Welcome to Paris Gone By, the podcast about Paris history for the curious traveler! Enthusiastic francophile? Traveling to Paris? Simply want to go deeper into the history of Paris? You are in the right place! We explore both the major monuments and the nooks and crannies of Paris and dive into the stories woven into the City of Light's rich history. Together, we'll escape to the Paris of the past, walk down forgotten streets, and experience Parisian history in a new way. As we go along, you'll also discover how to experience the past in person or virtually. Join us on our journey to the Paris of the past!
#16. What was Notre Dame like before Viollet-le-Duc’s 19th Century restoration? Was it worth visiting or just a crumbling ruin to be ignored? And were the guidebooks of the day accurate or even more creative than today’s social media “guides”? Join us as we rejoin David W. Bartlett’s travel adventures in mid-19th Century Paris (and correct some of his “history” along the way)! Speaking of corrections, yes, I did indeed misspeak the name of Bartlett’s book. It is Paris with Pen & Pen...
27 Jul 2025
Le Petit Pont: The Unluckiest Bridge in Paris
#15. Le Petit Pont: The Unluckiest Bridge in Paris Join us we explore the unluckiest bridge in Paris, le Petit Pont. Destroyed by the Vikings, a vengeful count, floods, ice, and even fire over the years, the bridge has had a wild couple of millennia! Warning: Contains depictions of historical violence. Check out the full show notes on the PGB website, including images of the bridge through history and a map of the walk described at the end of the episode. Like what yo...
28 Jul 2024
1900 Non-Olympic Olympics
#14. The 1900 Non-Olympic OlympicsThe second-ever Olympics in Paris in 1900 was many things. Up to and including being both an official Olympiad and not being official Olympiad. Oh, and it included cannons. Check out the wild and chaotic 1900 Summer Olympics in this episode of Paris Gone By!Want to know more? Check out the full show notes on the PGB website.Like what you heard and would like to support the podcast further? Please consider buying me a tea, grabbing a book at ...
7 Mar 2023
Traveling To 19th Century Paris!
#13. It's the mid-19th century. You're an American with wanderlust, a bit of money, and a capacity to deal with rigors of travel by steam ship and train and carriage. But how, exactly do we get to Paris? And what will it be like when we get there? Grab your steamer trunk and get ready as we journey to the City of Light! Want to know more? Check out the full show notes on the PGB website. Like what you heard and would like to support the podcast ...
29 Jan 2023
A Knight And A Churchman: The Unlikely Notre Dame Duo
#12. Notre Dame's sarcophagi have started revealing their secrets! The two men found during the restoration have intriguing connections but couldn't be more different. Learn more about the mysterious knight and the wealthy churchman in this episode of Paris Gone By! Note: Throughout the episode and the show notes, I refer to the first sarcophagus as Le Chevalier or The Knight. Technically the INRAP scientists nicknamed him Le Cavalier or The Rider—I misspoke in t...
23 Dec 2022
Oysters, Turkey, & Cake: The History of Favorite French Holiday Foods
#11. France + Food + Christmas = An Amazing Feast! The French Christmas Eve meal is a culinary tradition steeped in history. Join us as we explore three holiday favorites: Oysters, Turkey with Chestnuts, and the Bûche de Noël cake on this episode of Paris Gone By! Need to see the recipes and learn more about these foods? Check out the full show notes on the PGB website!Like what you heard and would like to support the podcast further? Please consider ...
31 Oct 2022
The Mystery of Henri IV's Skull
#10. King Henri IV's skull is sitting in a bank vault in Paris. Or is it? If not, whose head is it?! Join us as we follow the mummified skull of Henri IV through 400 years of history on this episode of Paris Gone By!Want to know more? Check out the full show notes on the PGB websiteLike what you heard and would like to support the podcast further? Please consider buying me a coffee, grabbing a book at the boutique, or explore other ways to support the cause...
1 Oct 2022
6 Facts About Napoleon's Tomb
#9. Napoleon. Love him or hate him, he is a monumental figure. Buried in a huge tomb. In a hole in the ground. How did this happen? Why is one of the most important historical figures of the modern era buried not among his peers at the Pantheon or even in his own magnificent monument? Instead, he is in a sunken chamber inside a building built by Louis XIV! Find out the story of Napoleon’s journey to Les Invalides in this episode of Paris Gone By! &nbs...
