France: French Language & Culture

Airport Transfer

Check-in, Relax & Refresh

Orientation Walking Tour - The group will become oriented with their neighborhood, the public transportation systems, nearby pharmacies, markets, ATMs, etc. Additionally, an in-depth safety briefing will be provided for what to do in case of an emergency.

Welcome Dinner - The group will be taken for an authentic dinner with a wide variety of menu options to cater all diets.

Paris Walking tour - See the Latin Quarter, Luxembourg garden, and Pantheon.

Sainte Chapelle - The Sainte-Chapelle is a royal chapel in the Gothic style, within the medieval Palais de la Cité. It was the residence of the Kings of France until the 14th century.

Notre-Dame & Île de la Cité - (see from outside as site is still closed)

Free Time and Cultural Immersion

Free weekend in Paris

Suggestions:

Victor Hugo Museum - The writer's house museum located where Victor Hugo lived for 16 years between 1832 and 1848.

Père Lachaise Cemetery - Among the famous people buried here are Molière, Jacques-Louis David, Frédéric Chopin, Marcel Proust, Oscar Wilde, Edith Piaf, and Jim Morrison.

Free weekend in Paris

Suggestions:

Victor Hugo Museum - The writer's house museum located where Victor Hugo lived for 16 years between 1832 and 1848.

Père Lachaise Cemetery - Among the famous people buried here are Molière, Jacques-Louis David, Frédéric Chopin, Marcel Proust, Oscar Wilde, Edith Piaf, and Jim Morrison.

Morning Class

Lunch Break

Montmartre Walking Tour - This area is primarily known for its artistic history and for the white-domed Basilica of the Sacré-Cœur on its summit.

Morning Class

Lunch Break

Cooking class

Day trip to Versailles

Versailles - This is a former royal residence built by King Louis XIV located in Versailles, about 12 miles west of Paris. It is one of the greatest achievements in French 17th century art. Access the whole estate of Versailles (Palace, Estate of Trianon and the gardens) and to the exhibition "Louis XV, Passions of a King".

Morning Class

Lunch Break

Basilica of St. Denis - Discover this  magnificent abbey church with a lot of light thanks to its numerous stained glass windows. The most charming part of the Basilique is the ambulatory, the choir, and the crypt, which are parts of the museum in which travelers can also visit the burial sites of the French Kings.

Train Transfer to Bayeux

Stop at Giverny

Arrive in Bayeux

D-day Beaches Tour

Return in Bayeux

Mt. Saint Michele

Return to Paris

Morning Class

Lunch Break

Luxembourg Palace and Gardens - The Palace is now the residence of the Senate and will be seen from outside. The Gardens were created in 1612 by Marie de' Medici are famous for their beautiful fountains, tree-lined promenades, and sculptures.

Guided tour of Pantheon - Since 1885, the year of Victor Hugo’s death and burial in the Pantheon, it has been the last resting place for the great writers, scientists, generals, churchmen, and politicians who have made the history of France. The crypt houses the tombs of more than 70 illustrious figures including Voltaire, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Emile Zola, Alexandre Dumas, Pierre and Marie Curie and, from 1 July 2018, Simone Veil.

Biblioteque St. Genevieve - Sainte-Geneviève Library is a public and university library located at 10, place du Panthéon, across the square from the Panthéon, in the 5th arrondissement of Paris.

Louvre Museum - This is the world's most-visited museum, and a historic landmark in Paris. It is the home of some of the best-known works of art, including the Mona Lisa and the Venus de Milo.

Arc de Triomphe - The Arc de Triomphe honors those who fought and died for France during the French Revolution and the Napoleonic Wars, with the names of all French victories and generals inscribed on its inner and outer surfaces. Under its vault lies the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier from the First World War.

Morning Class

Lunch Break

Train transfer to Nimes (approx 3 hours)

Orientation Walking Tour - The group will become oriented with their neighborhood, the public transportation systems, nearby pharmacies, markets, ATMs, etc. Additionally, an in-depth safety briefing will be provided for what to do in case of an emergency.

Walking tour of Nimes - Nîmes is a compact town with several impressive Roman sights and a great museum, along with cute narrow streets in the historic center.

Nimes Maison Carree - The so-called Maison Carrée or “square house” is an ancient Roman temple which represents a nearly textbook example of a Roman temple as described by the architectural writer Vitruvius.

Nimes Arena - Nimes Arena is one of the best preserved Roman amphitheatres in the world.

Charted Day trip to Avignon

Stop at Arles - Arles is famed for inspiring the paintings of Van Gogh, which influenced the contemporary art displayed at the Fondation Vincent Van Gogh. Once a provincial capital of ancient Rome, Arles is also known for many remains from that era, including Arles Amphitheatre.

Stop at Pont Du Gard - This ancient Roman Aqueduct was built to allow the aqueduct of Nîmes to cross the Gard river. The Romans who designed this bridge, which stands almost 50 m high and is on three levels – the longest measuring 275 m – created a technical as well as an artistic masterpiece.

Arrive at Avignon

Check-in, Relax and Refresh

Walking tour of Avignon - Explore the history, culture, and customs of Avignon. See the awe-inspiring Palace of the Popes and the remains of famed St. Bénezet Bridge as you learn the history of the city from your expert guide.

Lunch Break

Avignon Palais des Papes Guided Tour - An invitation to discover the Palace of the Popes and the life that was led there in the 14th century through a guided tour illustrated with readings of selected texts.

Free day in Avignon

Return to Paris in the evening (approx 3 hours)

Morning Class

Lunch Break

Musée d’Orsay - This museum is housed in the former Gare d'Orsay, a Beaux-Arts railway station built between 1898 and 1900. The museum holds mainly French art dating from 1848 to 1914, including paintings, sculptures, furniture, and photography.

Morning Class

River Boat Cruise - Accompanied by a guide, you will go back in time on the most beautiful historical axis of Paris: the Seine. You will discover all its secrets through numerous anecdotes.

Eiffel Tower in the evening- This worldwide iconic landmark was named after the engineer Gustave Eiffel, whose company designed and built the tower. Locally nicknamed "La dame de fer", it was constructed from 1887 to 1889 as the centerpiece of the 1889 World's Fair.

Morning Class

Lunch Break

Opéra Garnier - Discover the treasures of the Palais Garnier's public areas, a masterpiece of the 19th century theater art architecture.

Morning Class

Lunch Break

Castel Beranger - Castel Béranger is one of Paris’ most extravagant buildings, built in the Art Nouveau style by Hector Guimard. This residential building is situated in the 16th arrondissement, not far from the Maison de la Radio.

Morning Class

Lunch Break

Free afternoon in Paris

Free weekend in Paris

Suggestions:

Carnavalet Museum - This museum is dedicated to the history of the city. The museum occupies two neighboring mansions: the Hôtel Carnavalet and the former Hôtel Le Peletier de Saint Fargeau.

Musée Nissim de Camondo - The Musée Nissim de Camondo, dedicated to French decorative art from the second half of the eighteenth century, displays some of the finest furniture and objects from the reigns of Louis XV and Louis XVI.

Free weekend in Paris

Suggestions:

Carnavalet Museum - This museum is dedicated to the history of the city. The museum occupies two neighboring mansions: the Hôtel Carnavalet and the former Hôtel Le Peletier de Saint Fargeau.

Musée Nissim de Camondo - The Musée Nissim de Camondo, dedicated to French decorative art from the second half of the eighteenth century, displays some of the finest furniture and objects from the reigns of Louis XV and Louis XVI.

Loire Castle day trip

Free day in Paris

Farewell Dinner and Program Closing

Airport Transfer

Depart Paris, France for Home