A Dreamy French Day Trip By Comte De Saint-Germain, Walk.Paris Tours

The Count of St. Germain invites you to unique walks through Paris. Let his voice and your smartphone’s GPS guide you to (re)discover the City of Lights, embracing the authenticity and subjectivity of a person who actually experienced the events they’re recounting.

For more information or to download load a walking tour, please visit www.walk.paris.

The Count's Perfect Day In France

Breakfast > Catacombs > Ile De Cité > Louvre & Lunch > Rennes > Mont Saint-Michel

"I wasn’t always a Count, and wasn’t always called St. Germain either. I was born about 2200 years ago on a dirt islet, that after years of landfilling became the île de la Cité. I travelled a lot over the past 2000 years, but always came back to Paris. I have been a boatman, a farmer, a merchant, a soldier for hire, and a monk. I became rich and famous under Louis XV, grew politically during the French Révolution, and fought weapon in hand, in the streets, for the last time during Paris Commune." - Comte de St Germain.

Morning

Wake up late (you'll see why later), have breakfast in bed (I can't really face people on an empty stomach).
Escape the heat with a visit of the Catacombs, even with a last-minute ticket, there are just fewer people in the morning.
Take metro line 4 at Denfert-Rochereau, exit at Cité to enjoy the steampunk architecture of the staircase, cross whatever is left of the flower market these days. Check the time at the oldest public clock in Paris at the corner of the Conciergerie. Cross Place Dauphine and head over to the Pont-Neuf, maybe enjoy some share under the weeping willow at the end of Square du Vert-Galant. Wave to the bateaux-mouche.

Afternoon

Walk along the Seine to the Louvre to see just one work of art: Delacroix's "Liberty guiding the people" as a warm-up to the afternoon's activity. It's in the Denon wing, 1st floor, room 77. The way to do this is to buy a membership of Les Amis du Louvre online in advance: not only do you get unlimited visits, but you get access to the special professional entrance with absolutely no lines.
Exit the Louvre towards the Palais-Royal, cross the gardens and walk the covered passages all the way to Neko Ramen tables that are inside Passage Verdeau.
Have a delicious lunch of veggie shoyu ramen with a marinated egg, washed down with some sweet potato beer.
https://www.nekoramen.fr/
Join a demonstration to honor "Liberty guiding the people". They often start around 2pm, from Opéra, République or Bastille. Whatever social justice cause feels right to you, there's probably a related demo on that day: it's a lively, centuries-old Parisian tradition.
Leave the demonstration before the end, pack snacks & picnic supplies and take the metro to Gare Montparnasse to take the TGV to Rennes.
Have cocktails, dinner and boardgames in the game bar l'Heure du Jeu - Champs Libre, 11 Boulevard Magenta. It's close to the station, the neighbourhood is not pretty as opposed to the old town, but it's a nice pit stop for a low-key, local activity.
https://www.lheuredujeu.fr/

Evening

Go to the Mont Saint-Michel by rental car, direct coach, or by train to Pontorson and then the super local bus that takes you all the way to the walls. If you're lucky, the latter is the only way to avoid the parking lot shuttle.
Check in at hotel Terrasses Poulard, make sure you have a room booked with a view on the bay:
https://lemontsaintmichel.info/rooms/hotel-les-terrasses-poulard/
Visit the abbey before midnight: every summer, there is a different nighttime visit, sometimes closer to a modern art installation, sometimes more educational, but always worth the experience.
Walk around the Mont at night to enjoy its fully empty streets (except for the local cats) and ramparts. Rest, write and read at night in your hotel room, keep the window open, look at the tide. Snack if you need to, the food on the Mont is usually either terrible or just overpriced.
Walk back up to the abbey to be at 6:50am at the door. A monk will take you to the church to attend the Laudes service. Whether you're a believer or not, it is something to be experienced. Catch a glimpse of the sunrise from the abbey terrace on the way out. Have a breakfast picnic in one of the Mont's gardens before the tourists arrive. Go to bed, you've earned it!