French Art Voyage: Paris, the Rhône and the French Riviera

Aeroport Nice Côte d’Azur — Nice Côte d’Azur International Airport (NCE), about 7 miles (12 km) from the hotel in Antibes. See your program’s Transportation Information regarding transfers.

Orientation: The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. This is a Road Scholar Adventures Afloat program. On “Chartered Exclusively for Road Scholar” programs there will be other Road Scholar group(s) aboard the vessel. The large group will be split into smaller groups of approximately 25 participants. If another group is having a lecture during the voyage when your group does not have planned activities, please feel free to attend the lecture. When a program is not “Chartered Exclusively,” you are invited to take advantage of activities and events aboard ship that are separate from the Road Scholar program. All port stops and field trips are subject to change as weather and river conditions may affect the itinerary. River conditions could affect the progress of the ship, making it run late and sometimes miss ports because it is not safe to dock. Therefore, the cruise itinerary should always be regarded as provisional. Additionally, the time available in each port is set by the cruise line and the cruise line reserves the right change the itinerary without prior notice. When possible, the Road Scholar daily schedule indicates port arrival and departure times. Road Scholar delivers a robust educational program in each port, and this may mean that free time in port is limited. Periods in the schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding.

At a restaurant near the hotel, we’ll have a plated meal with beverage choices of a glass of wine, soft drink, water; other beverages available for purchase. French restaurants take pride in creating a relaxed atmosphere where patrons expect to take their time, savor every bite, and set the pace of the meal, requesting “l’addition” — the check — only when they are ready. Meals are accompanied by complimentary “pain” (bread) and “eau” or “l’eau” (water), so you need not ask for them. When wine is offered, it is customary to fill your glass only half way so the wine can breathe and to be sure everyone has a share. Servers wait until everyone at the table has finished their dish before clearing and bringing the next course. To indicate that you have finished your meal, place your utensils together on the right hand side of your plate.

At leisure.

At the hotel, the breakfast buffet offers choices such as eggs, breakfast meats, cereals, cheese, breads, butter and jam, milk, juices, coffee, tea, water.

We will be joined by a local expert for a presentation on 19th- and 20th- century artists who painted on the French Riviera. Nice, informally known as the capital of the French Riviera, is a city of history, art, culture, colorful local life, tasty cuisine, and joie de vivre. We will set out by motorcoach from the ship and later on foot with a local expert to see and explore some of the city’s highlights. We will drive past the exotic Russian Orthodox Church, stop at Mont Boron Hill for a panoramic view of the city from more than 300 feet (92 meters) above the sea, and drive along the Promenade des Anglais — with one of the most iconic vistas in France — called La Prom by residents. Next, we will ride to the Cimiez neighborhood for a walk around the Monastery Gardens that feature the old ruins of Nice’s Roman past and the Matisse Museum. At the museum, we will see a comprehensive collection of Henri Matisse’s artwork from all periods of his life: from the first paintings made in 1890 to the famous gouache cutouts. There are 236 drawings, 218 engravings, and a complete presentation of the books illustrated by the artist at this museum.

At a local restaurant, we’ll have a plated meal with beverage choices of a glass of wine, soft drink, water; other beverages available for purchase.

We will ride to Cimiez Hill to the Musée national message biblique Marc Chagall (National Museum Marc Chagall Biblical Message). It features scenes from Genesis, Exodus, and the Song of Songs illustrated in 17 large paintings, sculptures, stained glass windows, mosaics, and tapestries, along with preparatory sketches, gouaches, engravings, and lithographs — all housed in a museum built especially for these works and opened by the artist in 1972.

on your own

At leisure.

Hotel buffet.

We will board the motorcoach, ride into Vieux Nice — Old Town — and stroll along streets vibrant with activity. We’ll visit the flower market, Marché aux Fleurs Cours Saleya, that has also been ranked as one of the country’s most exceptional markets by the Conseil National des Arts Culinaires (National Council for the Culinary Arts). We will also savor local flavors at famed local food markets and artisan shops featuring local specialties.

