The Great Paris Treasure Hunt

by Melle Bon Plan 4 July 2013

written by Melle Bon Plan Published: 4 July 2013Updated: 12 May 2026

This Saturday, July 6, 2013, will be the 8th edition of the Great Paris Treasure Hunt. This fun event, which is free and open to all, will transform the Capital into a vast playground…

At the origin of this event is Jean-Bernard Bros, Deputy Mayor of Paris in charge of tourism, who invites all Paris lovers to join in by promoting a different kind of tourism—one that is closer to Parisians, more friendly, and interactive through innovative initiatives.

The goal of the event: to make discovering the capital a moment of exchange and connection between visitors and residents, French and English speakers, experts and beginners, all in a festive atmosphere. A unique opportunity to walk the streets of the Capital and discover its secrets in a fun and friendly way!

On the agenda: 13 Parisian districts (arrondissements) as well as the city of Saint Ouen are offering over sixty routes covering more than 180 kilometers. Some are accessible to people with reduced mobility (9th, 17th, and 20th districts), and there will also be routes in English in all participating districts.

How it works: as a team, uncover treasures, solve mysteries, and face the riddles. Push open the doors of local shops and boutiques, interview local artisans and shopkeepers, and discover the friendly, local side of Paris.

Participants are invited to pick up where last year’s love riddle left off: following in the footsteps of a young Parisian, Erasme, they discovered in 2012 that he loved a woman… whose identity he had completely forgotten! Today, he wants to understand why she vanished from his memory.
This year, Erasme faces an astonishing phenomenon: a presence in the streets of Paris that calls itself the Oracle claims it can guide him into his past, into his memories, towards this forgotten love story! To solve the riddle, you will have to find the place where our lover’s memory is hidden and perhaps, who knows, the woman he loves?

Of course, it is not necessary to have participated in the 2012 edition to continue this new adventure!

With family or friends, across all generations, participants will crisscross the city searching for clues and setting off to discover unexpected and often unknown places: hidden gardens, narrow alleyways, Paris basements, and other secret passages.

At the end of this day of unusual discoveries, the 13 town halls invite all participants to gather for festive and friendly entertainment over a drink, before the prize-giving ceremony.

Date: Saturday, July 6, 2013

Duration: 2-hour walk

Departures: from 10 am to 1 pm in front of the 13 participating town halls