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BEST OF Curated by 1492

Best of Paris, page 1 bienvenue a paris

a word from your curators No other place quite captures the heart and soul like the city of Paris. It has played a starring role in European history, a muse to films and literature, and is the absolute destination for world travelers seeking life’s finer flavors. It captivates enthusiasts of the arts with a collection of museums from the historic halls of the to the indigenous Musee Quai du Branly. It is an architect’s delight boasting the golden lattices of the to the stately stonework of a Haussmann building. It is the authority of gourmands boasting innovations in the culinary arts while honoring tradition with its legendary breads, delicate pastries and decadent chocolates. Take a leisurely stroll along the or down one of the many winding streets to get lost in the magic of it all, as Paris sparkles just for you, making it no mystery why it has been hailed as the City of Light.

Emmanuel & Roy

Best of Paris, page 2 Best of Paris, page 3 the choice is yours at a glance We thought that a drawing is always easier to understand than words. The following icons will help you to review and compare our offers. Chapter 1 - Iconic Paris 1- Getting familiar with the city of light - part 1&2 2 - Must do Museum included Transportation needed Full day 3 - Hands on 4 - The city of fashion 5 - Around the city 6 - Neighborhoud watch 7 - Titillating taste buds 8 - Romantic escape

Chapter 2 - Off the beaten path Client biography needed Suitable for children Half day 1- Explore the city with fresh eyes 2 - Must do 3 - Hands on 4 - The city of fashion 5 - Around the city 6 - Inspiring figures Distance Chapter 3 - Day trips from Paris from Paris Tickets included Cost 1 - Giverny 2 - The Champagne region 3 - The Loire valley 4 - Normandy + = less than 30 minutes driving time ++ = less than one hour driving time +++ = less than 2 hours driving time Best of Paris, page 4 Best of Paris, page 5 Best of Paris, page 6 chapter 1 iconic paris 1. getting familiar with the city of light

Introduction to the city of lights - part 1

Paris, The City of Lights, is the most visited capital in the world and home to some of the greatest architectural treasures. This tour, as entertaining as it is informative, gives you a great overview of the city. You will start with the emblematic Eiffel Tower, pass by , and make a first stop to the impressive and elegant courtyard of the Louvre. The Ile de la Cité and its narrow paved streets will be your next step until the Gothic and majestic Notre-Dame. Your journey will continue along the Seine river before heading to the hill of where you will enjoy an astonishing view, taking in the whole city at a glance and recognizing the monument you encountered during the tour.

Introduction to the city of lights - part 2

This second part of the tour will be dedicated to discovering a more authentic aspect of Paris. We’ll dive deep in the left bank on the small parallel streets, off the beaten path. There is nothing better than getting « lost » in Saint Germain and its lovely boutiques to feel like a true Parisian. You will discover La Sorbonne, The Panthéon, the lively Marché Saint Germain and the peaceful Luxembourg garden, before heading to the famous Concorde and Champs-Elysées. You will end the day by the Trocadero, to see one last time the lady Eiffel Tower and enjoy its most beautiful view. Paris will be yours by the end of the day.

Best of Paris, page 11 2. must do

Louvre crash course

No visit to Paris is complete without a stop at the Louvre where you will be lead through the most significant collections, weaving a timeline of art and history along the way. Depending on your interests, we’ll move on to what, for many, is the heart of the Louvre: the grand galleries of Italian painting where we’ll encounter some of the greatest works of art in the western world such as Mona Lisa, the Psyche revived by Cupid’s kiss, Winged victory, raft of the Medusa, venus de Milo, Liberty leading the people, the money lender and his wife, la grande odalisque...

Orsay crash course

While the D’Orsay’s collection includes all varieties of wonderful artwork produced from 1848 to 1914, our visit will concentrate primarily on painting. You will admire works such as Manet’s ‘Dejeuner sur l’Herbe’ and Whistler’s ‘Portrait of the Artist’s Mother’ to the Impressionist works of Monet, Renoir, Degas, and Pissarro. You’ll enjoy the spread of Impressionism and its radical departure from traditional schools of painting. Continuing on to the likes of Cezanne and Van Gogh, discovering how early Impressionism morphed into a number of different movements such as Neoimpressionism, Fauvism, and Pointillism, and Cubism. To wrap up you’ll end with these later movements, precursors to Modernism, among them Matisse, Braque, and Gauguin.