We will provide meal vouchers known as “tickets restaurant” that can be used at restaurants, bakeries, brasseries, and cafés displaying a TR sticker on the window with messages such as this: “Nous acceptons les Tickets Restaurant.” (Change is not given back if the meal cost is less than the value of the voucher.) The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.

We will regroup at a designated time and place, reboard our motorcoach, and ride to the Matisse Chapel in Vence on a hillside above Nice. The Chapelle du Rosaire de Vence was a labor of love by Matisse out of gratitude to Monique Bourgeois, the nurse who cared for him after cancer surgery in 1941. They became devoted to one another. Later, Monique entered the religious order of the Dominicans and asked Matisse to advise her in the decoration of their chapel. Instead, the artist took it on as a far greater project. For four years, Matisse dedicated himself to designing every element of the building, regarding the finished chapel as his masterpiece. Next, we will explore the Fondation Maeght, an exceptional example of modern cultural achievement. It was founded by art lovers Marguerite and Aimé Maeght to present modern and contemporary art in all its forms. The building was designed by master Catalonian architect Josep Lluís Sert, and the collection includes works by Bonnard, Braque, Calder, Chagall, Giacometti, Miró, and more. Altogether, the Maeght Foundation boasts one of the largest and finest collections of 20th century art in Europe.

At a restaurant near the hotel, we’ll have a plated meal with beverage choices of a glass of wine, soft drink, water; other beverages available for purchase.

At leisure. Prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning.

Hotel buffet.

We will check out of the hotel, board a motorcoach, and ride to Aix-en-Provence. A local expert will introduce Aix focusing on its history, culture, and architectural heritage. Once the provincial capital, it became known as the Florence of Provence for the nobility and grandeur of its public and private edifices. From the outside, we’ll see the Saint Sauveur Cathedral, the Musée du Viele Aix in the Estienne de Saint-Jean mansion, the Archbishop’s place, Town Hall, Albertas Square, and the Palace of Justice. This is also the birthplace of Paul Cézanne and the landscapes that inspired many of his paintings.

At a local restaurant, we’ll have a plated meal with beverage choices of a glass of wine, soft drink, water; other beverages available for purchase.

We will walk to the atelier of Paul Cézanne. His house in Aix is one of the most remarkable artists’ studios in the world. Preserved as he left it, it is filled not just with the objects he painted but also — with his hat still sitting on its peg and a glass of wine on the table — a sense of the man himself. We will then ride to Martigues, northwest of Marseille, to embark the ship and complete boarding procedures. After some time to get our cabins and freshen up, we’ll gather for a brief orientation led by the crew on ship and safety regulations.

In the restaurant on the upper deck, there is open seating. We will have a 3-course plated set meal with beverage choices of table wine (red and white), beer, fruit juice, soft drinks, coffee, tea, mineral water; other beverages available for purchase.

At leisure. The ship will overnight in Martigues.

Aboard ship in the restaurant, the self-serve buffet offers hot and cold choices with beverage choices of milk, juice, coffee, tea, water.

We will step off the ship, board a motorcoach, and ride to the Provençal village of Saint-Remy-de-Provence, where Van Gogh spent the penultimate year of his life after being forced to leave Arles. We’ll visit Maison de santé Saint-Paul de Mausole, the mental hospital where Van Gogh committed himself from 1889-90. It became for him an island of serenity and source of creativity where he made 143 oil paintings and more than 100 drawings over a period of 53 weeks. Some of his most important were paintings — “Cypresses,” “Irises,” and “Starry Night” — were inspired by local vistas. The building itself is considered a masterpiece of Provençal Romanesque architecture and still functions as a psychiatric hospital. We’ll return to the ship after our field trip. We will rendezvous with the ship in Arles.

Aboard ship in the restaurant, we will order plated meals with choices of main course with beverage choices of table wine (red and white), beer, fruit juice, soft drinks, coffee, tea, mineral water; other beverages available for purchase.

