I'm so delighted and excited to be hosting an art tour to France next year. Having spent many years visiting France on an annual basis and staying a couple of months when I exhibited there, I can't wait to get back and be engulfed by all the magnificent art and the inspirational environment.
Below you will find our itinerary. Have a read through and if there are any questions then please do not hesitate to contact myself or Fran Holland. Fran is the Tour Manager while I'm the art voice. You won't be able to stop me!
As with any tour there are a few terms and conditions so please take a look at these so you are familiar with the procedure and arrangements.
Look forward to seeing you on our tour.
TOUR ITINERARY
Leg 1: Luminous Paris
There's a reason artists and writers have always flocked to Paris. Known as the 'City of Light', the vibrant, artistic energy and the sheer magnificence of it never fails to surpass all expectations.
Enjoy the sights and sounds of everyday Paris while visiting the famous museums including the Musée du Louvre, Musée d'Orsay and Centre Pompidou. Meander through the narrow cobbled streets of Montmartre and along the Seine checking out dealer galleries and local artists along the way.
Let the culture and charm of Paris envelop you. We'll show you the best places to soak up some Parisian chic, the best food streets and eats – and even decode the menu!
ITINERARY Sunday 3 June – Sunday 10 June
DAY 1 WELCOME TO PARIS
Welcome to Paris and your hotel in the vibrant area of the Latin Quarter. And what better way to get to grips with your surroundings than a stroll through the neighbourhood followed by drinks and dinner at the oldest restaurant in Paris – Le Procope.
DAY 2 MUSÉE DU LOUVRE
The Louvre – it's magnificent, and extremely vast, so we'll make sure you see the best of the best. Beginning with the Renaissance artists we'll work our way through the different periods, breaking for lunch in the beautiful Tuileries Gardens. Then it's back to the Louvre to view more of the great masters – Rembrandt, Titian and Delacroix to name just a few.
DAY 3 MUSÉE D'ORSAY & MUSÉE D'ART MODERNE
We begin our day at the spectacular Musée d'Orsay. The Musée d'Orsay has an incredible collection of impressionist and post impressionist paintings and is the most amazing venue to view the work of Monet, Renoir, Van Gogh, and Cézanne. Then onto the Musée d'Art Moderne which houses an extensive collection of Fauvist and Cubist works among others.
DAY 4 GIVERNY - MONET
It's time to leave the hustle and bustle of Paris and head to the picturesque home and gardens of Monet in Giverny. Here we will see the water lily lakes Monet spent years perfecting before he re-created them onto canvas. Arriving back in Paris, you can explore the sights, take in some shopping at Galeries Lafayette or perhaps a tour of the newly renovated Opera House.
DAY 5 L'ORANGERIE AND MONTMARTE
The recently renovated L'Orangerie Gallery houses more work from the impressionists. The highlight is the two oval rooms housing Monet's water lily paintings. Absolutely breathtaking! But what would be a tour of Paris without visiting the place made famous by artists such as Toulouse-Lautrec and Modigliani – Montmartre. Here we amble along the cobblestone streets watching local artists at work.
DAY 6 POMPIDOU
Today we head for the fabulous Pompidou Centre of Modern Art. This centre houses an unparalleled collection of 20th century European paintings and sculptures including modern art pioneers like Matisse, Picasso, Miro and Duchamp. We will also look at the works of the great American artists Pollock, Twombly and many others. This area is also full of fantastic boutique shops, so now's the time to take in some retail therapy or some of the other great monuments of Paris.
DAY 7 THE SIGHTS AND SOUNDS OF PARIS
First stop, the bustling market in Rue Mouffetard. Then it's a meander through the Pantheon and the magnificent Luxembourg Gardens. Next we take a stroll down the Rue du Seine and take in dealer art galleries followed by an afternoon tipple at the famous La Palette café (a haunt for artists and bohemians). Tonight we farewell the tour with two of France's pleasures; food and wine.
DAY 8 FAREWELL TO PARIS
For those heading back to New Zealand or other destinations – farewell. For those continuing on with the second leg of the tour to the South of France then climb aboard the TGV and check out the scenery on our way to Avignon.
Leg 2: South of France – an artist's paradise
Picturesque villages, intriguing history, glamorous cities, and sophisticated beaches, Southern France has it all. Add to that glorious weather, the soft light and vivid landscapes and you can't go wrong.
This area has inspired many a famous artist, from Renoir and Van Gogh to Cézanne and Picasso. A place where the infamous Sud de France light has enabled these artists to capture hues found only in mother nature.
And with delicious regional food and local wine, there can be few better places than the South of France.
ITINERARY Sunday 10 June – Saturday 16 June
DAY 1 AVIGNON
Avignon is ancient, full of history, life, and music. You could wander the narrow streets inside the fortified walls for days without tiring of them. So that's exactly what we'll do! Once you have been charmed by the courtyards, private mansions, and renovated facades, we will then be in awe all over again when we visit the Palais du Papes and the Petit Palais that houses some breathtaking Renaissance works. After all that it's only right we celebrate being in the South of France with a welcome dinner.
