Welcome Traveller!
Good to have you here. You’ve opened the Royal Scandals and Secrets Quest of Paris! First good decision of the day. The Royals of France have been living here for more than a thousand years.
So as you can imagine, Paris has many ghosts of Royals. Normally that is not a problem. Yet today they are fighting. Each other. Even though they are all family. I believe they simply want to be listened to. So…. You are going to be the therapist of the Royals of France today! Lucky you.
Obviously, this is not a simple task, since you will have to determine whether some of their stories are true or not. All with one goal: discover the true answer to the Master Question.
To start, read the introduction tutorial. Don’t waste any time!! Hurry up. These are Royals we are talking about.
Good luck, Traveller.
Kim
Map
Please scroll to the left and right
♢ Coordinates: 48.8049, 2.1204
♢ Address: Place d'Armes
♢ Opening Times: Tue–Sun 9 AM to 6:30 PM
♢ Price: 21
♢ Coordinates: 48.8980192, 2.0960388
♢ Address: Place Charles de Gaulle
♢ Opening Times: Mon-Sun 10 AM to 5 PM
♢ Price: 6
♢ Coordinates: 48.8049, 2.1204
♢ Address: Place d'Armes
♢ Opening Times: Tue–Sun 9 AM to 6:30 PM
♢ Price: 21
♢ Coordinates: 48.8980192, 2.0960388
♢ Address: Place Charles de Gaulle
♢ Opening Times: Mon-Sun 10 AM to 5 PM
♢ Price: 6
♢ Coordinates: 48.8049, 2.1204
♢ Address: Place d'Armes
♢ Opening Times: Tue–Sun 9 AM to 6:30 PM
♢ Price: 21
♢ Coordinates: 48.8557933, 2.3125934
♢ Address: Hôtel des Invalides, 129 Rue de Grenelle
♢ Opening Times: Mon-Sun 10 AM to 6 PM
♢ Price: 15
♢ Coordinates: 48.8656331, 2.3212357
♢ Address: Place de la Concorde
♢ Opening Times: Open 24 hours
♢ Price: Free
♢ Coordinates: 48.8665119, 2.3233736
♢ Address: 2 Place de la Concorde
♢ Opening Times: Mon-Sun 10:30AM-7PM
♢ Price: 13
♢ Coordinates: 48.8634916, 2.3274943
♢ Address: Pl. de la Concorde
♢ Opening Times: Mon-Sun 7AM-9PM
♢ Price: Free
♢ Coordinates: 48.8529682, 2.3499021
♢ Address: 6 Parvis Notre-Dame - Place Jean-Paul II
♢ Opening Times: Open every day 8AM-6:45PM, Sat-Sun until 7:15PM
♢ Price: Free
♢ Coordinates: 48.8480667, 2.339308
♢ Address: Jardin du Luxembourg
♢ Opening Times: Mon-Sun 8AM-6:15PM
♢ Price: Free
♢ Coordinates: 48.8560114, 2.3454953
♢ Address: 2 Boulevard du Palais
♢ Opening Times: Daily 9:30AM-6PM
♢ Price: 13
♢ Coordinates: 48.8606111, 2.337644
♢ Address: Rue de Rivoli
♢ Opening Times: Wed-Mon 9AM-6PM Thu + Fri 9PM
♢ Price: 22
♢ Coordinates: 48.8606111, 2.337644
♢ Address: Rue de Rivoli
♢ Opening Times: Wed-Mon 9AM-6PM Thu + Fri 9PM
♢ Price: 22
♢ Coordinates: 48.8649723, 2.3378061
♢ Address: 8 Rue de Montpensier
♢ Opening Times: Mon-Sun 8AM-10:30PM
♢ Price: Free
♢ Coordinates: 48.8657591, 2.341196
♢ Cool: This equestrian statue stands as a monument to Louis XIV's victories and his embodiment of absolute monarchy in France.
♢ Secret: It was originally destroyed during the French Revolution.
♢ Coordinates: 48.8571541, 2.3409479
♢ Cool: Henri IV’s is known for his efforts to stabilize France after the Wars of Religion.
♢ Secret: Henri IV’s statue was the first equestrian statue to be erected in Paris.
