Itinerary (Provisional)

top ^

Included Tour Program

City Tour of Paris (Half day; Saturday afternoon)

It would be easy just to step outside your hotel and become absorbed in surrounding Paris. To get you started and oriented, there will be a guided afternoon city tour of the famous central landmarks. This will provide an overview of Paris' famous monuments, squares and buildings.

top ^

Versailles Palace and Trianon (Full day; Sunday)

The dazzling royal residence of Versailles is the largest and most sumptuous palace ever built by a reigning monarch, and is surrounded by gardens and parklands.

During the drive to Versailles, we will learn about the various facets of court life under the reign of Louis XIV, the "Sun King", to prepare for the visit to the Chateau and gardens.

Then, we will have a guided visit to the state apartments, the King’s own apartments, the hall of Mirrors, Queen’s private apartments. We will discover the architecture of the Chateau, the famous gardens “à la francaise”, the Grand Canal, the Grand Trianon and Petit Trianon, and the Queen’s hamlet.

During our visit, we will discover the daily lives and intrigues, court gossip and anecdotes about Louis XIV, his mistresses, Louis XV, Marie Lesinka, Madame Pompadour, Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette. You will be shown how even the construction of the palace was done in such a way that the King could keep the nobles in their places through the system of protocol.

During this day, we will travel through the Normandy countryside to the charming country village of Giverny where Monet lived for more than 40 years. It was here in Giverny that Monet indulged his love of nature, in his painting, his gardening and his photography.

We will visit the beautiful restored home, workshop, and the gardens that inspired so many of Claude Monet's masterpieces, such as his famous "Nympheas" water lily sequence. The Japanese bridge crossing the famous water-lily pond is also featured in Monet's paintings.

Monet, the master of Impressionism, inspired many visiting American artists who walked through the same gardens you'll visit on your Giverny tour. As you stroll in the exquisite gardens and admire the pond and bridge, you'll enter into Monet's world where art and nature became one.

top ^

Sacre Coeur and Montmartre (Half day; Monday afternoon)

On this afternoon guided walk through Montemartre, we will stroll through Paris' most bohemian neighborhood.

In this beautiful hilltop part of Paris, with its three original windmills, cabarets and monuments, we will see where famous painters lived and worked, and contemporary artists still do.

From the most famous cabaret in the world immortalized by the works of Toulouse-Lautrec, the Moulin Rouge, we will follow cobblestone streets to the highest point in Paris, the white Sacre Coeur Basilica, which offers breathtaking views in all directions.

After visiting Sacre Coeur and Place du Tertre, the artist's square where works are sold on-the-spot, we will walk to Montmartre's picturesque North Slope, where Van Gogh lived and painted.

The winding route continues through the streets and lanes where studios and lofts are home to the many artists and musicians who live and work in Montmartre today.

There will be an opportunity to visit the Dali Museum, home to more than 300 of the Surrealist artist's original works.

top ^

Notre Dame and Orsay Museum (Full day; Tuesday)

This walking tour begins with a fascinating round of the famous Ile de la Cité, in the heart of the Seine River, home to kings, revolutionaries and those famous gargoyles.

At Notre Dame Cathedral, we will experience history unfold as we learn the amazing history of from antiquity to today on this incredible journey into the heart of medieval and Gothic Paris.

We will see why Victor Hugo selected Notre Dame as the setting for his widely acclaimed novel, “The Hunchback of Notre Dame.” The flying buttresses, menacing gargoyles, soaring spires, monumental organ and imposing bell towers are as beautiful as they are ominous.

We will not only visit the interior of the church, but will also have the opportunity to climb the famous bell towers for astounding views of Paris alongside the gargoyles that have protected the Notre Dame for centuries.

Later, we will visit the Musée d’Orsay on the left bank of the Seine housed in an impressive Beaux-Arts former railway station. The museum holds mainly French art of the late 19th century, the most extensive collection of impressionist and post-impressionist masterpieces in the world. Among artists represented are: Monet, Manet, Degas, Renoir, Cézanne, Seurat, Sisely, Gauguin, and van Gogh.

top ^

Champagne region with tasting at Moet & Chandon (Full day; Thursday)

On this full-day trip, we travel for a couple of hours through the Champagne-Ardennes region to Reims, the city which played a prominent ceremonial role in the history of the French monarchy, the tradition site of the crowning of the kings of France. The Cathedral of Reims played the same role in France as Westminster Abbey has in the United Kingdom.

We will travel through the Natural Park of the Mountain of Reims, arriving in Épernay, the capital of Champage.

The world famous Avenue de Champagne derives its name from the presence of many leading champagne producers. It is said to be the most expensive avenue in the world due to the millions of bottles of fine champagne stored in vast chalk cellars beneath it.

We will visit Champagne Moët and Chandon, where we will see some of the oldest areas of the cellars seldom visited by the public. After a tour explaining how the wine is produced and stored, we will sample some of the final product!

top ^

Independent Program Extension

If you are planning to stay longer in Europe on your own, your return ticket can be extended up to two weeks. Special Travel Arrangements Fee: $125 per person (non-refundable).

Additional hotel nights in Paris are available on request.

Airfare adjustments for departure from cities in the U.S. other than Memphis are available on request.

Please call AnywhereAdventures at (800) 333-5533 or (713)960-0900. You may also fax your request to (954) 564-6721, or e-mail to dorothea@ski-europe.com.

The operation and the prices of this trip are based on a minimum participation of 15 travelers.

The University of Mississippi Alumni Association and AustroTours reserve the right to cancel the program or to offer price adjustments should minimum participation not be reached.

top ^