France·September 27 - October 3 2023

Paris Artists & Authors, Yesterday & Today

Come and explore Paris through the eyes of the artists and authors who put their stamp on this illustrious city.

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Overview

On this history-filled adventure, you’ll learn what made Hemingway tick and how a stained-glass maker and poet combines her skills for a one-of-a-kind artwork. Find out what drove Delacroix to paint such large pieces and how an 8-floor building pulses with the painters of today. Paris has inspired artists and writers for hundreds of years and continues to inspire today. We can’t wait to share it with you. Along the way, we will share our favorite restaurants and Parisian gems with you. Katrin, a former international literary agent, will share her passion for literature, travel, and art, while showing you all Paris has to offer. Photographer Krystal Kenney will lead you through Luxembourg Gardens on a photo lesson and do a professional photo shoot with each of you so you can remember your time in Paris forever!

Highlights

Visit the collection of artist Jacqueline Marval

Visit the collection of artist Jacqueline Marval

Life of Hemingway with a Hemingway

Life of Hemingway with a Hemingway

Ateliers of the artists past and present

Ateliers of the artists past and present

Visit to Paris’s most popular wine bar

Visit to Paris’s most popular wine bar

A deeper look at the Louvre and Orsay with an expert

A deeper look at the Louvre and Orsay with an expert

Dinner at the restaurant immortalized by the Impressionists

Dinner at the restaurant immortalized by the Impressionists

Become an artist and see yourself behind the lens of your camera or phone

Become an artist and see yourself behind the lens of your camera or phone

Dinner on the Seine by master chef Alain Ducasse

Dinner on the Seine by master chef Alain Ducasse

Itinerary

Here's a day-by-day itinerary of the trip.

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Paris

Day 1: Wednesday, September 27, 2023

After settling into the elegant left bank Hotel Le Recamier, named after Juliette Recamier, the hostess and muse of Revolutionary Paris. We’ll meet at 7 pm for a welcome drink and introductions before dinner at Le Pré Aux Clercs, a short walk from the hotel.

Included

Dinner

Not Included

Transfer from the airport

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Paris

Day 2: Thursday, September 28, 2023

The Female Artists of Paris 

We'll start our week with a visit to the Comité Jacqueline Marval to see the exclusive collection. Apollinaire called Jacqueline Marval “one of the most remarkable artists of our time."

At La Boite Aux Lettres, we'll enjoy the quintessential Montmartre lunch on Rue Lepic, where artists from Van Gogh to Degas once lived. 

After lunch, we’ll stroll back in time through Montmartre, ending at the Musée de Montmartre, where many artists lived and painted. Artists who lived here included Renoir and Suzanne Valadon, whose studio is still intact. Walk into her life for a glimpse of the 19th century. 

Working up a thirst, we'll enjoy an early aperitif at the relaxing private hidden Hotel Particulier. An early dinner follows at the Moulin de la Galette, immortalized by many artisits on canvas.

Included

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

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Paris

Day 3: Friday, September 29, 2023

Hemingway in Paris & Saint Germain des Prés

Paris was the cultural capital of the world in the Roaring 20s. Artists and writers, including the celebrated American writer Ernest Hemingway, flocked to the city from all over the world. Today, our guide will take you on a journey through literary Paris with Hemingway as our guide. We'll learn about a wide range of artists, writers, and thinkers in Hemingway's circle. His compatriots included Fitzgerald, Picasso, Pound, Matisse, and the inimitable Gertrude Stein. Hemingway loved the outdoors. They provided him with moments of reflection and connection to the community. Together, we'll trace his path to better understand his life in Paris.

We'll have lunch at an authentic French restaurant, Chez Fernand, nestled in the historic Odéon area. The small family-owned restaurant is steeped in classic French dishes. 

We are in the shadows of the great Romantic artist Éugene Delacroix, so we’ll tour the small museum in his former home and atelier, which marked the final years of his life as he worked on the frescos at Saint Sulpice. Afterward, we'll visit the stunning church that holds those frescos and so much history. 

For the cocktail hour, we’ll stop at one of the hottest places in Paris, once beloved by Anthony Bourdain. The small but mighty L’Avant Comptoir de la Terre was created by Yves Camdeborde as a place to enjoy a glass of wine or a small plate. 

The rest of the night is yours. We can suggest a few nearby spots for a casual dinner.

Included

Breakfast

Lunch

Not Included

Dinner

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Paris

Day 4: Saturday, September 30, 2023

The New Artists of Paris 

On day four, we’ll step into the atelier of Alison Grace Koehler. Alison is a poet, stained glass artist, and vibrant member of the Parisian artistic community. Mixing poetry into her stained glass gives it a fresh new take on the age-old art that was once seen only in churches and cathedrals.

For lunch, we will dine at the casual, artsy French Brasserie L’Arrosoir beneath the Coulée Verse René-Dumont walkway that inspired the High Line in New York.

From the past to the artists of today, we'll visit painter Stephanie McKenzie who is just one member of an eight-level atelier Le 100 Establishment, a community of painters and artists.

After a proper French sieste, we'll head right back to dine at Willi’s Wine Bar near the Palais Royal. Willi’s is one of the first wine bars in Paris, opening in 1980. A personal favorite, the food is fantastic, the wine list is long, and the atmosphere and staff are charming.

Included

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

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Paris

Day 5: Sunday, October 1, 2023

The Impressionists that changed the art scene

We’ll start the day viewing impressionists' art in the morning light on the upper floor of the Musée d’Orsay. Monet, Degas, and their friends shook the art world back in the day, pulling it out of its classical realist tracks. 

