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An ancient Gallic wall was recently unearthed, after being buried for two millennia beneath the Hôtel-Dieu hospital, on the Île de la Cité. I managed to talk my way in and sit down with Julien Avinain, chief of Paris's archaeological city council department, for an exclusive tour and interview. What he showed me rewritten the history of Paris itself - a stone and wood fortification built by the Parisii tribe, the physical proof archaeologists have been searching for of where this city truly began. The wall won't survive - it has to come down for the hospital construction to continue - but researchers are racing to preserve every detail through 3D mapping before it disappears forever. Julius Caesar wrote about these people and this city. Now we've found where it started.  This episode brought to you by The Earful Tower Tours. Come join us in the Marais, Montmartre, or the Latin Quarter. Our Walking Tours are exceptionally highly rated online and are the best way to experience this podcast in real life. The Earful Tower exists thanks to support from its members. For just $10 a month you can unlock almost endless extras including bonus podcast episodes, live video replays, special event invites, and our annually updated PDF guide to Paris.  Membership takes only a minute to set up on Patreon, or Substack. Thank you for keeping this channel independent.  For more from the Earful Tower, here are some handy links: Website  Weekly newsletter  Walking Tours

Here's the story of how tried to get my French driving permit in a world-record time. I'm joined by Lina, who hangs around for some listener questions about fashion in Paris at the end.  This episode is brought to you by an exciting antique sale: At Home with Patricia Wells, Volume III, the final catalogue from Chez Pluie. Find more here: https://catalog.chezpluie.com/at-home-with-patricia-wells-volume-iii The music in this episode is from Pres Maxson.  Why not check out our walking tours at The Earful Tower Tours. Come join us in the Marais, Montmartre, or the Latin Quarter. Our Walking Tours are exceptionally highly rated online and are the best way to experience this podcast in real life. The Earful Tower exists thanks to support from its members. For just $10 a month you can unlock almost endless extras including bonus podcast episodes, live video replays, special event invites, and our annually updated PDF guide to Paris.  Membership takes only a minute to set up on Patreon, or Substack. Thank you for keeping this channel independent.  For more from the Earful Tower, here are some handy links: Website  Weekly newsletter  Walking Tours

H is for Hotel de Ville, aka the Paris City Hall. In this episode, I see if I can get inside this impenetrable building with the help of intern Ashlyn Patton.  The music is from Pres Maxson.  This episode brought to you by The Earful Tower Tours. Come join us in the Marais, Montmartre, or the Latin Quarter. Our Walking Tours are exceptionally highly rated online and are the best way to experience this podcast in real life. The Earful Tower exists thanks to support from its members. For just $10 a month you can unlock almost endless extras including bonus podcast episodes, live video replays, special event invites, and our annually updated PDF guide to Paris.  Membership takes only a minute to set up on Patreon, or Substack. Thank you for keeping this channel independent.  For more from the Earful Tower, here are some handy links: Website  Weekly newsletter  Walking Tours

Welcome back to "The 20 Kingdoms" season, where I'll visit each kingdom and introduce you to someone who truly loves it. In this episode for the 14th arrondissement, it's Canadian tour guide April Pett who lives in the district and absolutely loves it.  Mentioned in this episode: Coffee at Sisters Cafe Lunch at Le Saut du Crapaud (And more... to be published soon on Substack) Do a tour with April Pett Official tour site: https://www.aprilinparistours.com/ (Say hi from me) Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aprilinparistours/?hl=en **************** This episode brought to you by The Earful Tower Tours. Come join us in the Marais, Montmartre, or the Latin Quarter. Our Walking Tours are exceptionally highly rated online and are the best way to experience this podcast in real life. The Earful Tower exists thanks to support from its members. For just $10 a month you can unlock almost endless extras including bonus podcast episodes, live video replays, special event invites, and our annually updated PDF guide to Paris.  Membership takes only a minute to set up on Patreon, or Substack. Thank you for keeping this channel independent.  For more from the Earful Tower, here are some handy links: Website  Weekly newsletter  Walking Tours Music: Pres Maxson