Best of Paris, page 13 3. hands on

Cooking class

During this class, you will enjoy a moment of pleasure, relaxation, and sharing while discovering all the secrets of the signature French desserts. The class takes place in a luminous and colorful apartment filled with design furniture and pieces of contemporary art, the home of a French cook who was trained at the famous Alain Ducasse cookery school, in the heart of Paris. Around the large dining table, your cook invites you to play a game of textures, savors and colors, like a painter using her palette. Her imaginative gourmet universe has no boundaries and is full of healthy recipes inspired by French gastronomy. You will learn to cook her creative and gourmet recipes. You will discover magnificent ingredients and you’ll be told about all the chef ’s secrets. The class will end with a tasting of the fruit of your labor.

Bread making class

When it comes to dough-making and bread-shaping, the French are the best! You are invited to step behind the counter of a typical beautiful French bakery, a boulangerie. Curious to know more about yeast, flour and gluten? This hands-on class will show you the techniques and secrets to bake classic French breads in Paris with your home oven. In the course of the class you will make, bake and taste baguettes and time allowing maybe you’ll be able to work on some Croissants. From kneading and working your bread by hand to scarification of bread, in this workshop you will learn the terms, techniques and applications to create your very own boulangerie and baguettes.

Best of Paris, page 15 4. fashion

Perfume workshop History of fashion

The class allows perfume fans to be initiated to the world of composition through an initial hour This introduction to Paris de luxe will cover 300 years of fashion. We will start with a private and a half course. Participants are given a guided tour by a display in front of them, Composing visit of Yves Saint Laurent’s former studio, to feel the soul of the creator in the place he truly their own self inspired scent by following or modifying some proposed compounds. After used to work. Our fashion guide will then share the history of the places where ready to wear that each one takes off with his creation, his booklet of formulas and a diploma. An artistic fashion was born: Palais Royal where the history of the first “couturiers” still echoes, then Place experience, a soft moment of creation. Vendôme for its luxury jewelry boutiques, Faubourg Saint Honoré, where you will understand the rise of the “selliers” and “malletiers”, Rue de la Paix for its fashion designers, milliners, tailors, haberdashers... You will discover the rise of diverse craftsmanship.

Private fashion

A heaven of tranquility, light and space atop the world’s greatest department store, La Suite provides its privileged guests with fashion services. This 400-square-meter apartment features four salons offering a 180° view of the city skyline, a private dressing room for trying on clothes and apparel, and an open- sky terrace overlooking Paris and Montmartre. In this collector’s apartment, fashion stylists will deploy their talents to serve you. Sessions may cover footwear, lingerie, fashion tips for a well-organized wardrobe, discreet apparel suggestions, emerging trends or ultra-chic fashions. Your personal stylist anticipates your expectations and tastes, prepares a selection of items, and invites you to a discreet, friendly session in one of the private salons. Each session includes gourmet treats, as well as alteration and delivery services.

Best of Paris, page 16 Best of Paris, page 17 5. around the city

Personal shopper Behind the scene Versailles castle

Paris is the ultimate capital of Fashion. No stay in the City of Lights would be complete without In 1632, King Louis XIII commissioned a small, intimate hunting lodge on the limits of the a fashion tour. Our professional stylists share insights and tips that will help you accentuate Versailles forest. Four decades later the lodge was gradually transformed into one of the greatest your beauty and personality. From clothing to make up, hairstyle, and accessories, our guides will of Europe. ’s most lavish was given its magnificence by the Sun King, Louis provide comprehensive counseling to help you create and adapt your very own personal style. XIV, calling on the best craftsmen to extend the castle, decorate its 2000 rooms and landscape its Before the visit, you will be asked to answer to a short but precise questionnaire, which will help 8000 hectares of park and garden. You’ll be taken behind the walls of the « Grand Appartements your guide customize the tour to your taste and desires. He or she will select a series of boutiques » and the court’s pomp, to enter the private quarters of their highnesses, Louis XV and Louis in accordance with your answers: from hip fashion stores to high end jewelry or couture dresses. XVI. Explore the rooms where they lived with their families: the dining room, the Cabinet de la Pendule (Clock room), the corner room with the cylinder desk of Louis XV regarded as one of the most outstanding pieces of furniture in the world, the library of Louis XVI and many other Perfume tour treasures will be presented.

