Introduction:

Stories like Les Misérables endure because they awaken the hero within us all. Victor Hugo’s Paris is a city of struggle and hope, where ordinary people become legends through courage, sacrifice, and compassion. Art and literature remind us that leadership is not just about power, but about the choices we make when faced with injustice, adversity, and the call to serve others. On this four-hour journey, guided by storyteller Peter, you’ll walk in the footsteps of Jean Valjean and his companions, using the Hero’s Journey and 12 archetypes to reflect on your own creative leadership. Will you, like the heroes of Les Misérables, dare to write your own legend—or let the world decide your story?

Timeline & Journey Stages

Time	Stage & Archetype	Location & Les Misérables Connection	Reflection & Art/Story Moment
09:00	Ordinary World (Innocent, Everyman)	Maison de Victor Hugo, Place des Vosges (Hugo’s home, roots of the story)	“Where do you find comfort or routine? What is your ‘ordinary world’ as a leader?”
09:30	Call to Adventure (Explorer, Rebel)	Rue du Chemin Vert (Fantine’s Paris, call to justice and compassion)	“What injustice or challenge is calling you? Where are you being invited to step up?”
10:00	Meeting the Mentor (Sage, Creator)	Jardin du Luxembourg (where Cosette and Marius meet; a place of growth and guidance)	“Who are your mentors? What wisdom or inspiration do you draw from art, story, or people?”
10:40	Crossing the Threshold (Outlaw, Warrior)	Paris Sewer Museum (Valjean’s escape, descent into challenge)	“What risks must you take to protect or serve others? What fears must you face?”
11:10	Tests, Allies, Enemies (Hero, Caregiver, Shadow, Trickster)	Barricade at Rue Saint-Martin (symbolic site of revolution and solidarity)	“Who are your allies and adversaries? How do you build trust and resilience in crisis?”
11:40	Approach to the Inmost Cave (Shapeshifter, Shadow)	Saint-Paul Saint-Louis Church (Cosette and Marius’s wedding, moments of transformation)	“What doubts or transformations do you face? How do you reconcile hope and hardship?”
12:10	Ordeal & Revelation (Magician, Ruler)	Place de la Bastille (site of revolution, legacy of change)	“What is your greatest leadership test? How do you turn adversity into transformation?”
12:40	Return with the Elixir (Jester, Sage)	Café near the Seine (reflection, integration, sharing your new story)	“What story will you now tell? How will you inspire others to lead with compassion and courage?”

Descriptions of the Art & Places

• Maison de Victor Hugo: The author’s home, filled with manuscripts and memorabilia, grounding the journey in the power of story and personal conviction.
• Rue du Chemin Vert: A street echoing Fantine’s struggles and the call to social justice; a reminder that leadership often begins with empathy and action.
• Jardin du Luxembourg: Where Cosette and Marius’s love blossoms, symbolizing hope, growth, and the guidance of mentors.
• Paris Sewer Museum: Walk the path of Valjean’s escape, facing darkness and uncertainty—a metaphor for every leader’s descent into challenge and risk.
• Rue Saint-Martin Barricade: The heart of the student revolution, a place to reflect on solidarity, sacrifice, and the courage to fight for a cause
• Saint-Paul Saint-Louis Church: The site of Cosette and Marius’s wedding, representing transformation, reconciliation, and new beginnings.
• Place de la Bastille: Iconic site of revolution and change, where the legacy of struggle becomes the foundation for future hope.
• Café near the Seine: A space for reflection, storytelling, and envisioning your next chapter as a leader.

Conclusion:

Les Misérables teaches us that leadership is forged in adversity, compassion, and the willingness to stand for what is right—even when the world resists. As you complete this journey, ask yourself: Will you remain a bystander, or become the author of your own legend? Like Valjean, Fantine, and the revolutionaries, true leadership means seeing the suffering around you—and daring to act, create, and inspire.

Takeaway Questions for Creative Leaders

• Where in your leadership journey do you encounter injustice, and how do you respond?
• Who are your mentors, allies, and adversaries—and how do they shape your story?
• What is your “barricade”—the cause or challenge you must face, even at risk?
• How do you transform adversity into wisdom and compassion?
• What legacy or “elixir” will you bring back to your organization or community?

Practical Details

• Duration: 4 hours
• Price: €590 per person (includes guided walk, reflection workbook, and coffee at a historic Parisian café)
• Group Size: Max 10 leaders for deep dialogue
• Includes: Peter’s “Hero’s Journey & Archetypes” map, Les Misérables-inspired reflection prompts, and post-journey leadership insights

This is not a sightseeing tour—it’s an invitation to step into the story, to lead with courage and compassion, and to create your own legend in the heart of Paris.