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Walking the Spirit Black Heritage Paris & Beyond Bus Tours

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A delightful blend of Black heritage and authentic French cultural experiences.​

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Spirit of Black Paris 5 hour Combo bus/walking Tour

You want to see it all but 2 walking tours are too much – Combine bus and walking!

 

Begin with hotel pick up for a private bus journey to the former Black Montmartre of the 1920s where jazz and Josephine reigned, continue along the Champs-Elysées to celebrate Sally Hemings, the 369th Harlem Infantry and the Paris art salons which hosted exhibits by Henry O. Tanner, Lois Mailou Jones and many artists.

 

After a quick snack, you’ll enjoy our Writers, Artists & Intellectuals walk through the Latin Quarter and St.Germain-des-Pres arts district. As you pass Paris’ most famous sites, you’ll also learn about: WEB Dubois, Meta Vaux Warrick, Anna Julia Cooper, Richard Wright, James Baldwin, Miles Davis.

 

This is a perfect introduction for first-timers, and an enlightening second look for returning visitors. You’ll have several opportunities to disembark to take photos.


Duration: 5 hours.

 

3.5 hour Spirit of Black Paris Bus Tour

In half a day, you take in all of the highlights of Black History in Paris covered in the 5-hr combo walk/bus tour, including many Josephine Baker sites. And since Paris is best appreciated on foot, you still get to enjoy a short walk in a fascinating Paris neighborhood.

 

Your guide will lead you on a fun ½ hour stroll through the lively St. Germain-des-Pres arts district – home to Henry O. Tanner and Miles Davis – and through a colorful open-air market full of delectable smells and fresh produce.

Beyond Paris Bus Tours

France’s compact size and efficient railway and road system allow easily for exciting 1/2 to 3 day excursions.

 

As a certified France Specialist and over 25 years residing in or traveling to France, we put our passion and experience into creating itineraries that combine Black heritage sites with the exciting discovery of local specialties, customs and activities.

 

Here are just a few of the unique excursions we can organize:

 

Let us introduce you to north coast city of Nantes with a guided tour that recounts its slave ship building history and visits the new Abolition of Slavery Monument. Just 2 hours from Paris, this city also holds a special treat for fans of native son Jules Verne.

 

Nice – French Riviera – Monaco: soak up the Mediterranean towns livened up by jazz bands and summer festival, stroll the favorite hilltop town James Baldwin called home, and pay tribute to Josephine Baker’s gravesite during a visit to Monaco.

 

Chateau des Milandes – Josephine Baker’s chateau: We’ll escort your group or arrange a private tour of Josephine Baker’s magnificent former castle. We guarantee you’ll never forget this intimate trip back through her faithfully recreated living spaces and delving into little-known details of her family and military life.

 

Normandy – In one day or over several days you can follow the footsteps to where Richard Wright lived and wrote his haiku, get inspired by Henry O. Tanner’s cherished landscapes, and honor the WWI & II soldiers on the landing beaches and the American cemetery.

ABOUT WALKING THE SPIRIT TOURS

 When Julia Browne stood in front of the Paris building where Langston Hughes had written his jazz poetry in the 1920s, she couldn’t believe that one of her literary idols had lived and worked in her same north end neighborhood. A mission was born – people had to know about this. That was 1994. Inspired by the writing of her mentor, the late Professor Michel Fabre of the Sorbonne Nouvelle, she carried out further research then launched Walking The Spirit Tours, the pioneering tours of black Paris.

 

20 years on, they still take great pride in educating and inspiring people of all ages and backgrounds on the rich cultural exchange between African American, Diaspora and French culture.

 

Catering to the growing fascination from travelers with little time to research but who crave authentic cultural experiences, Julia funnels her amour for the French lifestyle into designing personalized itineraries. As a certified Destination France Specialist and former longtime resident, Julia also expertly organizes full trip planning in France and Europe. The goal is simple: to share the passion by opening the doors for travelers to actively participate in culinary exploration, to explore off the path neighborhoods, to gaze at great and lesser known art, and to venture out, as the expatriates did, and engage with local residents of charming towns.

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The Special Group Tours Advantage is our unique and intimate understanding of what you expect traveling in the UK and Europe. We have not only visited but have spent many years living in and loving the cultures you will experience down the ‘B’ Roads and off the beaten track. We have worked with local suppliers and our guide/companion team for over a decade, creating unique special interest itineraries. Special Group Tours offers our “insider” knowledge to you.

 

The SGT Small Group Touring Concept is traveling with just 4 - 14 guests per departure. It is our aim to introduce you to the 'real' country and its people, not just ticking the boxes of a standardized route and treating you as an individual and not a number. Our concept allows for a leisurely touring pace and flexibility to get off the beaten track to discover hidden gems. Of course you'll see the major sites but so much more too!

 

At Special Group Tours, it is our priority that you have the most enjoyable holiday possible. You deserve it!