This tour will make you smell exclusive, creative fragrances for which the world’s greatest noses have been given total freedom to create truly innovative, personal and very luxurious perfumes. Flea market exploration Nothing is more satisfying than selecting the perfect perfume from an outstanding collection of fragrances. Your guide will help you to test and choose your signature fragrance. For the antique lover, here is an introduction to an intriguing facet of Paris: the famed flea market, Les Puces - a labyrinth of little alleys punctuated by historical wonders. It is organized into 10 markets, each specializing in a time period and style. You’ll be taught how to identify specific antiques houses suited to your preferred period and to your specific interests, such as furniture, chandeliers or tapestries. Whether you need an expert advice or just want to be provided with background information or are looking for rare pieces, we will make each step a smooth and fun process If you want to enjoy some shopping with the feeling of digging through your grandmother’s attic: here is the perfect experience !

Best of Paris, page 18 Best of Paris, page 19 Gardens tour

The garden landscapes of the Right Bank near the Louvre count among the most important historical gardens in Paris and France at large. Sun-dappled, filled with Parisians in the spring and summer and enveloped by a dense architectural context, the adjacent Palais Royal courtyard and Tuileries Gardens are an excellent lesson in how landscape played an important role in the development of royal and French identity from the late Renaissance onward.Venturing outside the city we also offer the possibility of a wide range of very diverse gardens and parks such as Albert Khan Japanese garden in Boulogne, Parc Floral in Vincennes, Domaine National de St Cloud....

Best of Paris, page 20 6. neighborhoud watch

Marais walk

The Marais is one of Paris’ oldest and most dazzling quarters. First developed in the 12th century, , (which means « swamp » and once was one), went from being a royal favorite under Henri IV and Louis XIII, to falling into ruin after the Revolution of 1789. Since its revival in the 1960’s, it has shone as a center of Parisian artistic and cultural life. It is of the only areas that preserves the narrow streets and architectural styles of Medieval and Renaissance-era, as most of Paris was overhauled in the mid-19th century under the direction of III and architect Haussmann. The Marais’ dramatic residences (Hôtels Particuliers), artisans’ boutiques, galleries, lavish squares, and fascinating history are worth reserving at least a half-day of exploration for.

Left bank exploration

In the Middle Ages, the Saint-Germain-des-Prés’ area used to be a village located around the church of its former Abbey. This neighborhood has been a haunt of intellectuals since the 17th century giving it a quintessential atmosphere of the true Paris. The encyclopedists gathered at the Landelle Cafe on the rue de Buci or at Procope, where your guide will take you. Likewise, future revolutionaries as Marat and Danton lived in the neighborhood. Home to a number of famous cafés, such as and Café de Flore, the Saint-Germain-des-Prés area became after WW2 the center of intellectuals and philosophers, actors and musicians.

Best of Paris, page 22 Best of Paris, page 23 7. titillating taste buds

Montmartre discovery Food tour

Montmartre is a hill which is 130 meters high, giving its name to the surrounding district, We offer to take you through the finest food boutiques in Paris. The tour starts with Paris biggest primarily known for the beautiful white-domed Basilica of the Sacré Coeur on its summit. Many farmer’s market displaying a very large variety of local ingredients, you’ll get a glimpse of how artists had studios or worked around the community of Montmartre such as Dalí, Modigliani, Parisians actually choose their food. Then on to a very typical and renowned fromagerie (or Monet, Mondrian, Picasso and Van Gogh and participated in giving this district its very particular cheeseshop), where you will taste several of the 500 existing French cheeses, understanding the « soul ». Since Montmartre was outside the city limits, the area developed into a centre of free- impact of seasonality and aging on their refinement. Afterward, your guide will lead you to a wheeling and decadent entertainment at the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th boulangerie (or bakery), where you will taste different breads, from dense whole-grain to white century. In the popular cabaret the , and at Le Chat Noir, artists, singers and flour baguettes. You will learn the importance of wild airborne levain. At the end of the tour, you performers regularly appeared. will be tantalized by the food of the Gods in a famous chocolate-artist boutique!

