French Resistance History Tour in Paris

I've taken walks with "Paris Walks". https://paris-walks.com/summer-walks.html.
and enjoyed them very much. Although I don't believe there is a specific walk on the Resistance, there is one on Paris During the Occupation that addresses many of the topics from Paris Burning. FYI-- the Invalides has a section on WW2 and the Musee Jean Moulin, near Gare Monparnasse is all about the resistance.

Yes, I agree with the suggestion for Paris Walks. I've done the Paris During the Occupation one that meets at the Tuileries Metro stop twice it was so good. They have another one that is called The Resistance and the Occupation, Left Bank that I've not done just because the timing never worked out. They are on alternating Sundays at 2:30 if one of them works with your visit.

https://paris-walks.com/cariboost_files/2019_20JUNE_20WALKS.pdf

BTW, both guides I had for this walk had advanced history degrees and were SO interesting. The one that meets at the Tuileries Metro stop starts right across the street from the Hotel Meurice where the Germans established their HQ. It's been a while since I've seen the film Is Paris Burning but I'm pretty sure it ended with the French Resistance capturing the German commander and allowed him to finish his breakfast at the Hotel Meurice. Not sure how the book ends. Both guides also talked about the question "Is Paris Burning" and the players involved.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberation_of_Paris

There are also plaques in several spots along the Place de la Concorde and the Left Bank on the Seine (might be on the Right bank too, I just normally walk on the Left Bank) where Resistance fighters fell during the battle on Aug 24 1944. Here is one example. See the niches in the wall? They are separate plaques to Resistance fighters. The wall is at the Tuileries Gardens by the Jeu de Paume.

https://goo.gl/maps/uGpMhQay8DL4nEYp9

The guide also usually points out the plaque on the side of the Jeu de Paume to Rose Valland who was the Resistance Worker who was able to document what art the Nazis were stealing from Paris.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rose_Valland

There are also bullet holes and a plaque at Hotel Dieu (hospital) in front of Notre Dame.

I wonder if there are any private guides?
Maybe TripAdvisor might recommend one.

I’ve only done one Paris Walks and we got the only bad guide they had (i’m sure she’s gone by now). Several of us quit 3/4 of the way through.
That was 9 yrs ago though and i hope to do another Paris Walks this October, i’m sure i’d enjoy it.

Not on point exactly, but I wondered if you'd read Simon Mower's "Trapeze"? It's fiction, based on a true story.
Our walking tour of Montmarte reminded me of a scene in the book, which deals with the French Resistance.

A good private guide in Paris is Corey Frye. I've done 2 walking tours with him, Pere Lachaise and Montmartre, and both were excellent.
You can find him through his website "A French Frye in Paris."
I don't know if he has a tour specific to the Resistance but you can ask him. He is good at tailoring to people's wishes.

Good suggestion SharYn, and if Corey doesn’t, maybe he can recommend someone who does.

Robert Gildea's 'Fighting in the Shadows' is a very good read and offers an opposing view to the popular glorified notion of the Resistance.

Interesting question. Paris Walks has listed a Resistance walk, which I have not taken, that takes place on the Left Bank. So much of what happened then in Paris was on the Right Bank. Avenue Foch was called Avenue Boche because of the concentration of Gestapo, SS and other Nazi headquarters, but a walk down Avenue Foch today reveals little except for buildings behind high, solid fencing that can be identified from WW 2 photographs.

And it seems that the Musee Jean Moulin is in the process of relocation. Check to see whether it is open.

Wonderful. thank you all!
We come in September and the Resistance Museum should be open in late August, fingers crossed. We then head to Normandy and hopefully can track my father's WWII experience, Normandy to the Rhine.

We took Paris Walks' "Occupation" walk on the left bank several years ago and it was very good. In general they do a high-quality job, too bad Susan had a bad experience with one guide.

Dick, i’m gonna make a point to take the Paris Walks Resistance tour this October, i’m sure this one will be good. I’ll bet the guide we got 9 yrs ago is long gone.

Susan, Do try that one! I’ve done this walk with both Brad, who according to the website developed the Occupation walk, as well as Chris. Both a bit different but both excellent. The size of the group also can have an impact. When I did the first one with Brad we were only about 6-7 people and were able to move faster and further. The second time it was about 20 people so moved much slower and didn’t cover as much territory but did see some different things on each one.

This is off the topic of the Resistance but I also really recommend the walk Brad does called Jefferson and Franklin in Paris. Now that was interesting! It gave me a view of American history I hadn’t contemplated- what DID Jefferson and Franklin learn in Pais, who did they hang around with, how were their opinions shaped by their time there.

You can also check the website to see if the not-so-good guide is gone.

https://paris-walks.com/who-we-are.html

Thanks for the link Pam, and for the good info. I think the guide we had is still there... : ( I’m still gonna do one of their walks, i’ll just make sure it’s not with her.
I really enjoy walking tours. We’ve done about 35 in SF with SF City Guides. They’re really good. In Europe, i don’t usually have time, but i hope to make time next trip.

Brad also does an excellent “American Writers and Artists in Paris” or some such walk — you know, Hemingway, Gertrude Stein, Shakespeare & Co (the original and the current), etc.

I do think that’s a shame that you had a bad guide, susan, and even worse, that she’s still there!! I have always been very pleased with Parian Walks and their guides.

You can also set up a private tour with any of their guides on their various subjects, i’ve done that before for a visiting group.

Kim, more great info! Thanks!

This is off the topic of the Resistance but I also really recommend
the walk Brad does called Jefferson and Franklin in Paris. Now that
was interesting! It gave me a view of American history I hadn’t
contemplated- what DID Jefferson and Franklin learn in Pais, who did
they hang around with, how were their opinions shaped by their time
there.

Pam, we did that walk with Brad last week and it was excellent! The dome at Monticello! The "room where it happened"! The shop where Jefferson bought a book every day (and died in debt).