Private St. Germain Walking Tour With French Lunch

Private Stroll Through St. Germain Photo #1 of 2 Photo copyright ShoreTrips.com.

Overview

Spend a day with a man who has a passion for life's finest pleasures--literature, film, and cuisine.

Not a native, but this man has lived in Paris for over 25 years. His knowledge will wow you. This is our favorite way to get to know a city.

Your guide is a great conversationalist with a passion for sharing his taste for life's finest pleasures--literature, film, and, of course, French cuisine! This day has it all and begins with a stroll through the St. Germain neighborhood. Rather than a standard "see it all" walking tour, this is leisurely paced with a focus on the longtime social and cultural importance of the neighborhood.

We begin with a stroll along the Rue de Vaugirard, the longest road in Paris, with a rich history of expatriate residents to prove it. You'll see the homes of Ernest Hemingway along with surrealist artist Man Ray. Notice the Musée Luxembourg, the first contemporary art museum that once housed Cezanne paintings Hemingway frequently came to admire.

Next is a "rendezvous" for writers and artists alike, Café de la Mairie. Today, you'll find young Parisian writers working on their studies, but in times past this was quite the literary hot spot. Enjoy a coffee while your guide details the importance of this café to the 'lost generation'.

On to the Rue de l'Odéon where you'll see the site of the original Shakespeare & Co. bookshop, another popular meeting location for expatriate writers. Woody Allen fans may recognize the shop from Midnight in Paris. See the house where Thomas Paine wrote The Rights of Man.

Next, we will get a taste for the Cour du Commerce, an ancient back street that remains vastly unchanged since 1774. Be careful, the original, uneven cobblestone remains intact. The guillotine was invented here and your guide will tell you all about the murder of revolutionary Printery of Marat, who was murdered in his bath. This tiny street is also home to the oldest café in all of Paris, a place Benjamin Franklin once frequented.

We'll return to your guide's home, which is a piece of history in and of itself, as it was once inhabited by Sylvia Beach and her partner Adrienne Monnier. Frequent visitors included Joyce, Stein, and Hemingway, and it's even mentioned in A Moveable Feast, along with other memoirs of Paris.

Relax on the terrace as you enjoy an aperitif--a glass or two of wine as you learn about ghosts from the house's past. Lunch consists of a green salad with vinaigrette dressing, a selection of cheeses, plus some cold cuts or paté, and a baguette or other bread.

Just as the wine flows, so does the conversation. Be careful, guests have been known to stay until 4 a.m.--bon appetit!

- Please know that this is a slow-paced walking tour. There is no rush. It is more of an immersion into the sites.

- This tour can accommodate up to 6 passengers. Please contact ShoreTrips if there are more than 6 people in your group.
- Please contact ShoreTrips if you would like to customize your experience.
- Please alert ShoreTrips in advance of any dietary restrictions or food allergies. We will do our best to accommodate.

Days offered: 7 days a week

Departures:

• 10:00 AM, duration: 4 hours