Guided tours
A journey to the heart of history
A tour guide is first and foremost a gateway to knowledge, whether historical, geographical, artistic or gastronomic. Their mission is to bring our heritage to life and help you discover its history through the prism of their passion.
Although some guides specialize in a particular period or artistic field, most are versatile and can give tours on a wide variety of subjects.
Tour guides must constantly combine in-depth knowledge and storytelling skills to take you on a journey to the heart of history and bring the places they show you to life.
Lecturer, more than just an enthusiast
Being a guide is not something you can improvise, and being a history buff isn’t enough to become a guide. In France, since 2011, the “carte professionnelle de Guide-conférencier”, issued by the Ministry of Tourism and the Ministry of Culture, attests to the guide’s professionalism:
- a professional degree in national guide-conférencier
- a Master’s degree with validation of specific teaching units
IN PRACTICE
Although some practice the profession as a sideline, many tour guides have made guiding their main, or even exclusive, professional activity.
They operate under a variety of statutes:
- Self-employed
- Interim or temporary workers: they are usually employed on a temporary basis, with a fixed-term contract, and often work for several employers.
- Seasonal
- Employee
THE CORE BUSINESS
Our guides’ primary mission is to be well-informed: they are committed to providing you with reliable content that has been thoroughly researched and constantly updated. This enables them to answer your questions.
Each guide then adds his or her personal touch and passion, creating a tailor-made experience for you. With you, our visitors, every visit is unique!
The profession of guide also requires a solid knowledge of foreign languages, and tour guides often speak more than one language fluently, enabling visitors from all over the world to discover our heritage.
