Historic Brothels of Paris

Today Paris is known as the city of love, but that sentimental vision of Paris is strictly post-World War II. Before that, Paris was the big, exciting city--and of course, the city of *sex*! It was the city of girly shows, of famous, glamorous beauties (respectable and not)--and of brothels. Paris' "maisons closes"--"closed houses" as opposed to street-walking--were one of its great attractions. There were 177 legal ones in the city when they were closed down by the government in 1946. There were tawdry ones, like the one where Toulouse-Lautrec lived and painted. Gay (and kinky!) ones, like the ones Proust visited and describes in his masterpiece, The Remembrance of Things Past. And there were super-elegant ones, with antique furniture and a high-end clientele, including the Prince of Wales.

Come visit the glamorous brothels of Belle Époque Paris, where VIPs, Champagne —and fantasies—were found. Follow Andrew & Edith into this other world, and they will tell you all the sexy secrets of the brothels of Paris!

Parisian native Edith de Belleville was an attorney at law for many years, but her passion for Paris and its history led her back to university (at the age of 50) to get her official tour guide license. Deeply inspired by Parisian women of the past, Edith decided to write a book, in French, entitled The Beautiful Rebels of Paris (Belles et Rebelles, Editions du 81 ). Edith also teaches Jewish heritage in Paris at University Gustave Eiffel (Marne- la- Vallée), and has just finished writing a book in English which will be published soon, Tea with Coco Chanel, adventures of a modern- day Parisienne. 

Prof. Andrew Lear is a renowned expert on same-sex relations in Greek and Roman antiquity. During his academic career, he taught at Harvard, Pomona College, and NYU. In recent years, he has founded Oscar Wilde Tours, the LGBTQ history and culture tour company and Shady Ladies Tours, a women's history and culture tour company. He is also working with actor/author Stephen Fry on a podcast about the "Scandals and Secrets of London's National Portrait Gallery."

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