This week on the show, Lina and I discuss how our 2026 Bucket Lists are going. Here's a link to the full bucket list that we shared in January. And here are the things we've done so far, that we mentioned in the show. See anything in the main hall of the Grand Rex (we saw Paul Simon) This is the biggest non-Imax movie screen in Europe, but they also host orchestra-led movie showings, concerts, and singalong musicals. Excellent atmosphere from the 2,000 strong crowd. Address: 1 Bd Poissonnière, 75002. Website. Climb the top of Notre Dame I always wanted to climb this cathedral, and it's finally open to the public again after the fire. Address: 6 Parvis Notre-Dame - Pl. Jean-Paul II, 75004. Website. Have a cocktail at one of the world's best bars Danico has been rated among the top 30 bars on the planet, totally worth a look, and it's in a part of town full of cool things. Address: 6 Rue Vivienne, 75002. Website. Have absinthe at La fée verte This place is the real deal, totally worth a look. Address: 108 Rue de la Roquette, 75011. Website. Visit the Cognacq-Jay museum While we have visited this 18th-century art collection from Ernest Cognacq, the founder of La Samaritaine department store, it's not our top choice for small museums in the area. Address: 8 Rue Elzevir, 75003. Website. Beef bar restaurant Disclaimer: We haven't visited this place in Paris yet, but its little sister in Gordes (Provence) was simply epic for a cocktail. Paris address: 5 Rue Marbeuf, 75008. Website. I personally am looking forward to seeing something at the Comedie Francaise, I'll do that soon. And in the meantime, I'll keep plugging away at my French book The Comte de Monte Cristo. The music in this episode is from Pres Maxson.  This episode brought to you by The Earful Tower Tours. Come join us in the Marais, Montmartre, or the Latin Quarter. Our Walking Tours are exceptionally highly rated online and are the best way to experience this podcast in real life. The Earful Tower exists thanks to support from its members. For just $10 a month you can unlock almost endless extras including bonus podcast episodes, live video replays, special event invites, and our annually updated PDF guide to Paris.  Membership takes only a minute to set up on Patreon, or Substack. Thank you for keeping this channel independent.  For more from the Earful Tower, here are some handy links: Website  Weekly newsletter  Walking Tours

I recount my recent visit to the Musée de Minéralogie, where Codex Urbanus has taken over with a street art exhibition "Codex on the Rocks".  It was quite a fascinating visit to a place I'd never been, and it was wonderful to have the artist himself explain the impressive work that went into this exhibition.  If you're an Earful Member on Substack or Patreon, you can get more information about a private tour with Codex himself. The second half of the episode is a look back at when Codex took me into the illegal part of the catacombs.  The music in this episode is from Pres Maxson.  This episode brought to you by The Earful Tower Tours. Come join us in the Marais, Montmartre, or the Latin Quarter. Our Walking Tours are exceptionally highly rated online and are the best way to experience this podcast in real life. The Earful Tower exists thanks to support from its members. For just $10 a month you can unlock almost endless extras including bonus podcast episodes, live video replays, special event invites, and our annually updated PDF guide to Paris.  Membership takes only a minute to set up on Patreon, or Substack. Thank you for keeping this channel independent.  For more from the Earful Tower, here are some handy links: Website  Weekly newsletter  Walking Tours

Welcome back to "The 20 Kingdoms" season, where I'll visit each kingdom and introduce you to someone who truly loves it. In this episode for the 15th arrondissement, it's content creator Gaby Hafner who lives in the district and absolutely loves it.  Mentioned in this episode: Sang Bong Lo: 8 Rue Viala, 75015 Paris Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ssang_bong_lo/?hl=en Café du Commerce: 51 Rue du Commerce, 75015 Paris Website: https://www.lecafeducommerce.com/ Marché Grenelle: Boulevard de Grenelle (between Dupleix and La Motte-Picquet Metro stations) Rue du Commerce: A major shopping street with boutiques and a Sunday flea market. Beaugrenelle: A large shopping mall near the Seine with a cinema. Gaby Hafner's Socials Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gaby_hafner/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@gabyhafner/ **************** This episode brought to you by The Earful Tower Tours. Come join us in the Marais, Montmartre, or the Latin Quarter. Our Walking Tours are exceptionally highly rated online and are the best way to experience this podcast in real life. The Earful Tower exists thanks to support from its members. For just $10 a month you can unlock almost endless extras including bonus podcast episodes, live video replays, special event invites, and our annually updated PDF guide to Paris.  Membership takes only a minute to set up on Patreon, or Substack. Thank you for keeping this channel independent.  For more from the Earful Tower, here are some handy links: Website  Weekly newsletter  Walking Tours Music: Pres Maxson

