Follow this Jazz tour path in the Saint Germain des Prés quarter, cradle of Jazz music in Paris. The walk will review the great names, jazz icons as well as the most famous venues from the start of jazz music in the area in the 1930’s to today.
The tour will also show places where jazz still tunes on in the area, from restaurants to festivals, or at random in the open air. In the end, a concert is usually proposed in one of Saint Germain’s most legendary venues.
Jazz in Paris
Description
Practical information
- Location : Outside Saint Sulpice church
- Duration : 1h45
- Walking tour
- Small group (up to 8 people) 50-80€ pp + concert
- Private group tour at any date (280€/group) + concert
- Option: concert : 15€ pp
Jazz has been an important part of music in Paris for quite a while now. Even if the trends have changed and jazz places are far less numerous than in the 1950’s.
The itinerary will tell the story of Jazz where it bloomed in Paris: the Saint Germain des Prés area.
The tour will show the location of various iconic places that made the area world famous for music lovers. Some of them, like Club Saint Germain or the Tabou, attracted the elite of jazz players coming to Paris.
Saint Germain des Prés is an old Medieval neighborhood with ancient pre-Haussmann narrow winding streets. The oldest church in Paris, at the center of the main square, gave its name to the quarter.
Many building, even modern, still have a Medieval vaulted cellar underneath. It’s why the first jazz players came to this area to play all night long. From the 1930’s and even during the war, jazz music was played there, young people assembled and danced.
The tour will also show photos, account stories and relay many anecdotes. At the same time, the walk will pass hotels, restaurants and many other places related to the jazz heyday. A few important personalities, like Juliette Greco and Miles Davis are deeply linked to the area.
The tour will end with a concert. Saint Germain des Prés still boasts of a few places where jazz lives on.
One of them, now a fancy hotel, actually replaces one of the most iconic clubs in Paris.
The other requires patience and an entrance ticket (15€). Very famous, it’s located in a large cellar built in the 1400’s.
