The Grand Boulevards: The Man Who Demolished Paris
One man demolished nineteen thousand seven hundred and thirty buildings to rebuild Paris — including the house he was born in. An opera house with a real lake in the basement, where firefighters practice swimming in total darkness. A pilot who landed a biplane on the roof of a department store, collected twenty-five thousand francs from the store, and got fined sixteen francs by the police. A painter billed three hundred twenty-three thousand francs for a toppled monument — down to the last sixty-eight centimes — who escaped it by dying one day before the first payment was due. And a war hero who flew a plane straight through the Arc de Triomphe with about three meters to spare per wing. Most of what the Bad Historian tells you on this walk is true. Some of it he made up — you find out which at the end.
What You'll Experience
Plan your walk
Know the route before you buy
- Starts at
- Introduction
- Ends at
- The Reveal
- Walking plan
- 40 min · ~2.4 miles
- Schedule
- Start, pause, and resume anytime
Included in the app
- Professional narration
- GPS-triggered stops
- Downloadable tour audio
- Ask the Historian Q&A
- Optional end-of-tour reveal
- All 9 story stops
A taste of what you'll hear
9 stops, each with its own story. Here's a preview.
"Every building around you — the cream stone, the iron balconies, the matching rooflines — exists because one man tore down the city that used to be here. Nineteen thousand seven hundred and thirty buildings, demolished."
"Place Vendôme. An octagon of gray-gold palaces, the Ritz on one side, jewelers everywhere else. In the middle, a giant bronze column with a little Napoleon on top, dressed as a Roman emperor."
"You made it — from a wedding cake of an opera house to the biggest roundabout in Europe, straight through the middle of one lawyer's demolition project. Time to show you my renovations. I told you I built a few details of my own into the tour."
Tour itinerary
Every stop on this walk
Explore the route before you go. Each stop has its own story preview, location details, and place in the larger tour.
- 11IntroductionEvery building around you — the cream stone, the iron balconies, the matching rooflines — exists because one man tore down the city that...48.8720, 2.3316 Read this stop
- 22Palais GarnierThat enormous frosted cake of a building is the Palais Garnier — the Paris Opera. Gold statues on the roof, marble columns, busts of...48.8720, 2.3316 Read this stop
- 33Boulevard HaussmannThe street sign on the corner says Boulevard Haussmann. Say it OHS-mahn — and remember it, because the man it's named after is the reason...48.8731, 2.3308 Read this stop
- 44Galeries LafayetteGaleries Lafayette. From out here it's a long stone department store, handsome but restrained.48.8737, 2.3321 Read this stop
- 55Place VendômePlace Vendôme. An octagon of gray-gold palaces, the Ritz on one side, jewelers everywhere else.48.8675, 2.3294 Read this stop
- 66Rue de Rivoli / Tuileries GardenYou've reached the Rue de Rivoli — the long straight street with the endless stone arcades. Arch after arch after identical arch, running...48.8651, 2.3281 Read this stop
- 77Champs-ÉlyséesThis is the Champs-Élysées — say it shahnz-eh-lee-ZAY — nearly two kilometers of avenue running straight uphill to the Arc de Triomphe,...48.8690, 2.3095 Read this stop
- 88Arc de TriompheThe Arc de Triomphe. Fifty meters of stone triumph, standing in the middle of the busiest roundabout in Europe.48.8738, 2.2950 Read this stop
- 99The RevealYou made it — from a wedding cake of an opera house to the biggest roundabout in Europe, straight through the middle of one lawyer's...48.8738, 2.2950 Read this stop
Stories first
Every stop is built around people, conflict, ambition, and consequences—not a plaque read aloud.
Most of it is true. The extra mischief is just a wink at the end, but the story is what carries the walk.
Have questions? Just ask.
Curious about something you heard? Want to know more about a place? Ask us anything — we have a lot to say. It's more fun when it's a conversation.
Ready?
Download the app, head to the starting point, and press play. The stories start themselves.
Get the AppBefore you go
Quick answers
How much is this tour?
$9.99 as a one-time purchase in the iOS app. The Paris city pack is $14.99 and includes every currently available tour in the city.
Can I use it with spotty cell service?
Download the tour audio on Wi-Fi before leaving. Cached narration plays without streaming; map tiles and other online features may still need a connection.
Do I have to start at a specific time?
No. Start when it suits you, pause for a detour or meal, and resume later. Check the opening hours of any venue you personally plan to enter.
Are admission tickets included?
The purchase covers the Bad Historian audio experience. Transportation, food, and admission to third-party attractions are not included.
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The Grand Boulevards: The Man Who Demolished Paris
$9.99 · one-time