Welcome back to "The 20 Kingdoms" season. As you probably know, there are 20 districts in Paris, known as arrondissements. They may as well be kingdoms, at least for this podcast season, where I'll visit each kingdom and introduce you to someone who truly loves it. In this episode, it's YouTuber Jay Swanson who has lived in the 16th for over a decade. I met him in the Passy Cemetery, here's what he had to say. Mentioned in this episode: Museums & Culture Passy Cemetery Trocadéro Cité de l'Architecture et du Patrimoine Musée d'Art Moderne de Paris Palais de Tokyo Palais Galliera Musée Marmottan Monet Musée Clemenceau Point Éphémère Parks & Outdoor Spaces Bois de Boulogne Fondation Louis Vuitton Jardin d'Acclimatation Jardin du Ranelagh Hippodrome de ParisLongchamp Neighborhoods & Landmarks Rue de Belles Feuilles The Golden Triangle Élysée Palace Also Mentioned Jay Swanson's books: Sea of the Unknown and Desert of the New **************** This episode brought to you by The Earful Tower Tours. Come join us in the Marais, Montmartre, or the Latin Quarter. Our Walking Tours are exceptionally highly rated online and are the best way to experience this podcast in real life. The Earful Tower exists thanks to support from its members. For just $10 a month you can unlock almost endless extras including bonus podcast episodes, live video replays, special event invites, and our annually updated PDF guide to Paris.  Membership takes only a minute to set up on Patreon, or Substack. Thank you for keeping this channel independent.  For more from the Earful Tower, here are some handy links: Website  Weekly newsletter  Walking Tours Music: Pres Maxson

G is for Grand Palais. In this episode, we present eight facts (well, nine) about the magnificent Grand Palais. This is a mixture of entertaining, informative, and practical facts, so you'll certainly get something out of it!  The music is from Pres Maxson.  This episode brought to you by The Earful Tower Tours. Come join us in the Marais, Montmartre, or the Latin Quarter. Our Walking Tours are exceptionally highly rated online and are the best way to experience this podcast in real life. The Earful Tower exists thanks to support from its members. For just $10 a month you can unlock almost endless extras including bonus podcast episodes, live video replays, special event invites, and our annually updated PDF guide to Paris.  Membership takes only a minute to set up on Patreon, or Substack. Thank you for keeping this channel independent.  For more from the Earful Tower, here are some handy links: Website  Weekly newsletter  Walking Tours

We've been exploring Provence this week and here we share some good tips with you.  Mentioned in this episode: The Pont du Gard, a 2,000-year-old Roman acqueduct Robion, a sleepy village that's perfect for a glass of Ricard L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, where we bought our house and recorded this episode Fontaine de Vaucluse, aka Rivendell from Lord of the Rings  The Sénanque Abbey with its monks and lavendar The music in this episode is from Pres Maxson.  This episode brought to you by The Earful Tower Tours. Come join us in the Marais, Montmartre, or the Latin Quarter. Our Walking Tours are exceptionally highly rated online and are the best way to experience this podcast in real life. The Earful Tower exists thanks to support from its members. For just $10 a month you can unlock almost endless extras including bonus podcast episodes, live video replays, special event invites, and our annually updated PDF guide to Paris.  Membership takes only a minute to set up on Patreon, or Substack. Thank you for keeping this channel independent.  For more from the Earful Tower, here are some handy links: Website  Weekly newsletter  Walking Tours

F is for Fringe Festival. In this episode, I talk with Australian clown and actor Jasper Foley about how he (and his team) are bringing the famed international theatre and performing arts festival back to the City of Light. Paris.  Also: What's life like as a trained clown in Paris?  What happens at the famed Ground Control in Paris? And how can you support the arts in Paris, even if you're not here?  Here's the link to donate and support the upcoming Fringe Festival: https://whydonate.com/fundraising/paris-fringe-festival-fundraiser Here's the link to get tickets to the show, Sep 9th to 13th, 2026: https://www.parisfringe.fr/ Here's the link to the episode of Spilling the Beans where I was the guest: https://open.spotify.com/episode/39Us4GtDIFjyn6jCHHAAwU?si=ZkiFrcaeSsqxXus3SFaXVA&nd=1&dlsi=4774773ed9ee413c  The music is from Pres Maxson.  This episode brought to you by The Earful Tower Tours. Come join us in the Marais, Montmartre, or the Latin Quarter. Our Walking Tours are exceptionally highly rated online and are the best way to experience this podcast in real life. The Earful Tower exists thanks to support from its members. For just $10 a month you can unlock almost endless extras including bonus podcast episodes, live video replays, special event invites, and our annually updated PDF guide to Paris.  Membership takes only a minute to set up on Patreon, or Substack. Thank you for keeping this channel independent.  For more from the Earful Tower, here are some handy links: Website  Weekly newsletter  Walking Tours