Antique hunting/ Art gallery exploration Sweet food tour

Composed of the best furniture and art galleries in France, the Carré is the right As you are in Paris, the capital of gastronomy, don’t even think of resisting the temptation of place to find the best of art in furniture, works of art, mirrors, paintings, design or jewelry in trying out its chocolates and pastries. Spend a couple of hours discovering the sweet pleasure Paris. Our art experts will introduce you to this fascinating world, offering a tour tailored to your of Paris. Chocolate and pastry shops are not only those famous names such as la Maison du needs and interests, organizing meetings with the best professionals. The Carré Rive Gauche has Chocolat, Pierre Hermé, Fauchon... There are also many craftsmen creating high quality become the museums’ favorite supplier. The competent appraisal of the antiquarians at the Carré delicacies hidden in the different Parisian districts. we will take you on a personalized «sweet Rive Gauche is considered a reference to the artistic world today. Now more than ever, curators adventure» through an elegant non-tourist Parisian neighborhood. You will enter the boutique and great collectors can be seen hunting for new pieces near the Rue de l’Université or the Rue de of a chocolatier who creates his own handmade chocolates, visit pastry shops and confectioners, Beaune. In each gallery, you will be personally welcomed by its director or owner and you will be learn more about the history and origins of chocolate, traditional pastries such as Paris-Brest, able to enter before or after the opening hours. tarte Tatin and candies such nougat, calisson d’Aix...

Best of Paris, page 24 Best of Paris, page 25 Wine tour

Follow our wine expert through the best wine bars in Paris, providing you with a perfect activity for your stay in Paris. Learning how to taste wines is an adventure that will deepen your appreciation for both wines and winemakers. Look, smell, and taste - starting with your basic senses and expanding from there, you will learn how to taste wines like the pros in no time! Enjoy a tour of Parisian wine bars, authentic and cozy places in the heart of Paris, where we will taste 3 wines. You will also learn about the French vineyards, their specificities, grapes, blends, and winemaking...

Chocolate tour

Paris is home to some of the world’s best chocolate makers, each has gained notoriety for their special techniques and flavors. This delicious jaunt through Paris will not only entice your palate, but also open your eyes to the complicated science involved in the chocolate making process. We will discuss the rich dessert history associated with Paris, and more importantly discuss the evolution of the Parisian treat, the macaroon. The tour starts in La Maison du Chocolat, continues to Jacques Génin to sample his very famous hot chocolate and ends in the crazy boutique of famous chocolate-artist Patrick Roger, who loves nothing better than summoning gorillas out of chocolate.

Best of Paris, page 26 Best of Paris, page 27 8. romantic escape

Private Riva boat cruise on the Seine

Board a luxurious Venetian water taxi for a tailor-made private cruise down the most beautiful waterway in the world: La Seine. Comfortably seated in its leather-covered banquette in the private salon. The convertible roof may be open or closed as you wish. A refrigerated mini-bar is at your disposal with a music system & Internet access on request. You will discover Paris as never before as your private cruise takes you past the Eiffel Tower, the Musée d’Orsay, the Louvre, Notre Dame de Paris, under the famous Ponts des Arts, past the island of the city and the island of Saint Louis... leaving you with a unique, magical & unforgettable viewpoint on the City of Light.

Paris by night in a vintage French car

To say that Paris is the City of Love is hardly news , but how to truly « capture » the romantic quintessence of it ? A unique experience when the sun comes down and the city starts to light up, board one of our amazing vintage french car and instantly feel the magic of the city.

Best of Paris, page 28 Best of Paris, page 29 chapter 2 off the beaten path 1. explore the city with fresh eyes Paris at war tour Revolution walk

Your guide will lead you to the greatest monuments in Paris but unveil the blood, the sweat Relive the troubled times who built France as we known it. First, visit the square - the and the tears shed in a war that changed the face of the world: WW2. The Eiffel tower will be raiding of this former prison sparked the . Then on to the , your first stop. You will then head to the Military School, the former barracks for the German beautiful prison overlooking the Seine river where Marie-Antoinette was held. Walk by Notre- army, partly covered with very impressive bullet holes. The tour will include the main strategic Dame, listening to the stories of the years following the Revolution that saw chaos, betrayal points where WWII took place in Paris: Les Invalides, the Lutetia hotel, the French Senate, the and murder. Pass by the couvent des cordeliers and the Palais Royal, high places of the French Luxembourg (headquarters of the German Army), the Police prefecture, Notre-Dame, the Opéra revolution and home of the revolutionaries, walk through the Rue Saint Honoré, The Tuileries district (headquarters of the Paris Kommandantur) the Hôtel de Ville, and the Louvre. It will also gardens where the King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette were held and the Concorde, site of bring you to the Mémorial des Martyrs de la Déportation and the Mur des justes in Le Marais decapitations of the Royal couple,among many other people. district. A stop at the before heading to the Champs-Elysées and ending at the . In the path of the Kings of France

