France: History of Chemistry and Society

Airport Transfer

On-ground Briefing & 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. 

Left Bank Walking Tour - See the Pont Neuf, Quartier Latin, Sorbonne, Pantheon, and Jardin de Luxembourg.

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

Covered Passages Walking Tour - Frozen in time since the 1800s, these glass-roofed & paved arcades were originally created for the nobles to enjoy a stroll and a little shopping away from the dirt and the rabble of the streets. Enter the world of the Palais Royal. After learning about the palace’s scandalous & glamourous history, you’ll be taken through the gardens and the covered arcades that Philippe d'Orléans created to satisfy the nobles Parisians libertine way of life. From there the Palais Royal’s gardens will be a treat for the eyes with colorful flower beds, arcaded walkways, and rows of linden trees. A walk past Napoleon’s former stock exchange building will bring you to a historic candy shop with ties to Marie Antoinette. You can still buy her favorite chocolates today! Glimpse into a cozy cacophony of old stamps and postcards, bistros, ethnic eateries, and plenty of historic charm.

Chocolate Experience - In this  2.5 hour workshop, students will experience hands-on how the production of chocolate works and will learn more about the chemistry related to it. Tastings of specialty chocolates will be included in the event, and each participant will leave with a beautiful box of the chocolates they have produced as a team.

Musée Curie - The Musée Curie is a historical museum focusing on radiological research.

Sorbonne Tour - Since the 13th century, the name “Sorbonne” has been considered worldwide as one of the most prestigious centers of intelligence and culture, and of science and of the arts, representing an age-old knowledge that spans the centuries and one that resounds to this day with the promise of excellence.

Conciergerie - The first royal palace, with its magnificent original 14th cent. Gothic rooms. The tour also explores its use as a prison during the French Revolution, and its most famous prisoner: Marie-Antoinette.

Museum Arts and Trades - See Pascal’s calculating machine, Lavoisier’s laboratory instruments, Blériot’s plane, the very first televisions, cameras and computers, Foucault’s pendulum… a unique trip through the history of science and technology.

Free Time

Cruise on the Seine River - Enjoy an early dinner cruise on the Seine river which will allow you to discover the heart of Paris.  You'll embark on an entirely glass-encased restaurant for truly enjoyable meal. 

Eiffel Tower (climb up with lift) - An object of discord, desire and fascination, the Eiffel Tower never fails to impress since 1889.

Louvre Museum - Home to Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa, the Louvre is considered the world's greatest art museum, with an unparalleled collection of items covering the full spectrum of art through the ages.

Perfume Workshop - In this  2.5 hour workshop, students will first be taken in a tour that explains the perfume making process from the chemistry point of view. Then there will be a chance at making one's own perfume to take home in a 50ml bottle. Just the perfect French souvenir!

Train to Reims (approx. 1 hr)

Day-Trip to Reims and Champagne - Embark on a full discovery of the city of Reims and explore the Champagne area. Take part in a guided visit of Reims cathedral, followed by a guided tour and tasting at world famous Grande Maison de Champagne Vranken Pommery.

The visit will continue to Reims Mountain Grand Cru Vineyards, Champagne Tasting Lunch,  & Cellar Tours at a Champagne Grower's Family Domain. Lastly, visit of the Production Site and enjoy a second Champagne tasting.

Train to Paris (approx. 1 hr)

Guided Visit at Institut Pasteur - After 30 years spent at the Ecole normale, in 1888 Louis Pasteur moved to a specially designed apartment at the Institut Pasteur. The apartment that has since become the Pasteur Museum is remarkably evocative of the personality of its former occupant and rich in wonderfully preserved collections.

Arc de Triomphe & Champs-Élysées - Walk through the “Pont des Invalide” to reach the other side of Seine river. The Arc de Triomphe is perhaps the most iconic of all French monuments and without a doubt the most triumphal. Built between 1806 and 1836, it is iconic in style and sculpture with  its delicate design and engravings. Instantly recognizable and deeply evocative of the military history of France, the Arc de Triomphe provides a glimpse into France’s social past as well as spectacular views across central Paris.

History of Parisian Chemistry Tour (approx 2 hrs) - This tour will give you an insight into the role of chemistry in the Latin Quarter between 1850 and today.  

Montmartre Walking Tour - This is the “artists neighborhood”. Retrace the footsteps of artistic legends such as Dali, Degas, and Hemingway, among several others. The Moulin Rouge and Sacre Coeur Cathedral are especially famous attractions that have been attracting visitors for decades.

Free Time

Farewell Dinner and Program Closing

Airport Transfer

Depart Paris, France for Home