♢ Coordinates: 48.8560114, 2.3454953
♢ Address: 2 Boulevard du Palais
♢ Opening Times: Daily 9:30AM-6PM
♢ Price: 13
♢ Coordinates: 48.8549, 2.3475
♢ Address: Île de la Cité
♢ Opening Times: Always Open
♢ Price: Free
♢ Coordinates: 48.8529682, 2.3499021
♢ Address: 6 Parvis Notre-Dame - Place Jean-Paul II
♢ Opening Times: Open every day 8AM-6:45PM, Sat-Sun until 7:15PM
♢ Price: Free
♢ Coordinates: 48.8531445, 2.3482353
♢ Secret: Charlemagne was crowned in nearby Notre-Dame.
♢ Coordinates: 48.8564826, 2.3524135
♢ Address: 5 Rue Lobau
♢ Opening Times: Visits possible once a week (twice in summer).
♢ Price: Free
♢ Coordinates: 48.8556164, 2.365526
♢ Secret: Louis XIII was an incredibly spoiled brat!
♢ Coordinates: 48.8482711, 2.3372934
♢ Address: 15 Rue de Vaugirard
♢ Opening Times: It's a government office!
♢ Price: You can visit the park for free
♢ Secret: Anne d'Autriche played a significant role in the early years of the reign of her son, Louis XIV.
♢ Coordinates: 48.8480667, 2.339308
♢ Address: Jardin du Luxembourg
♢ Opening Times: Mon-Sun 8AM-6:15PM
♢ Price: Free
♢ Coordinates: 48.8443653, 2.4364781
♢ Address: Avenue de Paris
♢ Opening Times: Mon-Sun 10 AM to 6 PM
♢ Price: 13
“Glad to know you are on board!”
Mr Sterces
S2D Butler
“Unleash the Royals!”
Kim
Lady of S2D
“Unleash the Ro…
Before you can finish you own thoughts you see a sort of hologram map with what seems like a family tree. Mhm. Everything is blurry.
Perhaps you need to unlock them?”
You
A smart owl
Royal Family Tree
Please unlock all characters
Uncle / Brother
Son of Louis
Son of Jean
Son of Charles
King
King
King
King
Wife
Family of the brother of the King
Family of the King
Son of Louis XIV
Son of Louis
King
King
Siblings
King
Surviving daughter
Siblings
“Alright! I will have to unlock each of these character by finding them in Paris. And when I do so I can discover their secrets.”
You
A smart owl
House of
Valois
You have unlocked
R: Isabeau of Bavaria
R: Charles VI
Year
1368
Map
X
Story
2
King
Queen
Open Here
The Secrets of Charles VI
“You are MAD! I will make sure EVERYONE KNOWS!”
Queen Isabeau of Bavaria
Wife
“How dare you!? You are the one so extravagant everyone hates you.”
King Charles VI
Husband
- Nickname ‘The Mad’
- Psychiatric disorder of Glass Delusion.
- Had 44 Mental Health Crises
- Killed 5 people during a rage of psychosis
- Was locked inside during his rampages
- Refused to wash himself for 5 months
- Was unable to reign
- Couldn’t tell his mistress and his wife apart
- Rumored to be a sorceress and being the cause of Charles mental illnesses?
YES (G) OR NO (R) - Was so extravagant they had to reframe doors
- Was both beautiful and hideous according to sources
- Gave Charles VI a mistress
- Louis I, Charles’s brother, became her lover
- Befriended John the Fearless, who had killed her lover
- Became one of the Villains of France
- Disinherited her only surviving son after he killed John the Fearless
“Wow. That is wild. Sometimes it’s difficult to imagine that so many years ago people also had these kinds of Netflix drama. But alas they did.”
“Oh yes I am in front of the
L: Conciergerie and on the L: Île de la Cité!
Let’s see what the connection is to the Royals.”
You
A smart owl
Location
Tap on your current location
Saint Germain en Laye
Location
48.8980192, 2.0960388
Place Charles de Gaulle
Built in
1124
Visitable?
Yes! Daily open from 10:00 – 17:00
Another royal residence. The oldest part, visible today, was built by Henry’s father again: Francis I. But Henry added rooms for his children and his daughterin law: Mary, Queen of Scots. He also built a château close to this one, but it was demolished. But please imagine that this man, with his family, lived here. So, all the drama that happened, might have happened here.
Saint Germain en Laye
Location
48.8980192, 2.0960388
Place Charles de Gaulle
Built in
1124
Visitable?
