Josephine Baker's Paris & the Occupation Immersive Tour

Relive 1940s Paris on a walking tour with Josephine Baker—an actor-led dive into Resistance stories, real espionage, and iconic sites.

Getting started

Meet your guide in character as Josephine Baker at the steps of the Opéra, 10 Place de l’Opéra, Paris. Arrive 10 minutes early to check in and prepare for a small-group tour limited to 15 participants. Comfortable walking shoes and weather-appropriate clothing are recommended.

What to expect

• Engaging storytelling: Your guide will remain in character throughout, delivering Josephine Baker’s secret wartime missions and moments of resilience.

• Historic sites: Visit key locations linked to the French Resistance and learn how women like Baker shaped Paris’s underground fight.

• Intimate group: With no more than 15 guests, expect a personal, interactive experience where questions and discussions are welcome.

• Authentic atmosphere: The theatrical approach adds emotion and depth to the stories, creating a vivid picture of life under occupation.

Josephine Baker's Paris & the Occupation Immersive Tour

Dive into the clandestine world of WWII Paris through an immersive walking tour, where you'll step into the shoes of Josephine Baker herself, guided by a professional actor who brings this legendary figure to life with theatrical storytelling and historical context. Visiting key sites tied to the Resistance movement, you will uncover how Baker smuggled secrets in sheet music and risked her life to aid those fighting against Nazi occupation. With a small group setting (max 15 people), this tour provides an intimate and interactive experience that allows for deeper engagement with each site's history and significance. Tours are available in both English and French, ensuring you can choose your preferred language when booking. This journey weaves the allure of Parisian landmarks with the gritty reality of wartime espionage, offering memorable encounters to forge a deep understanding while recognizing that even heroes face limitations within historical contexts.

Experience Résistance Sites' Hidden Heroism

Visit Résistance sites during the tour's highlight segment where you will uncover the bravery and sacrifice of individuals like Josephine Baker. These hidden locations, scattered throughout Paris, served as clandestine meeting places for members of the Resistance movement to exchange vital information and plan their next moves against Nazi occupation. Each site carries its own unique story, such as secret passageways in homes and apartments that connected underground networks. Exploring these sites represents the tour's centerpiece where you can step back in time and imagine the tense atmosphere of covert operations and espionage activities. By visiting Résistance sites with a professional guide, you'll gain insight into how ordinary citizens transformed their city into a battlefield for freedom.

Wander Through Montmartre's Artistic Vibe

Experience Montmartre as part of the comprehensive itinerary featuring iconic Parisian neighborhoods. This charming district is not only famous for its artistic flair but also played a significant role in the Resistance movement during World War II. Strolling through narrow streets, you'll encounter quaint cafes and vibrant murals that capture the essence of this bohemian quarter. Montmartre's lively atmosphere belies its darker past, where artists and intellectuals risked their lives to support underground resistance efforts against Nazi tyranny. This tour accesses Montmartre included in the package, enabling visitors to explore sites such as the Basilica of Sacré-Cœur, which served as a hub for secret meetings among Resistance members.

Discover L'Étoile's Strategic Importance

Explore L'Étoile during your tour where it stands as a critical intersection point in Paris. This star-shaped layout not only houses the famous Arc de Triomphe but also served as a strategic location for Resistance activities. During wartime, L'Étoile became a hotbed of espionage and intelligence gathering, with its central position making it ideal for secret communications and covert operations. As you wander through this bustling area, imagine the clandestine meetings that took place beneath its grand arches, where agents exchanged vital information to aid their cause against Nazi occupation.

Marvel at Café de Flore's Literary Legacy

Access Café de Flore included in your tour package, enabling you to visit this literary landmark and learn about its role in the Resistance movement. This historic café has long been a favorite haunt of intellectuals and artists who gathered here to discuss politics and literature openly while also engaging in clandestine activities during World War II. Situated on Boulevard Saint-Germain, Café de Flore stands as one of Paris's most iconic cultural institutions, where patrons like Jean-Paul Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir not only debated existential philosophy but also plotted against the Nazi regime.

Tour Highlights

• Visit Résistance sites' hidden heroism uncovering secret meeting places
• Experience Montmartre's artistic vibe with vibrant murals and narrow streets
• Explore L'Étoile's strategic importance for espionage and intelligence gathering
• Access Café de Flore included in your tour package, a literary landmark during WWII
• Hear true stories of espionage including how Baker smuggled secrets in sheet music
• Enjoy small group setting (max 15 people) for an intimate, interactive experience

Serendipitous journeys for explorers of history, devotees of culture, and seekers of mystery, this immersive tour weaves the glamour of Paris with its gritty wartime reality, crafting memories that resonate like a poignant melody in the heart of the city's storied past. This adventure through Josephine Baker’s world unveils not just her legendary performances but also her heroic contributions to the Resistance movement.