We will set out on a walking field trip to explore the old city of Arles. With its Roman and Romanesque monuments, Arles is a UNESCO-designated World Heritage Site. From the UNESCO inscription: “Arles is a good example of the adaptation of an ancient city to medieval European civilization. It has some impressive Roman monuments, of which the earliest — the arena, the Roman theatre and the cryptoporticus (subterranean galleries) — date back to the 1st century BCE. During the 4th century, Arles experienced a second golden age as attested by the baths of Constantine and the necropolis of Alyscamps. In the 11th and 12th centuries, Arles once again became one of the most attractive cities in the Mediterranean. Within the city walls, Saint-Trophime, with its cloister, is one of Provence’s major Romanesque monuments.” A local expert will lead our exploration of the old town and point out a few of these special sites. We will also learn about some of the picturesque places that inspired Van Gogh and the works he created while he lived in Arles.

Aboard ship.

At leisure. The ship will overnight in Avignon.

Aboard ship.

We will set out on a walking field trip into the center of Avignon and explore the Palais des Papes (Palace of the Popes). It was built during the so called “Babylonian Captivity” — the period from 1309-1376 when the seat of the papacy was transferred to France. The magnificent palace was constructed in only 20 years and was the largest Gothic palace in Europe. We will learn about its history from the days of grandeur to near destruction and restoration before returning to the ship.

Aboard the ship.

As we cruise toward Viviers, we will enjoy an on-board lecture on "The invention of prehistory".

Aboard ship.

At leisure.

Aboard ship.

We will board a motorcoach for a field trip to Caverne du Pont-d’Arc, a true facsimile of La Grotte Chauvet-Pont d’Arc — the Chauvet Grotto — a cave containing some of the best-preserved cave paintings in the world. It is also a UNESCO-designated World Heritage Site. From the UNESCO inscription: “Located in a limestone plateau of the Ardèche River in southern France, the property contains the earliest-known and best-preserved figurative drawings in the world, dating back as early as the Aurignacian period (30,000–32,000 BP), making it an exceptional testimony of prehistoric art.” The cave has been sealed off to the public since 1994. Caverne du Pont-d’Arc is a facsimile of Chauvet Cave on the model of the so-called “Faux Lascaux”, was opened to the general public on April 25, 2015. It is the largest cave replica ever built worldwide, ten times bigger than the Lascaux facsimile. The art is reproduced full-size in a condensed replica of the underground environment, in a circular building above ground, a few miles from the actual cave. The conditions of silence, darkness, temperature, humidity, and acoustics have been carefully reproduced. En route to the Grotto, you will enjoy a lecture on the pre-history of Provence. Next, we will ride to Tain L'Hermitage and rendezvous with the ship.

Aboard ship.

We will gather with our Group Leader for a lecture on the wine regions along the Rhone and the origin of wine. Later, we will have an onboard wine tasting of some of the regional Rhône wines

Aboard ship.

At leisure.

Aboard ship.

We will take a short walk with our Group Leader along the bridge that connects Vienne to visit the Roman Temple of Augustus. Back on board, we will enjoy a lecture on important people in Lyon's history.

Aboard the ship.

We will set out by motorcoach on a field trip of Lyon where we will learn about urban development in the Middle Ages and Renaissance. Lyon, a UNESCO-designated World Heritage Site, sits at the confluence of two great rivers: the Saône and Rhône. Long at the center of European trade due to its strategic location, the city serves as a midway point of France. We will take the funicular down to Old Lyon for further exploration of the architecture and traboules — hidden passageways — of one of the greatest Renaissance sites in France.

Aboard ship.

At leisure.

Aboard ship.

