Stéphane Bern and Lorànt Deutsch take us to Paris in the Middle Ages, to the time of castles, knights and winding little streets. Relive fascinating places that have now disappeared in 3D, and immerse yourself in the heart of a mysterious city, populated by characters with astonishing destinies.

More history documentaries http://bit.ly/3lqyFpY Subscribe!

In this documentary, you will find different 3D reconstructions of Paris in the Middle Ages:

The Viking longships: Did you know that in the Middle Ages the Vikings invaded Paris several times? Lightning raids carried out using exceptional boats, designed to speed across the water as quickly as possible: the famous longships. In the 9th century, it was not rare to come across them on the Seine! These murderous invasions shaped the face of the capital, because from then on the French kings had only one obsession: to protect the city, by surrounding it with ramparts.

The medieval Louvre: To protect Paris, King Philippe Auguste had a 9 meter high enclosure built. It completes this defense system with a military fortress, at the entrance to the city: the Louvre. Today it is the busiest museum in the world, but in 1200 it was a fortified castle known to be impregnable! In its center sits a keep from the revolutionary era: it is the first time that a round tower has been built, and not square or rectangular, as was the rule until then.

Place de Grève: The current square of Paris City Hall was called Place de Grève in the Middle Ages, and it was the favored gathering place for Parisians, particularly for sinister public executions. But it was also already there that the mayor of Paris at the time and his advisors met! In a building that has now disappeared, the House of Pillars, owned by a character as troubled as he was ambitious: Etienne Marcel.

Le Pont au Change: In the Middle Ages, cities were so populated that we couldn't afford to lose even a single square meter... So all the bridges had houses and shops! Those of the Pont au Change were run by money changers, responsible for converting the numerous currencies in circulation at the time. Living on the bridge meant having a “pignon sur Seine”!

The cemetery of the Innocents: In the Halles district there was a fascinating place in the Middle Ages where Parisians met regularly: the cemetery of the Innocents. Surrounded by mass graves where bones rotted in the open air, it accommodated as many living as dead! Because it was the haunt of small street vendors and theater troupes, girls of joy like apprentice alchemists.


00:00 Paris in the Middle Ages
05:00 The Viking invasions
11:00 The medieval Louvre
18:00 End of chivalry and transition to the Renaissance
24:00 Tour de Nesle affair
30:45 History of the House of Pillars
41:10 Public executions
50:02 Queen Margot at the Hôtel de Sens
01:00:14 Credit and the church
01:55:03 Taverns and students
02:05:16 Strategy of Charles V to liberate France
02:07:45 Conclusion of the medieval immersion


Presentation: Stéphane Bern, Lorànt Deutsch.
Director: Nicolas Ferraro
© Morgane Production 2020