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DAY
1 DEPARTURE FROM NORTH AMERICA
Enjoy full meal service on your scheduled wide-bodied flight
to Paris.
DAY
2 ARRIVE PARIS (6 NIGHTS)
We will be met at the airport by our tour manager/guide,
where we will board our own private coach and transfer into
Paris, “The City of Lights.” This afternoon we will take a
Seine River Cruise, which will take us under many of
Paris’ graceful bridges, and past many important landmarks
and monuments along both banks - a perfect introduction to
the beauty of Paris.
DAY
3 PARIS (THE BIRTH OF THE CITY)
This morning we explore the treasures of the
Ile
de la Cite, beginning with a visit to the ethereal and
magical Sainte Chapelle, one of the masterpieces of
Western architecture, commissioned by Louis IX. The tiny
Gothic marvel features 15 of the most spectacular stained
glass windows in Europe, depicting over 1,000 religious
scenes. Our morning continues with a visit to the nearby
cathedral of Notre Dame, begun in 1163 on a spot that
had already been a religious shrine since Roman times. Over
the centuries, the cathedral has been the scene of some of
France's most momentous occasions, including the coronation
of Napoleon. This afternoon we will explore the La Place
des Vosges, the oldest square in Paris.
· Your First Concert Performance will be today
DAY
4 DAY TRIP TO CHARTRES & VERSAILLES
This morning we journey to Chartres and visit Chartres
Cathedral, the jewel in the crown of medieval churches
in Europe. We will tour the Cathedral, which is a testimony
in stone to the religious fervor of the Middle Ages. It
boasts an unrivaled expanse of sculpture, as well as one of
Europe's most impressive collections of stained glass
windows. Our afternoon will include a visit to
Versailles, a palace commissioned by Louis XIV around
Louis XIII’s hunting lodge. Our visit commences as we
explore the ornate State Apartments,
highlighted by the magnificent Hall of Mirrors.
After time to explore the spectacular Gardens
and Fountains at Versailles, we will return to
Paris for the evening.
DAY
5 PARIS
Our morning commences in the Place de la Bastille,
where on July 14, 1789, an angry Parisian mob stormed the
notorious prison and freed the prisoners. We continue with
a visit to the Conciergerie, forming part of the huge
Palais de Justice. This historic building served as a
prison from 1391-1914, including those that awaited their
execution during the Revolution. Highlights of our visit
will include: the superb four-aisled Gothic Hall,
the 11th century Torture Chamber and the 14th
century Clock Tower. This afternoon we will
explore the square with a peaceful name but a bloody
history, Place de la Concorde. This square in the
heart of Paris was the sight of the guillotine, which was
set up for the execution of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette.
· Your Second Concert Performance will be today
DAY
6 PARIS (THE RISE AND FALL OF NAPOLEON)
Our
morning commences at the Arc de Triomphe, a massive
triumphal arch that was commissioned by Napoleon and today
is a symbol of Paris and home to the Tomb of the Unknown
Soldier. We continue with a stroll along the Champs
Elysées, Paris’ most spectacular thoroughfare, which
offers a beautiful look at Parisian life and architecture.
We return to the Place de la Concorde before strolling
through the Jardin des Tuileries, the beautiful
Neo-Classical gardens that lead to the entrance of the
Louvre. We will enjoy a specialist-guided Tour through
the museum, which will include: Leonardo da Vinci’s
Mona Lisa, and many of the finest paintings and
sculpture from Western Civilization. This afternoon we
visit the Hôtel des Invalides, an imposing building
commissioned by Louis XIV for his wounded and homeless
veterans. We will visit the Dome Church, built by
Mansart for Louis XIV in 1676. The church is one of the
finest examples of 17th century French architecture and is
highlighted by the massive Tomb of Napoleon.
This evening we will dine in and stroll through the
Latin Quarter, a section of the city that dates back
to the Roman times and which is generally associated with
artists, intellectuals and political unrest, and a walk
around the Sorbonne, Paris’ oldest university.
DAY
7 PARIS (PARIS OF THE IMPRESSIONISTS)
This morning we will visit the
Musée
d’Orsay,
dedicated to the rich diversity of visual arts from 1846 to
1914, and featuring masterpieces by: Delacroix, Manet,
Degas, Monet, Renoir, Van Gogh,
Cézanne,
Gauguin and Lautrec. Next we will ascend to the top of the
Eiffel Tower, Paris’ most recognizable landmark that
was built for the Universal Exhibition of 1889. This
evening, time permitting, we will ascend to Montmartre,
an area of Paris made famous in the late 19th century as an
artists haunt.
· Your Third Concert Performance will be today
DAY
8 DEPARTURE FROM PARIS
Our enjoyable and rewarding tour will come to an end as our
tour manager/guide accompanies us to the airport for the return
flight home.
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