Paris Art Immersion

Arrive in Paris and transfer to our beautiful hotel, located in Saint-Germain-des-Prés, just steps away from the Seine and bustling cafes, galleries, and shops. Enjoy a welcome reception at the hotel followed by dinner at a nearby restaurant.

Attend our first lecture at the hotel. Then depart for a visit to the Musée Carnavalet, housed in a beautiful 16th-century mansion. The exhibits on the history of Paris help set the context for our week in this dynamic city. After lunch, rediscover the stunning Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris, which reopened in December 2024 after a monumental restoration from the fire of 2019. We end the day with a visit to La Galerie Dior, where designer Christian Dior established his now famed fashion house in 1946. Dine together this evening at a local restaurant.

Travel outside Paris to Giverny, where Impressionist painter Claude Monet lived and worked from 1883 until his death in 1926. Tour the artist’s former home and elaborate gardens, the setting of his famed water lily series. In the Musée des Impressionnismes Giverny, see exhibits that highlight the history of the Impressionist movement. After a late lunch in Giverny, return to Paris and view Monet’s massive water lily paintings at the Musée de l'Orangerie. Dinner is on our own.

Enjoy an early morning visit to the current modern art exhibition on display at the Fondation Louis Vuitton, a massive art museum and cultural space, located on the western edge of the city in the Bois de Boulogne. Opened in 2014, the museum’s building was designed by Canadian-American architect Frank Gehry. After lunch, continue to the Pinault Collection, named for the 10,000-piece private collection of modern and contemporary works housed in the domed Bourse de Commerce building that was painstakingly restored by Japanese architect Tadao Ando over the course of a decade. Tonight, we enjoy an after-hours backstage tour of the Palais Garnier and admire its ceiling painted by Marc Chagall. The remainder of the evening is at leisure.

Drive to the outskirts of the city and visit the Maison Caillebotte. Often referred to as the “other Giverny,” this impressive estate, which served as the family villa of French Impressionist Gustave Caillebotte, opened to the public in 2024 after a 20-year renovation. Continue to the picturesque village of Barbizon, located on the edge of the Forêt de Fontainebleau and the birthplace of the artistic movement known as the Barbizon School. Visit the local museum that explains the history of the movement and admire the scenes that inspired these artists. Return to Paris and enjoy dinner at a local restaurant.

Begin today with a visit to the Fondation Giacometti, housed in a private mansion and dedicated to the works of the famous Swiss sculptor who lived and worked for forty years in Montparnasse. In the afternoon, we visit the Musée Gustave Moreau, which exhibits the works of the Symbolist painter. End the day at the whimsical Musée des Arts Forains, a private museum of funfair and fairground objects located within the Pavillons de Bercy. Dinner is on our own.

Head to the Musée Picasso Paris before the building opens to the public for a guided tour. Next, at the Musée de la Chasse et de la Nature, see a unique exhibit housed in a Parisian mansion that examines the relationship between humans and the living world through the lens and historical traditions of hunting. Lunch and the remainder of the afternoon are free for independent exploration. This evening, gather for a festive farewell dinner on a private Seine boat cruise.

After breakfast, check out of the hotel and transfer to the airport for flights home.