DAY 2 AVIGINON - ST REMY & ARLES – VAN GOGH DAY
Today it's all about Van Gogh! It's time to head to the beautiful village of St Remy where we visit the hospital where Van Gogh spent one year of his life and created some of his most famous works. Travelling on a little further to Arles where Van Gogh made his home, we will wander through the colourful town drinking in the sights that Van Gogh bought to canvas. For those of you who are keen, we may even try our hand at some open air sketching!
DAY 3 NICE – MUSÉE D'ART MODERNE
It's all aboard the TGV for the glamorous French Riviera and the town of Nice. You'll have time to wander the old town before we visit Nice's fantastic Museum of Modern Art. Here we will focus on the work of contemporary artists such as Yves Klein and Jasper Johns, Roy Lichenstein and Nicholas de Stael and talk about their influence on current artists.
DAY 4 ST PAUL DE VENCE
Today, an inland trip high above the Riviera coastline to St Paul de Vence – home of the superb Fondation Maeght. Outside in the gardens are sculptures by Giacometti, Miro and Arp to name a few. Inside we will focus on works by Miro, Braque and Matisse and examine the influence Southern France had upon their work. A short distance away we visit the town of Vence, to view the simply stunning Chapelle de Rosaire by Matisse.
DAY 5 MUSÉE MATISSE & MUSÉE CHAGALL
The Matisse Museum in the plush suburb of Cimiez is housed in a beautiful villa and contains the largest collection of Matisse's work. We will look at why Matisse is such an important artist who embodies the colour and energy of the South. Walking distance away is the Musée Chagall featuring a large collection of paintings and stained glass from the famous Russian artist, Marc Chagall.
DAY 6 VALLAURIS, CAGNES SUR MER
It's another fabulous trip up the coast of the Cote d'Azur to the small village of Vallauris where Picasso used to go every year to make his ceramics. The town is still full of potters and painters. Further down the coast is the town of Cagnes sur Mer where we will visit the home of the famous impressionist – Renoir. And it wouldn't be France if we didn't indulge in the local food and wine at our farewell dinner tonight.
DAY 7 DEPARTURE DAY
Farewell to those heading back to New Zealand or on to other destinations.
You can choose to join us for either leg or both.
Costs and Inclusions
PARIS
$3,585 per person twin share ($1,250 single supplement)
- 7 nights accommodation
- Breakfast daily
- 2 group lunches
- 2 group dinners
- An afternoon vino at La Palette Café
- Entry to galleries and sites – namely, Louvre, Musée d'Orsay, Musée d'Art Moderne, L'Orangerie, Pompidou
- Excursion to Giverny
- Transport in and around Paris
- Information pack
- Services of Nicky Foreman – Artist Tour Guide
- Services of Fran Holland – Tour Manager
SOUTH OF FRANCE
$3,450 per person twin share ($1,075 single supplement)
- 6 nights accommodation (including 2 nights Avignon, 4 nights Nice)
- Breakfast daily
- 2 group lunches
- 2 group dinners
- Entry to galleries and sites – namely, Palais du Pape, Van Gogh hospital, Musée d"Art Moderne, Fondation Maeght, Musée Matisse, Musée Chagall, Home of Renoir
- TGV to Nice
- Excursions to St Remy, Arles, St Paul de Vence, Vence, Vallauris, Cagnes sur Mer
- Transport in and around Avignon and Nice
- Information pack
- Services of Nicky Foreman – Artist Tour Guide
- Services of Fran Holland – Tour Manager
PARIS AND THE SOUTH OF FRANCE
$7,175 per person twin share ($2,325 single supplement)
- 13 nights accommodation
- Breakfast daily
- 4 group lunches
- 4 group dinners
- Entry to galleries and sites – (as per Paris and South of France itineraries)
- TGV to Avignon/Nice
- Excursions to Giverny, St Remy, Arles, St Paul de Vence, Vence, Vallauris, Cagnes sur Mer
- Transport in and around Paris, Avignon and Nice
- Information pack
- Services of Nicky Foreman – Artist Tour Guide
- Services of Fran Holland – Tour Manager
Not included in all tours
- International flights to and from France
- Transfers on day of arrival and day of departure
- Any other meals outside the itinerary
PAYMENTS
- A non refundable deposit of $750 is required
- If you are partaking in both tours then a $1200 deposit is required
- Final payment is due by 2 March 2012
- We reserve the right to alter the tour price due to currency
fluctuations and circumstances beyond our control
ABOUT US
NICKY FOREMAN
Nicky is the "art" voice of our tour. Apart from being a respected and well-known artist with a career spanning 20 years, she balances her full-time art practice with teaching art history classes. Nicky continues to show regularly with dealer galleries in New Zealand and has also exhibited in Vallauris and St Tropez. She has been travelling to France on a regular basis for the past ten years and is keen to share her passion for art and all things French.
FRAN HOLLAND
Fran has been in the event industry for the past 15 years organising everything from car launches, wine review events, to fashion road shows and golf tours. Her skills in meticulous planning and attention to detail will ensure your trip runs smoothly. Fran has also travelled extensively throughout Europe over the past 10 years so you're in safe hands!
For further information contact:
Nicky Foreman
phone: 09 524 0626
email: nickyforeman@xtra.co.nz or
Fran Holland
phone: 09 368 4030
email: fran@white.gen.nz
