Founding Fathers Walking tour in Paris

The American Revolution was an epic political and military struggle waged between 1765 and 1783 when 13 of Britain’s North American colonies rejected its imperial rule. The protest began in opposition to taxes levied without colonial representation by the British monarchy and Parliament. As the political disagreements grew, they triggered a perpetual cycle of defiant acts and punitive laws that led to open rebellion. With the assistance of France, the American colonies were able to defeat the British, achieve independence and form the USA.

Because of the close historical ties between the United States and France, dating back to the American Revolutionary War (1775-1783), France features many sites and monuments celebrating the Franco-American friendship.

A little more than a decade separates the French Revolution from the American Revolution. The ideological underpinning of both revolutions can be found in the ideas of Voltaire and Montesquieu, whose footsteps can be followed along the streets of Paris.
Join our walking tour for an authentic visit of the most American side of Paris!

This walk in the footsteps of Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, and other founders offers a fascinating glimpse into how Paris influenced the birth of the United States. This tour is designed for history lovers who want a deeper understanding of the Franco-American connection.

And as Jefferson said:
“Walking through Paris is to receive lessons about history, beauty, and the meaning of life.”

2026 will celebrate the 250th anniversary of the American Revolutionary War which highlights several aspects of the Franco-American relationship during the revolution period.

Explore Paris through the eyes of America’s Founding Fathers with this small-group walking tour, visiting historic landmarks and uncovering stories behind the founding of the United States of America.

The tour starts at place de la Concorde. It continues through the Tuileries gardens, Hotel de Salm (La Légion d’Honneur), which Jefferson so admired, new statue of Jefferson on the passerelle Solférino, Café Procope (the intellectual headquarters), and the site of the Masonic lodge in the Latin Quarter where many influential people met.

* Café Procope: Revolutionary Ideas Fueled by Coffee & Conversation
Claiming to be the world’s oldest café, the Procope founded in 1686 – is an important step of our expert-led tour related to American revolutionary history in Paris. During the 18th and 19th centuries, the cafe located rue de l’Ancienne Comédie became a cauldron of philosophical and revolutionary ideas. Alongside French philosophers such as Voltaire, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, and the encyclopedist Denis Diderot, Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson regularly dined at the cafe and restaurant during the late 18th century.

* The Former Hotel d’York: Site of the Signing of the Treaty of Paris
Although the Hotel d’York is defunct, a plaque where it once stood commemorates the signing of the 1783 Treaty of Paris, which formally ended the American Revolutionary War, from French soil.On September 3rd of that year, a representative of Britain’s King George III met with Benjamin Franklin, John Adams and John Jay at the former hotel in Paris to formally ratify American independence from England, and end the eight-year conflict.

Gain insights into the historical context of Franco-American friendship and the influence of figures like Franklin and Jefferson on French society. Enjoy a 2h30 small-group tour with a maximum of 8 travelers, providing an immersive and personalized experience.

$250 > private tour designed for 2 people
$490 > private tour designed for 4 people
Our expert-led walking tour features the Founding Fathers in Paris, celebrating the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence in Paris.
– You will visit 56 rue Jacob, where Franklin, Adams, and Jay signed the 1783 Treaty of Paris, officially ending the Revolutionary War.
– You will admire the 18th-century paintings from the Louvre’s original collection.
– Indulge in crucial years through the tour of  Musée Carnavalet where artifacts and documents trace the revolution’s early days.

2026 WILL CELEBRATE THE 250TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION IN PARIS
Tour is offered upon request.
Please contact us to check the availability. Thank you.