We will board a motorcoach for Beaune for a field trip in this fortified city that has taken the title of “capital” of the Burgundy wine trade. We will visit the Hospices de Beaune with its distinctive glazed tiles. Founded as a hospital in 1443, it became associated with wine when a devout winemaker contributed a gift of vineyards only a few years later. The tradition continued for centuries and today the Hospices de Beaune vineyards cover about 150 acres (60 hectares).

Lunch onboard.

We will gather for a lecture on the history of the powerful Dukes of Burgundy and the history of France from the fall of the Roman Empire until 1477, when the last duke was killed in battle and Burgundy was absorbed into France. Afterwards we will have a lecture on the Parisian Artistic movement featuring the most famous and influential artists of the 19th & 20th century.

Aboard ship. We’ll celebrate our final evening together on the ship.

At leisure. Prepare for disembarkation and transfer in the morning.

Aboard ship.

We will disembark the ship at Lyon, board a TGV train to Paris. Participants will need to handle their own luggage on and off the train as there is no porterage available at the station. Upon arrival to Paris we will transfer to the Marais District.

This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to enjoy what you like in the Marais. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.

We will then set out on foot to explore the renowned district known as Le Marais — the Marsh — hearkening back to its medieval identity. This area was once called the Jewish Quarter because it was the most populous Jewish community in Europe. It has more intact pre-Revolutionary structures and streets than anywhere else in the city. This is what much of Paris resembled before the vast 19th century reconstruction designed by Baron Haussmann that transformed a mostly working-class and immigrant neighborhood into one of the most affluent and prestigious areas in the city today. We will then transfer by coach to check-in at the hotel.

At a restaurant in Paris, we’ll have a plated meal with beverage choices of a glass of wine, soft drink, water included; other beverages available for purchase.

At leisure.

At the hotel, the breakfast buffet offers choices such as eggs, breakfast meats, cereals, cheese, breads, butter and jam, milk, juices, coffee, tea, water.

We will take the metro to the Musée d'Orsay. At the Musée d'Orsay, we will have an expert-led visit, followed by time to see what interests you most. The first work of art is the building itself, the former Gare d’Orsay railway station, built for the Universal Exhibition of 1900. The collections of painting, sculpture, and decorative objects show the tremendous diversity of artistic creation in the western world from 1848 – 1914, showcasing many of the most remarkable works of the early modern era including the Impressionist, post-Impressionist, and Art Nouveau movements. The Group Leader will accompany those who wish to return to the hotel. Those who would like to stay out and return independently are welcome to do so

On your own to have what you like. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.

Free time

On your own to have what you like.

At leisure.

Hotel buffet.

We will walk to the Métro station for an expert-led field trip to the Jacquemart André Museum, housed in the former home of Édouard André (1833–1894) and Nélie Jacquemart (1841–1912). The collection they assembled during their lifetimes is regarded as one of the finest private holdings in Paris. Construction on the Second Empire mansion began in 1869 and concluded in 1875. The opulent interiors provide a backdrop for exceptional and rare paintings, furniture, frescoes, and tapestries of Italian, French, Flemish, and German schools.

On your own to have what you like.

We’ll take the Métro to explore the collections of the Musée de l’Orangerie and view Monet’s magnificent “Les Nymphéas” (Water Lilies) with an expert. Situated in the heart of Paris at the corner of the Tuileries Gardens, the museum was constructed in 1852 as an actual orangery (shelter for orange trees), with a variety of uses in subsequent eras. When it was repurposed and refurbished after 1921, the great Impressionist artist Claude Monet began work on eight huge panels that are regarded as the ultimate expression of his artistic ideas. They were installed here after his death. The museum also contains works by Cézanne, Matisse, Modigliani, Picasso, Renoir, and other great artists of Impressionism and Modern Classicism.

At a local restaurant, we’ll have a plated meal with beverage choices of a glass of wine, soft drink, water included; other beverages available for purchase. Share favorite experiences with new Road Scholar friends during our farewell dinner.

Returning to the hotel, the remainder of the evening is at leisure. Prepare for check-out and departure in the morning.

Hotel buffet. This concludes our program.

If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!