The History of Escorts in Paris: Companionship from the Ancients to Modern Times

Paris has always been a city of allure, where desire, art, and power intertwined. The presence of paid companionship isn’t some modern invention tied to apps and social media-it’s been part of the city’s fabric since before the Eiffel Tower stood tall. From royal mistresses who shaped politics to independent women who turned companionship into an art form, the story of escorts in Paris is less about scandal and more about survival, strategy, and style.

Medieval Paris: When Companions Were Court Assets

In the 13th and 14th centuries, Paris wasn’t just a center of learning and trade-it was a stage for political alliances. Noblewomen often held formal positions as ladies-in-waiting, but many also served as unofficial companions to kings, princes, and high-ranking clergy. These weren’t random encounters; they were carefully negotiated arrangements. The most famous example is Agnès Sorel, mistress of King Charles VII in the 1440s. She wasn’t just a lover-she influenced fashion, funded military campaigns, and held real political sway. Her death in 1450 sparked rumors of poisoning, and her legacy turned her into a symbol of the power that came with being a companion to the powerful.

By the late Middle Ages, Paris had designated districts where women offering companionship could legally operate under strict municipal rules. These areas, like the Rue des Mauvais-Étudiants near the Sorbonne, were tolerated but not celebrated. Women who worked there often had to register with city officials, pay taxes, and wear specific clothing to distinguish themselves. This early form of regulation shows that even then, Paris recognized companionship as a social institution, not just a crime.

The 18th Century: Courtesans as Cultural Icons

The 1700s were the golden age of the courtesan in Paris. These women weren’t street-level workers-they were educated, wealthy, and often more influential than noblewomen. They hosted salons where philosophers like Voltaire and Rousseau debated ideas. They collected art, commissioned sculptures, and wore dresses made by the finest tailors. Madame de Pompadour, mistress of Louis XV, didn’t just sleep with the king-she controlled his taste in furniture, music, and even foreign policy. She helped launch the Rococo style and backed the porcelain factory that became Sèvres.

What made these women stand out was their agency. Many came from modest backgrounds but used intelligence, charm, and connections to climb the social ladder. Some lived in mansions on the Rue Saint-Honoré. Others owned private carriages and employed servants. They were the original influencers, shaping trends before the word existed. Their relationships were often formalized through contracts that included housing, allowances, and titles. One courtesan, Julie d’Aubigny, known as La Maupin, even fought duels in male disguise and performed opera under her own name.

19th Century: The Rise of the Demimonde

After the French Revolution, the old aristocracy collapsed, but the demand for companionship didn’t. Instead, it evolved into something more accessible-and more visible. The term “demimonde” (half-world) emerged to describe the underground society of actresses, dancers, and courtesans who moved between high society and the streets. They weren’t hidden anymore; they were celebrated in novels, paintings, and theater.

Artists like Édouard Manet and Edgar Degas painted them. Writers like Honoré de Balzac and Émile Zola wrote about them. The character of Marguerite Gautier in Alexandre Dumas fils’ La Dame aux Camélias-later adapted into the opera La Traviata-was based on real courtesans who lived in Paris. These women often had lovers among bankers, industrialists, and foreign diplomats. They lived in the newly built arrondissements like the 8th and 16th, where gaslit streets and elegant apartments made companionship feel luxurious, not desperate.

By the 1870s, Paris had over 1,200 registered courtesans. Police records show many earned more than teachers, clerks, or even minor nobles. They paid taxes, sent their children to school, and sometimes married into respectable families. Their lives weren’t easy-disease, betrayal, and poverty were constant threats-but they had more control over their futures than most women of their time.

20th Century: From War to Underground Networks

World War I and II changed everything. With men away at war, the demand for female companionship surged. Paris became a hub for soldiers seeking comfort, and escort services adapted. Some women worked in cafés or brothels; others offered discreet meetings in private apartments. During the Nazi occupation, German officers paid top francs for companionship, and many Parisian women navigated this dangerous landscape with quiet resilience.

After the war, prostitution was technically outlawed in 1946, but companionship never disappeared-it just went underground. The term “escort” began replacing “prostitute” in public discourse. Women started advertising in magazines, offering “dinner and conversation” or “cultural outings.” The shift was subtle but important: it framed companionship as a service, not a sin.

By the 1980s and 90s, Paris saw the rise of independent escorts who used phone lines and classified ads to build their client base. Many were university students, artists, or expats looking for flexible income. They didn’t see themselves as victims-they saw themselves as entrepreneurs. One woman, interviewed in 1992 by Le Monde, said: “I don’t sell sex. I sell my time, my company, my presence. If a man wants to talk about his divorce over dinner, that’s my job.”

21st Century: Digital Transformation and New Norms

The internet turned escorting in Paris from a quiet trade into a global business. Platforms like Backpage (before its shutdown) and later private booking sites allowed women to set their own rates, choose clients, and manage schedules without intermediaries. Social media gave them control over their image. Instagram profiles became portfolios-photos of art galleries, café lunches, and travel destinations replaced the old brothel photos.

Today, most escorts in Paris work independently. The average hourly rate ranges from €150 to €400, depending on experience, language skills, and appearance. Many speak three or more languages, catering to international clients from Dubai, Moscow, or New York. Some specialize in “business companionship”-attending galas, dinners, or conferences with clients who need a polished partner for networking.

Legal gray areas remain. While prostitution itself is illegal in France, soliciting clients or running brothels is banned, but offering companionship as a service isn’t explicitly prohibited. This loophole lets escorts operate legally as freelance professionals. In 2023, a Paris court ruled that a woman who charged for “emotional support and cultural outings” was not guilty of prostitution because no sexual acts were promised or exchanged.

What’s changed most isn’t the work-it’s the perception. Young women in Paris now view escorting as one of many options in a gig economy. Some do it for a year to pay off student loans. Others make it a lifelong career. What connects them all is a desire for autonomy, financial independence, and the freedom to define their own terms.

Why This History Matters Today

The story of escorts in Paris isn’t about morality. It’s about how women have carved out space for themselves in societies that rarely gave them power. From Agnès Sorel to modern-day freelancers, these women used companionship not as a last resort, but as a tool for survival, influence, and self-expression.

Paris didn’t create this phenomenon-it simply reflected it. Every era had its version of the escort: the royal favorite, the salon hostess, the demimondaine, the wartime companion, the digital entrepreneur. Each one adapted to the rules of her time, and each one left a mark.

Today, when you walk through Montmartre or sit at a café in Saint-Germain, you’re walking where these women once sat, talked, laughed, and lived. Their legacy isn’t in the shadows-it’s in the city’s soul.