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The Earful Tower: Paris

The Earful Tower: Paris

By: Oliver Gee
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Summary

 The Earful Tower is a weekly podcast all about Paris, hosted by Australian expat Oliver Gee. With a huge variety of guests - from cooks and comedians to TV hosts and tour guides - this show will transport you to the City of Lights and make you feel like you've met the characters that make it shine.The Earful Tower 2024 Art Social Sciences Travel Writing & Commentary
Episodes
  • The 19th arrondissement of Paris (with a local)

    The 19th arrondissement of Paris (with a local)
    May 11 2026
    Welcome back to "The 20 Kingdoms", a new season of The Earful Tower podcast. As you probably know, there are 20 districts in Paris, known as arrondissements. They may as well be kingdoms, at least for this podcast season, where I'll visit each kingdom and introduce you to someone who truly loves it. That's the whole concept. This isn't me recommending cafes or restaurants in different parts of town. This is true locals telling us about the soul of their kingdom and what they like to do there. The goal is to give you a very real look at each of these districts from a local's perspective. And for the 19th Kingdom, the second episode of the season, you'll meet Ben McPartland, the presenter and producer of the Talking France podcast, which is made by The Local France news website here in Paris. He loves this "genuine neighbourhood" of an arrondissement, and I met him at the edge of the Bassin de la Villette for a pint of beer, which he also loves. Here's what he had to say. Mentioned in this episode: Drinks, Food & Canal Hangouts Paname Brewing Company A floating brewery on the Bassin de la Villette with an easygoing, almost London-style pub atmosphere. Great beers, lively crowds, and one of the best sunset views over the canal. 41 Quai de la Loire, 75019 panamebrewingcompany.com L'Atalante Just up the Canal de l'Ourcq from Paname Brewing, this spot is known for its strong craft beer selection and excellent IPAs. 26 Quai de la Marne, 75019 latalante-paris.com La Rotonde Historic circular building at Stalingrad with restaurants, terraces, and drinks right on the edge of the canal basin. Ideal meeting point before exploring the neighborhood. 6–8 Place de la Bataille de Stalingrad, 75019 Bars Inside Buttes-Chaumont In summer, the park fills with tiny outdoor bars and terraces tucked among the hills and pathways — perfect for an afternoon drink after wandering the park. Music, Film & Culture Philharmonie de Paris One of Paris's great modern concert halls, famous for its dramatic silver architecture and panoramic rooftop terrace overlooking the city. 221 Avenue Jean Jaurès, 75019 philharmoniedeparis.fr Le Zénith Large live music venue inside Parc de la Villette hosting major touring artists and rock concerts. 211 Avenue Jean Jaurès, 75019 le-zenith.com MK2 Cinemas Twin cinemas facing each other across the canal. A favorite local spot for late-night screenings and films in original English versions. 7 Quai de la Loire & 14 Quai de la Seine, 75019 mk2.com Cité des Sciences et de l'Industrie Massive science and industry museum loved by Parisian families, with exhibitions, immersive installations, and huge open spaces. 30 Avenue Corentin Cariou, 75019 cite-sciences.fr On the Water Marin d'Eau Douce Rent small electric boats and cruise the Canal de l'Ourcq yourself — especially beautiful from spring through early autumn. 37 Quai de la Seine, 75019 marindeaudouce.fr Kayaks & Rowboats Locals can often access free kayaking and rowing sessions around the Bassin de la Villette on weekends during warmer months. Summer Canal Swimming Every summer, sections of the Bassin de la Villette transform into open-air swimming areas, with races, floating pools, and seasonal events. Parks & Walks Parc des Buttes-Chaumont Wild, cinematic, and hilly — often called the most beautiful park in Paris. Expect cliffs, bridges, waterfalls, a lake, and incredible Sacré-Cœur views. Parc de la Villette Huge contemporary park blending architecture, green space, music venues, museums, and canal life into one sprawling cultural district. **************** This episode brought to you by The Earful Tower Tours. Come join us in the Marais, Montmartre, or the Latin Quarter. Our Walking Tours are exceptionally highly rated online and are the best way to experience this podcast in real life. The Earful Tower exists thanks to support from its members. For just $10 a month you can unlock almost endless extras including bonus podcast episodes, live video replays, special event invites, and our annually updated PDF guide to Paris. Membership takes only a minute to set up on Patreon, or Substack. Thank you for keeping this channel independent. For more from the Earful Tower, here are some handy links: Website Weekly newsletter Walking Tours Music: Pres Maxson
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    28 mins
  • Following the Rose Line to the Paris observatory

    Following the Rose Line to the Paris observatory
    May 8 2026

    Let's take a deep dive into the Paris Rose Line. This is an updated re-release of the time I did another A to Z season, where A was for Arago, the name of the scientist who helped map out the Paris meridian line (François Arago (1786-1853)).

    In this episode, I explored the "Rose Line" (as it was called in the Da Vinci Code), sought out the bronze medallions along the streets of Paris, through the Louvre, and into the Paris Observatory.

    Featured is the voice of Nicolas Lesté-Lasserre, a science historian and the community manager of the Observatoire de Paris. He showed me around this incredible 17th century institution, which is usually closed to the public.

    Find more, including beautiful pictures of the observatory, on The Earful Tower's website.

    The episode in this music is from Pres Maxson, featuring an original song called Le Meridien de Paris.

    This episode brought to you by The Earful Tower Tours. Come join us in the Marais, Montmartre, or the Latin Quarter. Our Walking Tours are exceptionally highly rated online and are the best way to experience this podcast in real life.

    The Earful Tower exists thanks to support from its members. For just $10 a month you can unlock almost endless extras including bonus podcast episodes, live video replays, special event invites, and our annually updated PDF guide to Paris.

    Membership takes only a minute to set up on Patreon, or Substack. Thank you for keeping this channel independent.

    For more from the Earful Tower, here are some handy links:

    Website

    Weekly newsletter

    Walking Tours
    Show More Show Less
    36 mins
  • The INIMITABLE Arc de Triomphe: Five things you didn't know

    The INIMITABLE Arc de Triomphe: Five things you didn't know
    May 4 2026

    It's another new season - and we're doing a new take on the A to Z of Paris. This time, A stands for Arc de Triomphe. A big thanks to the team at the Arch, who opened this majestic monument just for me! I had the whole thing to myself, did an interview on top - and then made this episode.

    You'll hear my wife Lina as my sidekick as I share about 10-15 cool things about the Arch, at least five of which you definitely didn't know.

    Find the video we mentioned on my YouTube page here: https://www.youtube.com/theearfultower

    This episode brought to you by The Earful Tower Tours. Come join us in the Marais, Montmartre, or the Latin Quarter. Our Walking Tours are exceptionally highly rated online and are the best way to experience this podcast in real life.

    The Earful Tower exists thanks to support from its members. For just $10 a month you can unlock almost endless extras including bonus podcast episodes, live video replays, special event invites, and our annually updated PDF guide to Paris.

    Membership takes only a minute to set up on Patreon, or Substack. Thank you for keeping this channel independent.

    For more from the Earful Tower, here are some handy links:

    Website

    Weekly newsletter

    Walking Tours
    Show More Show Less
    30 mins
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