E is for Embassy. And in this case, I'm talking about the US Embassy's Garden Party to mark 250 years of Independence with a capital I.  And guess what: I was there! So this podcast is just me, Oliver Gee, talking about my night among the Americans for their Fourth of July bash.  And here's the video from INSIDE the US ambassadorial residence that I mentioned in the show, from a year ago: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygYRLRg--70 The music is from Pres Maxson.  This episode brought to you by The Earful Tower Tours. Come join us in the Marais, Montmartre, or the Latin Quarter. Our Walking Tours are exceptionally highly rated online and are the best way to experience this podcast in real life. The Earful Tower exists thanks to support from its members. For just $10 a month you can unlock almost endless extras including bonus podcast episodes, live video replays, special event invites, and our annually updated PDF guide to Paris.  Membership takes only a minute to set up on Patreon, or Substack. Thank you for keeping this channel independent.  For more from the Earful Tower, here are some handy links: Website  Weekly newsletter  Walking Tours

It's sweltering in Paris right now and life is unbearable for many. Not least for those who live under the zinc rooftops. The whole city comes to a standstill in these heatwaves, but those in the rooftops suffer the most, perhaps.  So, while The Earful Tower puts business as usual aside like everyone else, we figured we could take a look back at an episode about another rooftop: The domed cupolas of Paris.  Today's episode is a segment from an episode in early 2022, where I interviewed an American woman called Sarah who lived in such a dome. Here's the chat. And here are some dome pics from outside and inside. This episode is brought to you by The Earful Tower Tours. Come join us in Montmartre, the Marais, or the Latin Quarter. Our Walking Tours are now award winning, and are the best way to experience this podcast in real life.  The Earful Tower exists thanks to support from its members. For just $10 a month you can unlock almost endless extras including bonus podcast episodes, live video replays, special event invites, and our annually updated PDF guide to Paris.  Membership takes only a minute to set up on Patreon, or Substack. Thank you for keeping this channel independent.  For more from the Earful Tower, here are some handy links: Website  Weekly newsletter  Walking Tours Music: Pres Maxson

Every year or so, Lina and I make a children's book. Sophie in Paris is the fifth. And every time, once the books arrive, we hit the streets of Paris to deliver them ourselves. Bookshops, museums, all of it. This episode is about that part. Not the writing, not the illustrating, but the launching - which we find to be one of the most enjoyable bits. The envelopes, the deliveries, the doors we knock on. So, for our second new episode this week, we're focusing on D for Deliveries.  Five books in, the operation has grown. This new book, Sophie in Paris, has been our biggest yet, and Lina and I sit down to talk through what that actually looks like from the inside. Get Sophie in Paris: theearfultower.com/shop Find the book in a shop near you: Where to buy our children's books in Paris

D is for Delon, Alain Delon. Author Edward Chisholm is back on the podcast, this time talking about his new book Murder in Paris '68. We recorded this one on location - sitting on the quai by the Seine, directly beneath the Quai des Orfèvres, the famous Paris police headquarters that has watched over the city's darkest crimes for centuries. Fitting, then, that we were there to talk about one of France's most explosive unsolved murders. In 1968, a body was discovered on the outskirts of Paris and identified as Stevan Marković, the former bodyguard and close associate of the enigmatic film star Alain Delon. What began as a simple murder case quickly spiralled into a full-blown political scandal, drawing in actresses, gangsters, and high-level politicians.  British author Edward Chisholm, the author of the bestselling memoir A Waiter in Paris, has written the definitive account of the affair. His new book takes us into the heart of an era and into the inner world of Alain Delon himself, a world of gangsters, violence, and underworld Parisian conspiracies, where everyone possessed their own cold elegance and charisma.  We talked about the book, the Marković Affair, and of course... Alain Delon. The music is from Pres Maxson.  This episode brought to you by The Earful Tower Tours. Come join us in the Marais, Montmartre, or the Latin Quarter. Our Walking Tours are exceptionally highly rated online and are the best way to experience this podcast in real life. The Earful Tower exists thanks to support from its members. For just $10 a month you can unlock almost endless extras including bonus podcast episodes, live video replays, special event invites, and our annually updated PDF guide to Paris.  Membership takes only a minute to set up on Patreon, or Substack. Thank you for keeping this channel independent.  For more from the Earful Tower, here are some handy links: Website  Weekly newsletter  Walking Tours