podtour
Latin Quarter: from Marat's House to Shakespeare and Company
You start in front of the faculty that stands on the site of Marat's house and beside the refectory where the Cordeliers Club met.
Cluny, the Sorbonne and the Rue Saint-Jacques: audio walk in Paris
The students' Paris, told along one uphill kilometre: Roman baths let to a cooper, a comet hunter, the University that humiliated a provost, Montaigne in love with Paris, professors without a building, and the gate where Paris defended itself twice.
What this walk is about
You begin in front of the Roman baths that an abbot let to a barrel maker. The Hôtel de Cluny keeps its scallop shells of Saint James, a hasty wedding that tradition likes to embellish, and a little tower where comets were hunted; the same house sheltered a hunted cardinal, a troupe of Italian comedians, the Pope's nuncios and a dissection room. Next to it stood the convent where the University buried two hanged students, after forcing the provost to kiss them. Montaigne is waiting for you, sitting down; the Sorbonne shows its less flattering face; the Collège de France is born without a home, with a king not yet nine laying its first stone; and a Jesuit college changes its name overnight to flatter Louis XIV. You finish on the Rue Saint-Jacques, which explains why the Jacobins are named after Saint James, at the gate of the two sieges, with the Panthéon ahead of you.
- Start
- A cooper in the Roman baths
- Finish
- The gateway of two sieges
- Who it is for
- For another visit, when you want to look beyond the familiar sights. A walk for anyone curious about history and anecdotes. A walk for students and teachers.
- Languages
- Spanish and British English
- Underfoot
- The walk has slopes or changes in level.
The route, stop by stop
An outline of the walk. The full stories are in the app.
Loading the map…
Open a marker to see its page. Use two fingers to move the map on mobile.
- 1
A cooper in the Roman baths
- 2
The comet hunter
- 3
The provost who kissed two hanged men
- 4
Pilgrim shells and a forced marriage
- 5
One building, a shelter, a theatre and an operating room
- 6
Montaigne loved Paris, warts and all
- 7
The Sorbonne that defended a murder
- 8
Homeless professors and a Spanish mathematician
- 9
A child king lays the first stone
- 10
The sign changed overnight
- 11
Why the Jacobins owe their name to St James
- 12
The gateway of two sieges
Walking directions are based on mapped pedestrian routes. Check local access and signs; the route is not an accessibility guarantee. Times are approximate.
Paris, before you go
Paris works best a neighbourhood at a time. Combine a walk, a pause and another look: the distances on the map can be deceptive.
More walks nearby
Good to know
What is Podtour?
An app for self-guided audio walks. Choose a city and a route, then listen to the stories behind its streets. You decide when to start and when to stop.
When can I download the app?
Podtour is coming to iOS and Android. There is no confirmed launch date yet. Join the waitlist and we will let you know when it is ready.
Does Podtour include attraction tickets?
No. Street walks and monument audio tours do not include admission tickets, transport or a guide accompanying you.
Can I listen without an internet connection?
Download the audio in the app before heading out, then listen offline. Loading the online base map and calculating a new route from your location require a connection.
What languages are included?
Every route includes Spanish and British English. The English version is adapted for English-speaking travellers, rather than translated word for word.
How do I get a whole city for free?
Join the waitlist, choose a city and confirm your email address. When the app launches, we will email you with access details. No card is required. You can also try one free route in every city.
Can I buy for myself or for a group?
Yes. Your own access is included and you can choose 0–5 guests: up to 6 people including you. Each guest saves up to €0.50 on a walk, €1 on a pack or €2 on a whole city compared with buying separately. The counter shows the total before you confirm one payment.
How do I share, and when must guests accept?
After paying, share your purchase’s invitation link. Each guest opens it in Podtour and accepts their place on their own iPhone or Android phone. They must redeem it within 30 days of purchase. Unclaimed places then expire and cannot be recovered or renewed. Access accepted in time is kept. Opening the link does not use a place; one account takes just one place, and no more people can join once all places are taken.
Can I add guests after buying?
No. Choose all your guests before confirming the first purchase. Afterwards you can share the places you paid for, but you cannot increase their number or restart the 30-day deadline.
Your first city,
on Podtour.
Join the waitlist. When we launch, your chosen city is yours to explore.
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A little welcome gift
Your first city,
on Podtour.
Join the waitlist and get one whole city free when Podtour launches. You choose where.
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One city per person. All its Podtour routes in Spanish and English. Available at launch. Offer details.