Jewish tour Your guide will take you on a tour in the path of the French Kings, from Louis XIV to Louis XVIII.You will start in the Louvre Palace, which was originally a royal residence and even home There has been a Jewish presence in Paris since medieval times. Yet by the end of the 12th of the Royal Treasury. Soon after, you will be in the Conciergerie, admiring the magnificent century, Jews were evicted from Paris for the first time. It wasn’t until the Revolution that they medieval vaulted Hall of the Men-at-Arms dating from its previous life as a royal palace, were fully welcome back, gradually creating a vibrant community, the largest in Europe. We will contrasting with its uses as a during the French Revolution (notably for them Marie-Antoinette). explore the various facets of Jewish history and diversity in the heart of Paris: the Marais district, Your historian guide will then take you to the Vincennes Castle located just outside Paris, an lively cafes, specialty shops, and Kosher restaurants, an Art Deco Synagogue designed by Hector imposing fortified royal residence and a fine example of medieval . The next stop Guimard. Not far from this historical neighborhood is the Shoah Memorial and the Righteous will be the Sainte Chapelle, truly the place of worship of kings, and arguably the most glorious Alley, a place for remembrance and understanding. You will then visit one of the biggest Jewish example of in existence. Art and History Museums, hosted in a gorgeous hôtel particulier from the 17th century. The tour can also include the Nissim de Camondo Museum.

Best of Paris, page 32 Best of Paris, page 33 Birth of Paris

We offer you to unveil the secret history of the City of lights, which started more then 2000 years ago. The tour starts on the peaceful Ile Saint Louis, the cultural, historical and spiritual heart of the city since the beginning when the Gaul tribe of the Parisii settled in 250 BC. Your guide will then lead you to the Carnavalet Museum, dedicated to the city’s history. Then, you will discover the largest Roman site in Paris, the « Arènes », an amphitheater where gladiators and wild beasts entertained the denizens of Lutetia, as Paris was then called. In the Louvre, we shall see the foundations of the original castle which protected the western river access to the capital, and we might finally top that with the impressive Château de Vincennes, a royal fortress (option).

Best of Paris, page 34 2. must do

Catacombs exploration

Behind the scene Louvre tour Everyone knows about the famed Catacombs of Paris, the underground ossuary in located south of the former city gate at Place Denfert-Rochereau). Opened in the late 18th century, the Your guide, one of the exhibition managers at the Louvre, will not only shows you the collections, underground became a tourist attraction from the early 19th century. But very few know but he will explain all the work behind them. How the works of art are transported from one that the official « catacombs » only cover a small section the maze of underground tunnels lying room to another or to other museums? how shows are organized within the collections? How under the city, the « off the beaten path catacomb experience » displays much more... authentic to coordinate the curators, the logistics for the paintings (insurance, transportation, etc.), as well bunkers, flooded corridors, secret rooms, scary ossuaries. After a briefing and short history about as the artists themselves for contemporary art exhibitions. From the auditorium to the basement the forbidden catacombs you’ll be equipped with special gear (coats / boots / helmets / lights) and the restoration workshops, you will have the opportunity to take short cuts and walk passages and going into the Catacombs for an original visit with torches along the mysterious tunnels. that are inaccessible to the public.

Behind the scene Before hours tower of Notre Dame

At the request of Napoleon III, in 1861 Charles Garnier began building a new opera house in « Our Lady of Paris » is a historic Roman Catholic Marian cathedral on the Île de la Cité. Notre Paris. The edifice captured his contemporaries’ imagination with the architect’s opulent, eclectic, Dame de Paris is widely considered one of the finest examples of French Gothic architecture bold design and decorative scheme. The wings are fascinating by their size. The Grand Escalier, in both France and in Europe as a whole, and the naturalism of its sculptures and stained glass whose majesty is enhanced by the richness of its marble, will lead you to the Auditorium and are in contrast with earlier Romanesque architecture. The cathedral treasury is notable for its Grand Foyer. The Grand Foyer’s architecture is inspired by galeries and castles from the classical reliquary, which houses the purported crown of thorns, a fragment of the True Cross and one of era. Its gildings, mirrors are similar to those of the grand Hall of Mirrors of Versailles. The the Holy Nails; all instruments of the Passion and a few of the most important first-class relics. Auditorium, designed like a jewelry box, is the highlight of your visit, including the ceiling painted by Marc Chagall. Underneath the stage, closest to the building foundations, you will find the water tank which runs beneath the edifice and which gave birth to many myths and legends about the and its construction.