From one beautiful piece of art to another, we’ll savor a classic crepe at Breizh Cafe before venturing through the Jardin du Luxembourg with our very own artist Krystal. Krystal will teach you all the tips and tricks for photographing Paris on your phone or camera.  We’ll explore the gardens and hidden spots while you capture pictures of the over 100 statues dedicated to the artists, authors, and infamous women in French history. 

Relax in the garden or back at the Hotel Recamier before we venture into the shadows of Notre Dame to the classic Chez Julien for dinner. You'll be in heaven if you love profiteroles and homemade chocolate sauce.

Included

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

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Paris

Day 6: Monday, October 2, 2023

The great artists that still inspire today 

The Musée du Louvre, a former palace of kings, would transform into the largest museum in the world. For hundreds of years, artists have copied these masters. Manet, Morisot, Valadon, and many more learned how to paint from the artists before them. We’ll explore many of these paintings and treasures on a Louvre guided tour.

After soaking in the beauty of the Louvre, we’ll enjoy lunch close to the Palais Royal at the lovely Le Nemours. The restaurant is famous for its wonderful setting, delicious Croque Madame, and some of the nicest servers in Paris. 

Take the afternoon for some shopping, rest, or a walk through the lovely Palais Royal before we meet for dinner.

Our last meal is a celebratory dinner with a view to die for as we roll down the Seine on the famed chef Alain Ducasse’s floating restaurant. The Eiffel Tower sparkles as we discuss the discoveries and new memories made during this magical week in Paris.

Included

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

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Paris

Day 7: Tuesday, October 3, 2023

Breakfast and depart.

“America is my country, but Paris is my home” Gertrude Stein. Paris lives on in the hearts of everyone who has visited. After a morning cafe and croissant, we will bid you adieu or better still á bientôt.

Included

Breakfast

Not Included

Transfer to the airport

You'll Be Staying Here

Paris Artists & Authors, Yesterday & Today

Paris Artists & Authors, Yesterday & Today

Hotel Le Recamier is situated on Place Saint Sulpice in the heart of Saint Germain des Prés. 

Hosts

Katrin Hodapp

Katrin Hodapp

A 25-year resident in her adopted Paris. Katrin has turned from a career as an international literary agent where she was responsible for number #1 bestselling authors in France to sharing her passion for literature, travel and art. She speaks five languages fluently and when not guiding visitors in France, Holland, and Morocco, she is an active translator in the film industry. She's always keen to find the perfect view, the ideal bistro and hidden gem to make the trips she leads seamless and memorable.

Krystal Kenney

Krystal Kenney

Krystal Kenney is an American creative who’s lived in Paris for over 10 years. Among her artistic ventures, she started a popular podcast – La Vie Creative – where she interviews artists in Paris. She also recently published her own memoir – Paris, a Life Less Ordinary – about her life in Paris, and loves taking visitors and locals on photography tours. Through her business, she has worked with many important french institutions including the Louvre, d’Orsay, and the Eiffel Tower. 

"Paris is always a good idea"-Aubrey Hepburn

Paris

For centuries, Paris has attracted artists from around the world, arriving in the city to educate themselves and to seek inspiration from its artistic resources and galleries. As a result, Paris has received a reputation as the "City of Art". Home to some of the world's most famous museums and galleries, including the Louvre and the Musée d'Orsay, the city today remains home to a thriving community of artists. Paris is recognized globally for its public landmarks and masterpieces of architecture including the Arc de Triomphe and a symbol of France, the Eiffel Tower. 

Paris

What's Included

What's Included

Everything stated in itinerary above including all meals and teas plus beer or wine with dinner

All guides

Museum or other entry fees

All in-town transport except transfers to and from the airport.

Roundtrip airfare to France

Expenses of a personal nature – telephone calls, laundry, souvenirs, etc.

Additional wine, beer or spirits beyond what is offered at meals.

Gratuities.

Travel and Medical Insurance (required)

Reviews

"Things that really made this trip worth it for me - 1. Escorting me from the airport, this was worth its weight in gold as a stress relief 2. Having the guided tours at every museum, learned so much more than I normally would have, and the in-ear audio helps a lot as well 3. Skipping the queue! nothing like not having to wait to get in at places 4. Having the majority of the restaurants picked - less research/time for me, and I was exposed to a great variety that I wouldn't necessarily chosen myself 4. Art, art, art, I loved it 5. Downtime in the afternoon was good to have, needed 6. Visiting the individual artist's ateliers was more special than I thought it would be."

Carolyn H., CA, USA, 2023 Trip Guest

FAQs

Fly into Charles De Gaulle Airport in Paris.

The trip officially starts on the afternoon of September 27th, but if you are traveling across an ocean to get to Paris, you may want to consider arriving a day early so you have time to relax and adjust to the local time zone. If you do decide to arrive early, please let us know and we will take care of booking your room to make sure that you stay in the same room as you will be in when the trip starts.

We will have a zoom call about 6 weeks before the trip starts to discuss all that information and give you a packing list. Here is a great website that we love that will help you with packing and travel trips.

You are extra lucky and have two trip leaders on this trip. Claudine Hemmingway and Krystal Kenny. To read more about them here is a link to their bio's on the website.

Inquire about this trip

Paris Artists & Authors, Yesterday & Today

France· September 27 - October 3 2023· 6 nights