mobility needs or children in the group? Tell me early and I'll plan for it.
• Want lunch or dinner afterwards? I'll suggest a table I'd book myself nearby.

FAQ

Is it really private? Yes. Just you, your group, and me.

Is entry really free? Yes, the permanent collections are free; only temporary exhibitions are ticketed.

Can we do it in French? Yes, in English or French.

Send me your dates and what you love most, and I'll shape the day around you.