Yes! Daily open from 10:00 – 17:00
Another royal residence. The oldest part, visible today, was built by Henry’s father again: Francis I. But Henry added rooms for his children and his daughterin law: Mary, Queen of Scots. He also built a château close to this one, but it was demolished. But please imagine that this man, with his family, lived here. So, all the drama that happened, might have happened here.
You have unlocked
R: Agnes d’Anjou
R: Charles VII
Year
1403
Map
X
Story
3
King
Wife
Mistress
The Secrets of Charles VII
“After all I did for you, you are still unfaithful!”
Queen Marie d'Anjou
Wife
“There is a reason I will never crown you Queen.”
King Charles VII
Husband
- Was disinherited after killing an ally of his mother
- Three women helped him on the throne: Joan of Arc, Marie d’Anjou, Yolande of Aragon
- Was never crowned
- Engaged to Louis VII at the age of 9
- She was a secret ambassador for her son in Spain during a pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela
“If you understand it correctly, this man was thrown from the throne. Then his wife put him back on it and he still cheated. Marriages are really something”
“Oh I am in front of the
L: Conciergerie and on the L: Île de la Cité!”
You
A smart owl
Location
Tap on your current location
Saint Germain en Laye
Location
48.8980192, 2.0960388
Place Charles de Gaulle
Built in
1124
Visitable?
Yes! Daily open from 10:00 – 17:00
Another royal residence. The oldest part, visible today, was built by Henry’s father again: Francis I. But Henry added rooms for his children and his daughterin law: Mary, Queen of Scots. He also built a château close to this one, but it was demolished. But please imagine that this man, with his family, lived here. So, all the drama that happened, might have happened here.
Saint Germain en Laye
Location
48.8980192, 2.0960388
Place Charles de Gaulle
Built in
1124
Visitable?
Yes! Daily open from 10:00 – 17:00
Another royal residence. The oldest part, visible today, was built by Henry’s father again: Francis I. But Henry added rooms for his children and his daughterin law: Mary, Queen of Scots. He also built a château close to this one, but it was demolished. But please imagine that this man, with his family, lived here. So, all the drama that happened, might have happened here.
You have unlocked
R: Joan of Arc
Year
1412
Map
X
Story
3
General
The Secrets of Joan
“Ah! I wasn’t the only one who cross dressed!”
Philippe I
Brother of King Louis XIV
“I did it for my safety… At least that’s what I want them to believe.”
Joan of Arc
General
- Cross dressed for her safety or sexuality?
SAFETY (H) OR SEXUALITY (K) - Acted upon visions that were seen as demonic
- 17-year-old female military leader
- Executed for the accusation of heresy at 19-years-old
“Wow. You never knew she was so young and such an intense warrior. If you remember it correctly, she helped Charles VII back on the throne. That was probably the war she was the military leader of.”
“Oh I am in front of the
L: statue of Joan of Arc or the L: Notre Dame!”
You
A smart owl
Location
Tap on your current location
Saint Germain en Laye
Location
48.8980192, 2.0960388
Place Charles de Gaulle
Built in
1124
Visitable?
Yes! Daily open from 10:00 – 17:00
Another royal residence. The oldest part, visible today, was built by Henry’s father again: Francis I. But Henry added rooms for his children and his daughterin law: Mary, Queen of Scots. He also built a château close to this one, but it was demolished. But please imagine that this man, with his family, lived here. So, all the drama that happened, might have happened here.
Saint Germain en Laye
Location
48.8980192, 2.0960388
Place Charles de Gaulle
Built in
1124
Visitable?
Yes! Daily open from 10:00 – 17:00
Another royal residence. The oldest part, visible today, was built by Henry’s father again: Francis I. But Henry added rooms for his children and his daughterin law: Mary, Queen of Scots. He also built a château close to this one, but it was demolished. But please imagine that this man, with his family, lived here. So, all the drama that happened, might have happened here.
You have unlocked
R: Francis I
Year
1412
Map
X
Story
4
King
The Secrets of Francis I
“?”
???
???
“?”
Joan of Arc
General
- “?”
“?”
“Oh I am in front of the
L: Saint Germain en Laye or L: Hotel de Ville!”
You
A smart owl
Location
Tap on your current location
Saint Germain en Laye
Location
48.8980192, 2.0960388
Place Charles de Gaulle
Built in
1124
Visitable?