Best of Paris, page 36 Best of Paris, page 37 3. hands on

Jewelry making workshop

Led by an innovative young Jewelry designer, you’ll be offered the opportunity to enter the very secretive world of jewelry makers. Working in the Marais, this artist create jewelry pieces that epitomize Parisian luxury. Her mischievous designs have been featured in a number of international magazines including Vogue Paris, French ELLE, Harpers Bazaar and Madame Air France. Enter the studio and for a few hours you will become a jeweler yourself, as you learn the main techniques: melt the metal, give it shape, weld it and then polish it until it dazzles! You will end up with a beautiful and timeless solid silver ring that celebrates romantic love, attachment or friendship.

Flower arranging workshop

Whether you want to arrange flowers at home or are interested in becoming a professional floral designer, this class will give you a great foundation on the technical tricks of flower arranging as well as composition, color, and design. You will be shown how to achieve effortless looking arrangements that have that just-picked-from-the-garden look. You’ll make a French hand-tied bouquet, a wild English garden arrangement, as well as a wedding bouquet and head wreath. Our expert will share her tricks along with basics like the best time to pick flowers for cutting and tricks for helping them last longer.

Best of Paris, page 39 4. fashion 5. around the city

Behind the scene at a fashion house Private graffiti collection

We offer an incredible opportunity to all the fashionistas of the world: a look behind the closed Enter the private collection of the most famous French graffiti collector. The man dressed in door of some of the most famous fashion houses. Secrecy is paramount in this very private and an impeccably elegant suit who welcomes you frequents almost exclusively street artists. He discreet universe which refuses outsiders. And yet we are able to offer the definitive insider’s welcomes you into his impressive warehouse where the best graffiti artists from around the access for a memorable experience. Discover what lies behind the glitzy luxurious boutiques, world have created exceptional and colorful pieces. He guides you through his personal collection experience a guided tour of the workshops, the reserves, the Haute Couture pieces, the historical of “art under pressure”, between the modern lettering and dripping frescos, giving you the houses, the inspiration behind the brands and the famous designers. knowledge to decode them. The man himself is a fascinating character, who will unfold the history of graffiti for you, share the anecdotes of his street friends, and eventually introduce you to the practice of graffiti. Jewelry by artists

Discover the exquisite jewelry made by Picasso, Niemeyer, Orlan, Kapoor, etc. To begin, the After hours at Versailles castle owner of the world’s most beautiful collections of artists’ jewelry, will open the doors to her Parisian apartment and will show you her exceptional jewelry pieces. Her huge white walled In 1632, King Louis XIII commissioned a small, inDmate hunDng lodge on the limits of the apartment, which she shares with her husband (a renown french sculptor) is decorated with Versailles forest. Four decades later under the reign of powerful Louis XIV, the lodge was many works of contemporary art from their close artist friends. Next your guide will take you gradually transformed into one of the greatest palaces of Europe. Alongside the enlargement to the jewelry gallery of Les Arts Decoratifs museum to admire the most magnificent jewelry of the royal residence, the Sun King also bestowed Le Notre with the task of designing a royal by Braque or Calder. And last you will meet the owner of the MiniMasterpiece gallery which garden such as the world had never seen. This tour with allow you to visit the inside of the palace, will be open exclusively for you. The owner will explain her collection and show you her most witnessing the splendor of the court under the famous Sun King. Enter the private residence of surprising pieces of art. the Sun King and discover its secrets like no other before you: by yourself.

Best of Paris, page 40 Best of Paris, page 41 Artist workshop

This artists’s work is influenced by biblical images: apocalypse, downfall, apparitions, divine lights, heaven, and hell. Perhaps in contrast to those archetypes, he also refers to the cultural images that marked his teenage years: urban culture and graffiti, advertising, comic books, etc. These are present in his approach of color, volume, and texture. This great artist makes large and colorful pastel paintings. He will welcome you into this very special place and show you how he works..

