Paris, the city of romance, revolution, and dueling Musketeers, is the perfect destination for history lovers and literary adventurers alike. Inspired by One for All by Lillie Lainoff, this three-day Paris itinerary blends historical landmarks from the age of the Musketeers with classic Parisian experiences. Whether you’re fencing your way through hidden courtyards or indulging in fine French cuisine, this journey through the City of Light will make you feel like a true swashbuckler.
Day 1: Walk in the Footsteps of the Musketeers
Start your adventure with a journey back to the 17th century, exploring sites connected to The Three Musketeers and the real Musketeer regiment.
Morning: Explore the Latin Quarter & Fencing Lessons
Rue de l’Ancienne Comédie (FREE) – This historic street, once home to Cardinal Richelieu’s fencing academy, is the perfect place to start your journey. It’s rumored that Musketeers practiced their swordplay here!
Afternoon: The Louvre & Hidden Passageways
The Louvre Museum ($20 per adult) – Visit the Musketeer wing (Denon Wing) to see 17th-century swords, paintings, and armor. Keep an eye out for Richelieu’s portrait!
Passage des Panoramas (FREE) – Step into this covered passage where secret meetings and duels were once arranged in candlelit salons.
Evening: A Classic Parisian Feast
Le Procope ($40-$60 per person) – Dine at Paris’ oldest café, frequented by Voltaire and revolutionaries, featuring classic Musketeer-era dishes like coq au vin.
Coq au vin is a French dish of chicken braised with wine, lardons, mushrooms, and optionally garlic. A red Burgundy wine is typically used, though many regions of France make variants using local wines, such as coq au vin jaune, coq au riesling, coq au pourpre or coq au violet and coq au Champagne.
Day 2: Royal Intrigue & Secret Paris
Now that you’ve trained like a Musketeer, it’s time to delve into the royal intrigue and espionage that shaped 17th-century Paris.
Morning: The Palais Royal & Hidden Musketeer Secrets
Palais Royal (FREE to visit gardens) – Cardinal Richelieu built this opulent palace, which became a hub of Musketeer intrigue.
Bibliothèque Nationale Richelieu (FREE) – This grand library houses original 17th-century manuscripts and maps used by the Musketeers.
Afternoon: Duels & Dramatic History
Lunch at Chez Janou ($30-$50 per person) – A charming bistro serving classic Provençal dishes, perfect for a hearty Musketeer meal.
Place des Vosges (FREE) – One of Paris’ oldest squares, this was a popular dueling ground during the time of The Three Musketeers.
Evening: Seine River Cruise
Bateaux Parisiens Dinner Cruise ($80-$150 per person) – Enjoy a luxurious evening cruise on the Seine, passing Notre-Dame and the Conciergerie, where many political prisoners (including Queen Anne’s allies) were once held.
Day 3: The Grand Finale – Adventure & Parisian Icons
Your final day in Paris is all about adventure, grandeur, and literary treasures.
Morning: Climb the Eiffel Tower
Eiffel Tower ($15-$30 per person) – No trip to Paris is complete without ascending its most iconic landmark. For a true Musketeer challenge, climb the stairs instead of taking the elevator!
Afternoon: Book Lover’s Paradise
Shakespeare & Company (FREE entry, books for sale) – This famous English-language bookstore is the perfect spot to pick up a copy of The Three Musketeers before heading home.
Lunch at Angelina Paris ($20-$40 per person) – A historic café known for its hot chocolate, a sweet ending to your Parisian adventure.
Evening: Thrilling Adventure – Horseback Musketeer Experience
Horseback Riding in Versailles Forest ($100 per person) – End your trip like a true Musketeer, galloping through the forests where noble duels and secret missions once took place.
Bistrot Richelieu ($40-$70 per person) – A traditional brasserie named after the Musketeers’ biggest rival, Cardinal Richelieu. Why eat here? Offers classic French cuisine, including escargot, duck confit, and steak frites, in a setting fit for a duel of wits.
Where to Stay in Paris
Luxury: Le Meurice ($800+/night) – A 5-star palace hotel fit for royalty, steps away from the Louvre.
Boutique: Hotel d’Artagnan ($120/night) – A Musketeer-themed hotel, affordable yet stylish, in the artistic Belleville district.
Budget: The People Paris ($50/night) – A stylish budget-friendly hostel with private and dorm rooms.
Paris is more than just a city—it’s a living storybook where history, literature, and adventure intertwine. By following this Musketeer-inspired itinerary, you’ll explore hidden dueling spots, secret royal passages, and grand landmarks, all while indulging in the finest French food and culture. Whether you’re an avid reader, a history lover, or an adventure-seeker, this swashbuckling journey through Paris is an experience you’ll never forget.
Read the Book that Inspired the Destination
One for All is a gender-bent retelling of The Three Musketeers, in which a girl with a chronic illness trains as a Musketeer and uncovers secrets, sisterhood, and self-love.
Tania de Batz is most herself with a sword in her hand. Everyone thinks her near-constant dizziness makes her weak, nothing but “a sick girl.” But Tania wants to be strong, independent, a fencer like her father—a former Musketeer and her greatest champion. Then Papa is brutally, mysteriously murdered. His dying wish? For Tania to attend finishing school. But L’Académie des Mariées, Tania realizes, is no finishing school. It’s a secret training ground for new Musketeers: women who are socialites on the surface, but strap daggers under their skirts, seduce men into giving up dangerous secrets, and protect France from downfall. And they don’t shy away from a sword fight.
With her newfound sisters at her side, Tania feels that she has a purpose, that she belongs. But then she meets Étienne, her target in uncovering a potential assassination plot. He’s kind, charming—and might have information about what really happened to her father. Torn between duty and dizzying emotion, Tania will have to decide where her loyalties lie…or risk losing everything she’s ever wanted.
Lillie Lainoff’s debut novel is a fierce, whirlwind adventure about the depth of found family, the strength that goes beyond the body, and the determination it takes to fight for what you love. Includes an author’s note about her personal experience with Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome.