Yes! Daily open from 10:00 – 17:00
Another royal residence. The oldest part, visible today, was built by Henry’s father again: Francis I. But Henry added rooms for his children and his daughterin law: Mary, Queen of Scots. He also built a château close to this one, but it was demolished. But please imagine that this man, with his family, lived here. So, all the drama that happened, might have happened here.
Saint Germain en Laye
Location
48.8980192, 2.0960388
Place Charles de Gaulle
Built in
1124
Visitable?
Yes! Daily open from 10:00 – 17:00
Another royal residence. The oldest part, visible today, was built by Henry’s father again: Francis I. But Henry added rooms for his children and his daughterin law: Mary, Queen of Scots. He also built a château close to this one, but it was demolished. But please imagine that this man, with his family, lived here. So, all the drama that happened, might have happened here.
House of
Valois & Medici
You have unlocked
R: Henry II
Year
1519
Map
X
Story
7
King
Wife
Locked
Main mistress
Other mistresses
The Secrets of Henry II
“You chose a 19 year OLDER woman over my beloved mother and your wife?!”
Queen Margeret of Valois
Daughter
“As if your relationships went any better.”
King Henry II
Father
- Died in a Jousting Tournament due to a lance splinter in his eye.
- Had a 35-year-old mistress when he was 14 years old, Diana de Poitiers remained his partner for the rest of his life.
- Severely punished Protestants, by burning them at the stake or cutting of their tongues.
“Up until now the marriages between all these royals was not at all great. Marriage counseling should have been invented earlier.”
“Oh I remember I am in front of the L: Louvre
or L: Saint Germain en Laye.”
You
A smart owl
Location
Tap on your current location
Louvre
48.8606111, 2.337644
Rue de Rivoli
Built in
16th century
Visitable?
Yes! Wed-Mon 9:00 – 18:00
Wed + Fri – 21:00
The Louvre has been a castle for hundreds of years. The father of Henry II, Francis I, was the one to start the more modern variant of the Louvre. He also made the Louvre his main royal residence. Henry II and his sons continued. Translation: a lot of scandals have happened here.
Saint Germain en Laye
Location
48.8980192, 2.0960388
Place Charles de Gaulle
Built in
1124
Visitable?
Yes! Daily open from 10:00 – 17:00
Another royal residence. The oldest part, visible today, was built by Henry’s father again: Francis I. But Henry added rooms for his children and his daughterin law: Mary, Queen of Scots. He also built a château close to this one, but it was demolished. But please imagine that this man, with his family, lived here. So, all the drama that happened, might have happened here.
You have unlocked
R: Catherine de Medici
Year
1519
Map
6
Story
8
King
Locked
Wife
The Secrets of Catherine
“You were an even fiercer Queen than me. You killed, manipulated and poisoned your enemies and friends without them ever being able to frame it on you.”
Queen Isabeau of Bavaria
Queen
“Thank you”
Queen Catherine de Medici
Queen
- Used the Machiavellian tactics:
– It’s better to be feared than to be loved
– Reputation is everything
– People are not ready for the truth
– Loyalty needs to be constantly scrutinized and bought and resistance to be crushed
– Success = Fortune + free will - Rumoured to have used poisoned gloves to Jeanne d’Albret before the wedding of her son Henry IV and Catherine’s daughter Margaret.
- Rumored to have been a big part of the St. Bartholomew’s Say Massacre, a bloodbath between the Huguenots and Catholics in Paris, where her son said ‘Then kill them all! Kill them all!’
- Had a ‘Flying Squardron’, Ladies in waiting who she used to seduce the men at court.
- Had one of these ladies, Charlotte de Sauve, seduce her daughter Margaret’s husband Henry IV.
- Was the influence behind her three sons and kings
“Catherine de Medici. A Queen with spies, who poisoned her enemies and who was the true influence behind her sons, which were all kings. And that happened 500 years ago. How fascinating.”
“Oh before I forget. I am now either in front of
L: Louvre or
L: Tuileries Gardens!”
You
A smart owl
Location
Tap on your current location
Louvre
Location
48.8560114, 2.3454953
2 Boulevard du Palais
Built in
14th century
Visitable?
Yes! Daily open from 9:30 – 18:00
The Conciergerie was, once the medieval residence of French kings. It was transformed into a prison in the 14th century.
