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We reveal an unexpected Paris...
in ways that offer new perspectives
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 - The doors we open are both figurative and real.
Privileged entries into France, or PEF, is a non-profit organization whose proposals go far beyond mass tourism's often-pasteurized views.
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We help you discover a culture that is often overlooked. Or we present the legend in unexpected ways. .
Take Versailles.
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- Versailles – beware of the website!
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 - We often use works of art or photos to illustrate our suggestions, on this website and during visits.
This painting reveals how Versailles is far more than a palace: it is a complex created around a perspective. That perspective merges with the horizon, symbol of endless might.
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Yet the Château's website deliberately avoids mentioning it. To learn more, please click on the blog post above. And for our own visit, click here.
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- Another difference: our objective is enlightened tourism, not commerce. In fact, our site and blog
can serve as a guidebook. The reason for taking our tours is that they go beyond those descriptions
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 - The story of the dazzling Marquise de Montespan's rise and fall reveals another epoch...
That might be telling stories.
At Versailles, we evoke the men and women for whom grounds and palace were but the august background for their intrigues, pride or passions.
But our tales go beyond mere anecdote. For example...
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The fate of this gorgeous favorite leads us to explain the institution of the official royal mistress. As nobles (until the 18th century), they gave their clans hope of power without the risk of revolt. And, because often hated, they acted as lightning rods, drawing the peoples' anger away from the king.
Louis XVI had no such mistress. Fury concentrated on Marie Antoinette...
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- As well, we show French art de vivre, which one finds mainly in places where tourists don't go
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 - Shopping in the little-visited 9th Arrondissement (that is, district)
Visitors may be disappointed in seeing few examples of the legendary Parisian elegance.
But that is mainly true of places mass tourism promotes – because tourists go there, not Parisians!
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 - Wiindow of a milliner's workshop, in the 10th Arrondissement
For the walk that includes this workshop, please CLICK. In focussing on the excellent and unadvertised, it is typical of all our visits.
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 - This former computer programmer is explaining how he founded his shop, for products from his part of Italy.
We choose establishments where owners love what they do, and take pleasure in sharing it. Here is another example.
As well, walks can conclude in a convivial artist's studio or private home.
Or we have delightful hosts invite you personally, in a simple way so that you can talk.
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For groups, we create soirées in venues that reinforce the ambiance the organizers wish.
One example: "chansons françaises" in a bistro. We can invite our local members to add to the conviviality.
Another example: please scroll down.
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- Our explorations and network of resources have developed in an organic way, over years.
That explains why there seem to be no other proposals comparable in variety or depth
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 - Concert for "le Club" in a private salon, 2001
The "Club Culturel Franco-Américain", which we founded in 1985, organized over a hundred visits, excursions, weekends and soirées until 2002, all through private contacts: please CLICK.
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Those contacts and that experience are at the origin of what we do now.
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- That background also explains why we can open so many doors...
- ... and why our price-quality ratio is outstanding. Please CLICK
- For the moment I'm your guide...
using French and English. We are training other cicerones, to propose tours in more languages and to enrich our programs.
- This website is exceptionally detailed
We use it to train our guides, and to tell you what to expect. As well, our blog, http://unexpectedparis.blogspot.com, describes ongoing explorations, practical information and perceptions of France's history and culture.
We often mention resources. For contact information, please ask us.
Enlightened tourism contributes to a more enlightened world. We put that goal far ahead of commerce.
"A bientôt! ",
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Catherine Loveland Aubin
President, trip advisor, tour guide
B.A. Vassar, M.A. Harvard, Pḧ.D. Columbia
All degrees in History
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- Member, Paris Convention and Visitors' Bureau
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- We propose "privileged entries" elsewhere too ...
when personal contacts permit them.
That's the case for some of France's regions, and for Geneva, Barcelona and New York (please CLICK).
We are gradually developing "privileged entries" in other destinations. If you are preparing a trip to a place where "privileged entries" would be useful, please let us know.
We don't put everything on the website.
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Credits: webmaster / David Worms; banner / Julien Debure ; Versailles / Patel (Versailles museum); favorite / anonymous (Pitti palace); hats / Camilla Macfarlane; salon / Claude Abron; other photos / Catherine Aubin
Most of the photos and original drawings on this site have a copyright, but we may allow you to use them if you ask us. |
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 - Unexpected Paris guided tours
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