Muskeets, Conspiracies, Court Intrigues, Rapiers ... We are all familiar with this style of stories romantically called “Swords and Capes”. But the truth behind those stories is even more intriguing than the books or movies have shown you. The historical characters that we meet during this tour are unique, colourful but also deeply connected to our modern world. In many ways, they set the stage for our world to be born and they laid the foundation for it. Behind closed doors, surrounded by plots, often underestimated, they schemed to create a future they believed in, built on principles that seem to be sadly forgotten. Just like during the construction of a monument, they created the blueprint and did the groundwork that is often overlooked. Without them, there wouldn’t be a United States of America, modernity or a higher quality of living. But whilst we meet those great characters that made France’s “Great Century” centered around a “Sun King”, we will also start to see its decay, its rot behind the golden facade ... We will follow how Great Britain proposed a counter model to that of the Sun King and how those ideas permeated France during the slow agonising dusk of the Century of Versailles ... The mistakes and miscalculations made by those that came after our remarkable Kings and Cardinals will lead to important events that shattered the old world to make room for a new one ... The Old World will start its mutation in what Churchill called “World War 0”, a conflict sadly forgotten but that was a catalyst for American Independence and the French Revolution ... In this unique tour we will bridge the gap between the centuries of Monarchy Intrigues and the Revolutionary age, we will meet the people that made the Great Century happen but also that witnessed its decay and final collapse ... And we will follow the course of this remarkable period (XVII-XVIIIth centuries) to marvel at the rise and then gaze with melancholy at the setting of the bright sun illuminating the world that was the France of Kings and Cardinals. ! RECOMMENDATION : It is recommended to do this tour before visiting Versailles ! PRIVATE TOUR On the Private Tour the experience can last up to 2h30 to 3h as we dive deeper into the material. We can also arrange a stop at a pastry/macaron shop for a pause and chat (the cost on location is not covered by Ode to Paris).