Tuileries Garden
Location
48.8560114, 2.3454953
2 Boulevard du Palais
Built in
14th century
Visitable?
Yes! Daily open from 9:30 – 18:00
The Conciergerie was, once the medieval residence of French kings. It was transformed into a prison in the 14th century.
You have unlocked
R: Francis II
Year
1544
Map
6
Story
9
King
Wife
The Secrets of Francis II and Mary Stuart
“You would’ve been a great King of France.”
Queen Mary Stuart
Wife
“And you a great Queen of France and England.”
King Francis II
Husband
- Was a 15-year-old King
- The Crown was so heavy that nobles had to hold it in place.
- Died young due to an ear condition
- Tried to regain the English Throne from Queen Elizabeth I
- Was found guilty for plotting to assassinate the queen and beheaded for it
- Outlived three husbands
“Oh no this is a very tragic story. He died, she died. Well… All of the people you heard of today have died. So… It’s not that tragic.
It’s crazy to imagine that the whole Medici and Valois family have probably walked here as well. In this place you are standing in right now.”
“When you are done dreaming about it, you also check the location you are at related to Francis II and Mary.
I am in front of
L: Louvre
L: Saint Germain en Laye
L: Statue of Mary.”
You
A smart owl
Location
Tap on your current location
Louvre
Location
48.8560114, 2.3454953
2 Boulevard du Palais
Built in
14th century
Visitable?
Yes! Daily open from 9:30 – 18:00
The Conciergerie was, once the medieval residence of French kings. It was transformed into a prison in the 14th century.
Saint Germain en Laye
Location
48.8560114, 2.3454953
2 Boulevard du Palais
Built in
14th century
Visitable?
Yes! Daily open from 9:30 – 18:00
The Conciergerie was, once the medieval residence of French kings. It was transformed into a prison in the 14th century.
You have unlocked
R: Margeret of Valois
Year
1531
Map
6
Story
10
Queen
Husband
Locked
The Secrets of Margeret of Valois
“We found you in bed with the Duke of Guise!!”
King Henry II
Father
“I am sorry, pappa. Don’t tell mother. She will hit me.”
Queen Margeret
Daughter
- Was not a virgin at her wedding
TRUE (A) OR FALSE (O) - Was the first wife of Henry IV
- Had a secret romance which caused a difficult relationship with her mother and brothers
- Was called a Nymphomaniac
- A story was made up that she was forced to marry, to justify the annulment of their marriage 27 years later.
- She was accused of incest with one of her brothers.
- Divorced Henry IV
“This is what I call Love Island + Temptation Island in the medieval times. Too bad they didn’t have reality tv in the medieval. It would have been lovely!”
“Ah right! Henry IV and Margaret must have had their wedding at the Notre Dame. How special is that?”
I am in front of
L: Notre Dame”
You
A smart owl
Location
Tap on your current location
Notre Dame
Location
48.8560114, 2.3454953
2 Boulevard du Palais
Built in
13th century
Visitable?
Yes! Mon-Frid: 7:45 – 19:00
Sat-Sun: 8:14 – 19:30
It might feel like a church just like other churches, but remember that this one is ancient! Margeret of Valois and Henry IV married in front of this church. Why not inside? Well, he was protestant and she was catholic. But still: it happened here in front of the building you are looking at now.
You have unlocked
R: Henry IV of France
Year
1519
Map
6
Story
11
King
Wife No.1
Locked
Wife No.2
Locked
Mistress
Mistress
Mistress
The Secrets of Henry IV
“I made one of my ladies play with your mind in such a way you couldn’t think of anything else…”
Queen Catherine de Medici
Mother in Law
“I didn’t mind it at all…”
King Henry IV
Son in Law
- Converted from the Protestant faith to Catholic Faith
- Had a love hate relationship with Margaret, wife no.1
- Was secretly a great father to his children
- The target of at least 12 assassination attempts
- Insisted his second wife had to raise his illegitimate children
- Often kept multiple mistresses
- Promised to marry two of his mistresses, Gabrielle d’Estrées, and Henriette d’Entragues, which he never did.
“Wow. That is wild. Sometimes it’s difficult to imagine that so many years ago people also had these kinds of Netflix drama. But alas they did.”
“Oh before I forget. I am now in front of L: Henry IV Statue or the Place des Vosges!”
