Ticket and audio tour on smartphone

Who this option is really for

It serves a specific situation, and I prefer to name it rather than sell the option to everyone. You arrive at 1:30 p.m. on a Tuesday. The free guided tour at 11:00 a.m. has already passed, the one at 3:00 p.m. would make you wait an hour and a half on the square, and you don’t feel like crossing the transept while reading information panels. This ticket fills that gap exactly: a commentary in your ear, available the minute you enter, without depending on a schedule.

It also serves those who hate groups. A guide moves at their own pace; the audio stops when you stop. In front of the double tomb of Louis XII and Anne of Brittany, where the transi below holds people longer than they had planned, it’s a real advantage. However, if you can time your visit for 11:00 a.m. or 3:00 p.m., the free human-guided tour remains superior: I say this without hesitation on guide, audio or alone.

How it works, in practice

You book, receive your access, and install the WeGoTrip app on your phone. Do this at home, not on the square: downloading audio content at the foot of the basilica on a Saturday, with the neighbourhood’s network, is at best ten minutes wasted. Also, bring your own headphones—they are not provided—and make sure your battery is charged. On site, the ticket gives you access to the necropolis like any other entry ticket; the audio is yours to start whenever you want.

Honesty about reviews

The displayed rating is 5.0. It is based on a single review. I won’t turn this into an argument: a single rating says nothing about the consistency of a service. Next to it, the standard ticket has a 4.6 rating from 442 reviews, which is a completely different level of certainty. If you choose this product, take it for what it is: a new offering, where the ticket part is the same as everywhere else, and the audio part remains largely untested. I’ve included what we know in the review of the audio tour.

What audio can’t replace

No commentary, human or recorded, will make you see what isn’t there. The kings’ bodies are not beneath the gisants; they have been mixed in the crypt ossuary since 1817. A good audio guide will tell you this; a bad one will leave you in doubt. If you want to arrive already knowing this, read who is buried here before you go: the visit will be more interesting, no matter which option you choose.

Book the ticket with audio tour

To compare the three ways to visit, everything is laid out on the booking hub.

Frequently asked questions