SÉRÉNA EYCHENIÉ
Guide Speaker
Would you like to introduce your child or grandchild to a museum or monument in Paris, but are worried they might get bored during the visit?
However, by tailoring the tour to the children’s age, a guided tour becomes a lively experience that captures their interest and sparks their curiosity!
I always enjoy accompanying children and their families to the capital’s museums and monuments, and I’d be delighted to work with you to create a tour tailored to your child or grandchild’s personality and interests.
Introducing children to Parisian art, history and heritage
Art and history are often seen as subjects ‘reserved for adults’, too complex for children to grasp.
But children are also capable of engaging with artworks and making sense of them, even if their approach differs from that of adults.
Children often connect with a work through the story it tells. The empathy typical of their age helps them to put themselves in the characters’ shoes and understand what they are feeling. This is often the key to engaging with a work alongside them.
For example, one of the paintings in the Grande Galerie at the Louvre depicts Mary, Joseph and the infant Jesus resting during their flight into Egypt. Whereas an adult might interpret the scene within the context of the Gospels, a child will focus on a more concrete situation: “They’re tired”, “The man is older, so he’s more tired than the woman”, “The child must be thirsty, because you can see it’s hot”, “I get tired too when I’ve been walking”, and so on.
Once the story told by the painting has been established, we can then discuss how the form chosen by the artist conveys meaning: “Who is at the centre of the painting?”, “Who is Mary looking at?”, “What message is the artist trying to convey?”.
Ultimately, if we take the trouble to approach the subject in a way that is accessible to them, children will be able to make sense of a work of art and fully engage with it! It will then enrich their emotional, narrative and visual world, just like the stories and picture books that are part of their daily lives!
Guided tours tailored to the children’s age and personality
Every child has their own world, which provides a wonderful gateway to introducing them to art, museums and Parisian heritage.
Many children love animals, which feature as main or secondary subjects in numerous paintings and sculptures. Spotting them in the artworks is often an excellent way to capture their attention and encourage them to look more closely.
Others love history, which they study at school. Works of art then allow them to visualise the periods they are taught about, making them more tangible. Moreover, history textbooks are often illustrated with works of art, and children will be delighted to discover ‘in real life’ an image they have seen at school, such as The Coronation of Napoleon I or Liberty Leading the People. They also feel valued when they recognise a work of art or can share what they already know.
It is by engaging in dialogue with the child, asking them questions and answering theirs, and ultimately making them feel valued, that the visit becomes interactive, and that they can truly make it their own.
Every child participates in their own way. Some speak up spontaneously, whilst others need a little more time to observe and feel at ease. When we respect their pace and encourage them, even the shyest children usually end up gaining confidence and daring to join in too.
What are some good places to visit with children in Paris?
Anything is possible! But choosing a guided tour may depend on your child or grandchild’s personality and their interests.
For a first visit, I recommend the Louvre Museum, which is often an excellent choice. The richness and diversity of its collections allow for a wide range of themes to be explored: heroes and heroines of mythology, kings and queens, travel, the origins of Paris, genres in painting (portraiture, landscape, history painting, still life, etc.), or even daily life in different eras. Every child can thus find a work of art or a story that particularly speaks to them.
Children with a passion for history will also enjoy the Army Museum, located within the Hôtel National des Invalides. Beyond military history, these collections offer a journey through the major periods of French history and shed light on the lives of the men and women who lived through them, allowing visitors to discover the armour worn by the kings of France, or the secrets behind the tomb of Emperor Napoleon I.
The Palais Garnier, home to the historic Paris Opera, captivates visitors with its spectacular architecture and the many stories surrounding the venue. The legend of the Phantom of the Opera, the sumptuous décor and the atmosphere of the building easily evoke the world of fairy tales and the imagination.
In its Grand Foyer, you feel as though you’re in the Hall of Mirrors at Versailles, and without realising it, you become a sort of actor or actress on stage!
For very energetic children, walks around Paris can also be a wonderful opportunity. Montmartre is brimming with curiosities and unusual sights, such as the Moulin de la Galette, the Bateau-Lavoir (where Cubism was born!) or Marcel Aymé’s Passe-Muraille, which you can see emerging from the wall!
The tour then takes on the feel of a “treasure hunt”, where every discovery becomes an opportunity to marvel: “What’s so surprising about this square? – The man coming out of the wall!”
And then, on the Île de la Cité, other stories unfold: those of the former Palace of the Kings and Queens of France, the prison of Robespierre and Marie-Antoinette, the oldest bridge in Paris, the first public clock in France, and even the most visited cathedral in the country: Notre-Dame de Paris! A cathedral so important to Paris that Emperor Napoleon I chose to be crowned there, and that Victor Hugo made the heroine of his eponymous novel.
At what age can a child start to enjoy a guided tour?
The age at which a child can really get the most out of a guided tour depends above all on their curiosity and maturity, but also on their ability to stay focused in a new environment.
In our experience, children start to really enjoy this type of tour from around the age of 6. At this age, they are better able to engage with the stories, observe the artworks and actively participate in discussions.
That said, every child is different: some younger children may already be very receptive, especially if the tour is tailored to their pace and interests.
How do you organise a guided tour of Paris for the family?
Each of the tours I offer is tailored to the children’s ages, their interests, and the type of tour you’d like (museum, monument or a stroll through Paris).
Please feel free to contact me via the form below or by email, so that together we can put together a guided tour in Paris that’s just right for your child or grandchild!
Depending on your requirements, I can assist you with booking tickets and speaking permits, taking into account your specific circumstances (full price, concessions, EU or non-EU nationals, etc.).
Frequently Asked Questions
01
How long does a family visit last?
Generally speaking, a guided tour for families lasts around 1 hour 30 minutes.
02
Can I book a private tour?
Unless otherwise stated, the tours I offer are exclusively private guided tours in Paris, organised for you and your loved ones.
03
Can grandparents take part?
Grandparents are, of course, very welcome! Just make sure, if necessary, that you’re able to get around easily so you can enjoy the visit in comfort.
04
Are the tours suitable for people with reduced mobility?
Yes! Please do let me know if you have a disability or reduced mobility, so that I can adapt the route, or so that we can arrange for assistance from the museums (wheelchair or seat hire), wherever possible.
05
Are the tours suitable for teenagers?
The tours are fully tailored to your needs, and can easily be adapted for teenagers. In this case, we can go into a little more detail with the explanations and the so-called ‘technical’ aspects, whilst maintaining a clear, lively and accessible approach.