5 Sept 2022
Back To School At The Medieval University of Paris!
#8. If you were ready to leave your provincial village, see the world and maybe party a bit, what options did you have? Then as now you went to college! Join us as we go back to school at the medieval University of Paris in this episode of Paris Gone By!Correction: I mention the Bishops of Cluny, however their correct title was the Abbots of Cluny. Links for the Episode:Musee de Cluny. Église Saint-Séverin. Church of Saint Julien le Pauvre. Collège de Be...
18 Jul 2022
Bond, James Bond in Paris
#007. What would Bond do in Paris? Take in the Louvre or take out the bad guy? Where does he like to eat? Or sleep? And where can we be like Bond in Paris today? Follow literary Bond on his Parisian assignments in this episode of Paris Gone By! And yes, I'm rooting for Henry Cavill as the next Bond! 🤞🏻🤞🏻For links to all of the places mentioned in this episode, ways to armchair travel with Bond, and more, check out the show notes. Want to go straight to grabbing the books for ...
22 Jun 2022
Visit the Eiffel Tower In 1889!
#6. Join us as we visit the Eiffel Tower when it opened in 1889! Using a guide from the Exposition Universelle, we see the tower from a different view. How did they describe this new colossus? What did it cost to visit? How could you get there? And most importantly, were there toilets? Hop in our time machine as we go back to the opening of the Eiffel Tower!Links for the Episode:The Guide in Full: The Practical Guide to the Exposition Universelle &nbs...
3 Jun 2022
Did Eiffel Live On The Eiffel Tower?
#5. High atop the Eiffel Tower, Gustave Eiffel used to have an apartment with the most coveted view in the city. But did he live in it? What happened in that exclusive space? And is it still there? Find out more about Eiffel's apartment on the Eiffel Tower in this episode of Paris Gone By! Links for the ShowEiffel Tower Official Site. Buy tickets, get hours and transit info, and all your tower info! Jill Jonnes Article. The article mention...
21 May 2022
Mary Tudor at the Cluny: Plucky Princess Takes On Three Kings
#4. Mary Tudor, Henry VIII's sister, defied convention and married the man she wanted! But first she had to marry the King of France. How does she pull this off?! Discover what Tudor secrets the very French Hôtel de Cluny (Musée National du Moyen Âge) holds in this episode of Paris Gone By! To visit the Cluny, check out these sites:Cluny Museum Website (The French version of the site has more detailed info on the collections). Paris Museum Pass Want to...
1 May 2022
Crown Jewels Stolen! The History of L'Hotel de la Marine
#3. L'Hotel de la Marine, the museum on the Place de la Concorde, has witnessed many events over the years—including the theft of the Crown Jewels in 1792! Who did it? Did they get away with it? Find out more in this episode of Paris Gone By! Links for this episode's resources: L'Hotel de la Marine Museum Al Thani Collection The Foundation for the Memory of Slavery The Louvre Mobilier National Paris Museum PassLe Monde Article [in French]Cent...
10 Apr 2022
Sarcophagus Found at Notre Dame!
#2. A 14th Century Sarcophagus was found at Notre Dame! Who is inside? Who found it? What comes next? Is it a mummy?! [SPOILER: Not a mummy] Find out more in this episode of Paris Gone By! Discover what we know so far, more about the group who did the archeological dig, and a bit about what comes next as they begin restoring the interior of the church. Quick Show Notes: First and foremost, the theory of how the sarcophagus ended up where it did in the layers of history un...
21 Mar 2022
The Premier Episode: Notre Dame, Property of France?
#1. The Premier Episode: Learn about Paris Gone By and Notre Dame’s ownership! Hint: It isn’t Paris Gone By (sadly). Or the Catholic Church. It is La France herself! Find out how Notre Dame remains the property of the nation in this inaugural episode of the Paris Gone By: Paris History for the Curious Traveler podcast. Want to know more? Check out the full show notes on the PGB website. Like what you heard and would like to support the podcast further? Please cons...
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