Best of Paris, page 42 Best of Paris, page 43 6. inspiring figures

Americans in Paris In the footsteps of Napolean

This tour will give you the opportunity to experience the Paris of Ernest Hemingway, Sylvia Napoléon was the most famous and charismatic emperor of France and he still rises passions Beach, William Burroughs and many of the famous americans who over the years fell in love with throughout the world. This tour will take in his footsteps, charting the rise and fall of his power. the « city of light » and « called it home » for a while. Your guide will take you through the left Your guide will take you off the beaten tracks to the very heart of Paris, to the Palais Royal bank, in the publishers’ district, to discover the places where those writers lived, gathered, and neighborhood - close to his future Imperial palace les Tuileries – then to the church of St Roch, published their books. Throughout the 20th century, Paris was at the heart of the avant- garde which witnessed his inflexible character during the episode of 1795. You will also visit the movements in arts and literature. Many American writers moved to Paris in search of its literary emblematic and magnificent building Les Invalides, which hosts the French Army Museum, to legacy and more freedom to express their ideas. explore his military career. The tour will end in front of Napoleon’s .

Napoleon’s gold

Come to Les Invalides. Napoleon’s Gold will take you around the army museum, to discover and play with its surprising collections, featuring armour from the Middle Ages and never before seen guns and swords. As a perfect finish, you will approach Napoleon’s tomb under the golden dome of the church and you will be able to win the gold! The hunt includes the playing booklets (multiple- choice questions, observations, illustrations...). A keyword is to be found in every room and helps finding a parchment: all parchments, put together in the light helps you find the golden treasure. Appropriate for children ages 7 and more and for adults.

Best of Paris, page 44 Best of Paris, page 45 chapter 3 day trips from paris 1. giverny 2. the champagne region

A day with Monet An iconic country side

In 1883, the Impressionist painter Claude Monet sought tranquility and nature in the Normand Follow your guide to the most prestigious wine region in France: Champagne. Understand what makes village of Giverny. Over the next 43 years until his death, Monet’s artist development flourished these bubbles so precious: the soil, the grape varieties, the care for the vines through the seasons, from alongside the garden he cultivated with immense care. By this time he was beginning to make a pruning in winter to ripening and harvest in autumn. The excursion is the perfect occasion for entering name for himself after many years of arduous struggle. Soon the peaceful village was overrun the cathedral, a gothic masterpiece where the kings of France were crowned. Then, enter one of with young artists hoping to meet Monet or at least to be inspired by the same captivating the most famous champagne houses in Reims and its undergroundchalk cellar (stocked with Taittinger, landscape. A visit to Giverny offers an insight into this fruitful period of his life when he was able Veuve Cliquot, Ruinart...) to discover the step by step technical process of wine making “from grape to to fully realize his aesthetic ambitions. champagne” through pressing, first fermentation, blending, bottling, second fermentation, remuage, disgorgement, corking, and finally labelling. This will be an unforgettable day outside Paris.

Best of Paris, page 48 Best of Paris, page 49 3. the loire valley 4. normandy

A day in French magnifiscent past A relaxing gateway

The beautiful Loire Valley is known for its pastoral landscapes, historic villages, great architectural With lush rolling pastures and cows grazing among the orchards, Normandy invites the visitor monuments, fine wines and of course its many world famous Châteaux. Flourishing in the time to « slow down » and take in all the beauty of this untouched paradise. White sandy beaches for of the Renaissance, the region was inhabited by the likes of Diane de Poitiers, controversial bathing and behind them hilly countryside ensure relaxation. World famous for the setting in mistress of King Henry II of France, and famed Italian artist and inventor Leonardo Da Vinci, motion of Operation Overlord June 6th 1944, Normandy hosts various commemorative sites making it a region historically interwoven with the great kings of France. For those who would along its peaceful stretch of coastline, powerful reminders of the courage and sacrifice that was like to get an overview of the landscape, a flight in a hot air balloon or helicopter provide an needed to liberate Europe from Nazi occupation. But it is also a haven for those looking for original panorama. But the most authentic way to discover this heritage is without any doubt the hear of the french country side. The quaint port of Honfleur is certainly one of the most by canoe or kayak. And for those who can’t resist using a bike, follow the river over 150 kms picturesque on the northern coast of France and became a favorite destination of impressionist between Tours and Angers. painters, including Courbet and Monet. From Normandy a short drive will take you to the Abbey of Mont-St-Michel. A UNESCO world heritage site since 1979.

Best of Paris, page 50 Best of Paris, page 51 the1492company 22 rue de Courcelles 75008 Paris Tel +33 9 61 46 07 25 Fax +33 1 76 50 06 14 - Emmanuel +33 6 09 13 21 51 [email protected]

Roy +33 6 01 97 39 18 [email protected]

Best of Paris, page 52