TourTruth score 6.9 out of 10
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Detroit French History Self-G guided Audio Tour
TourTruth score 6.9 out of 10
Average
3 reviews · Rated on 1 provider · How we score
- Detroit
- 6 hrs
- Updated November 2, 2026
Explore Detroit’s French roots with a self-guided audio tour that brings the city’s colonial history and cultural heritage to life.
About this tour
Explore the layers of Detroit’s French past on a self-guided audio journey through the city. Founded in 1701 as Fort Pontchartrain and a French trading post, Detroit remained part of the French Empire until 1760, then passed to British rule before becoming American in 1795. Its French identity endured, and French was spoken in the city into the 1840s.
With the SmartGuide app, hear the story of the people and places connected to this often-overlooked history, along with efforts to preserve what remains of French Detroit’s cultural heritage. Listen from the comfort of home or your hotel, then choose whether to visit all the points of interest in one day or focus on a few. As you approach each location, the app alerts you and begins the narration. This Detroit French history audio tour lets you explore at your own pace; transportation and a tour of Ste. Anne Basilica are not included. Download the tour and discover the French roots woven into the city.
Highlights
- Trace Detroit’s beginnings as the French colonial outpost of Fort Pontchartrain
- Hear how Detroit changed hands from France to Britain and then the United States
- Discover efforts to preserve the city’s French cultural heritage
- Listen at home or visit the points of interest at your own pace
What's included
Included
- SmartGuide app and French History of Detroit audio tour
Not included
- Transportation to the starting point
- Tour of Ste. Anne Basilica
Ratings on each provider
The ratings and review counts each booking site shows for this tour.
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View on ViatorViator
4.00 / 5 · 3 reviews
Important information
- Self-guided tour; transportation is not included
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- You can listen at home or visit the points of interest; the app plays narration when you are near each location
- A tour of Ste. Anne Basilica is not included, but may be arranged separately
Frequently asked questions
How long is the tour?
The tour duration is 360 minutes.
Is this a guided tour?
No. This is a self-guided audio tour in the SmartGuide app.
What is included?
The SmartGuide app and the French History of Detroit audio tour are included.
Is transportation included?
No. Transportation to the starting point is not included.
Is a tour of Ste. Anne Basilica included?
No. A Basilica tour is not included, but you can arrange one separately.
How this score is calculated
This score is based on one provider. Viator rates it 4.00 from 3 reviews. We place that rating among all Viator ratings and weight it by its review count. If the tour is found on another provider later, both ratings are combined.
How the score works and rating distribution in Detroit
- Each provider rating is turned into a percentile: the share of that provider's ratings it beats, weighted by review counts.
- Listings on different providers are combined in proportion to their review counts.
- Tours with few reviews are pulled toward the average until more reviews come in, so a handful of perfect reviews can't top the list.
- The result is shown from 0 to 10: this tour scores 6.9.
Provider rating distribution in Detroit
How many tours in Detroit have a provider rating at or below each value. The dashed line is this tour.
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- GetYourGuide
- Viator
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