Upon your arrival in Paris, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. This afternoon drive to the Eiffel Tower, which you will see its top from all over Paris built by Gustave Eiffel. It rises 300 meters tall, at that time the highest building in the world. This evening enjoy the beauty and seduction of Paris, the 'city of lights', is most apparent in this evening tour. Start with a cruise on the River Seine, followed by a tour to many of the great buildings and monuments of Paris, including the grand avenue - the Champs- Elysées. Return to your hotel.
A morning panoramic tour to give you an introduction to Paris and its major sites including Notre Dame, Bastille, Louvre, Champs Elysées, Trocadéro, Place Vendome, Opera Garnier, Academie Francaise, Madeleine, Concorde, Invalides, and the Eiffel Tower. Discover Paris in this overview and then go back to your favorites later on your own to further explore. In the afternoon experience the two of France's best products: Wine & Cheese. You will be expertly guided in a wonderful tasting experience by your French sommelier. This new concept of Tasting will allow you to learn while enjoying delicious wine and cheese. Understanding Champagne, Wine Tasting Technique, Main French Wine Regions, Old World vs. New World, Pairing Food & Wine. Return to your hotel.
One of the largest museums in the world, and possibly the most famous. The Louvre is situated in the heart of Paris, this palace is both from an architectural point of view as from an arts perspective is one of the most important sights in Paris. It displays about 300,000 works, among them some world-famous like the Mona Lisa from Leonardo da Vinci, Venus de Milo and Winged Victory. The Department of Egyptian Antiquities presents vestiges from the civilizations that developed in the Nile Valley from the late prehistoric era (c. 4000 BC) to the Christian period (4th century AD). The latest addition to the Louvre was the glass pyramid entrance. Enjoy an afternoon at leisure in Paris, for your personal shopping and exploration. Return to your hotel.
The octagonal Place de la Concorde is the largest square in Paris. In the 19th century the 3200 years old obelisk from the temple of Ramses II at Thebes was installed at the center of the Place de la Concorde. It is a 23 meters tall monolith in pink granite and weighs approximately 230 tons. It was the only one transported to Paris. The obelisk is covered with hieroglyphs picturing the reign of pharaohs Ramses II Ramses III. At each corner of the octagonal square is a statue representing a French city: Bordeaux, Brest, Lille, Lyon, Marseille, Nantes, Rouen and Strasbourg. Continue to The Pantheon, a famous neoclassical building in Paris. Barely visible horses, carriages, and sightseers give an awe-inspiring sense of scale to the scene. Louis-Alphonse Poitevin observed the enormous edifice—72 feet high and 276 feet wide—from the roof of one of the buildings that faced it. Begun in 1757 as the Church of Sainte-Geneviève, the Pantheon is now a civic building housing the remains of some of France's most famous citizens. Continue to the Notre-Dame cathedral. Not the largest cathedral in the world, but may be the most famous of all cathedrals. The gothic masterpiece is located on the Ile de la Cité, a small island in the heart of the city. The site of the Notre dame is the cradle of Paris and had been the religious center of the city. The Romans built a temple to worship Jupiter. A Christian basilica was built in the 6th century and the last religious structure before the Notre-Dame construction started was a Romanesque church. Proceed to the Black Virgin of Paris cathedral and see for yourself. If it is true that a large proportion of the ancient miraculous Madonna of the world are black, why is this phenomenon generally so little known today? Some of the most famous Black Virgin shrines are Chartes, Loreto, Zaragoza, Rocamadour, Montserrat, and Guadalupe. Return to your hotel.
This morning drive to Chartres, to visit the Cathedral. In 1194, the master-builder of Chartres outlined new principles, which would inspire all the great architects of the 13th century. Partly built starting in 1145, and then reconstructed over a 26-year period after the fire of 1194, Chartres Cathedral marks the high point of French Gothic art. The vast nave, in pure ogival style, the porches adorned with fine sculptures from the middle of the 12th century, and the magnificent 12th- and 13th-century stained-glass windows, all in remarkable condition, combine to make it a masterpiece. Continue to visit the Alexander Dumas Castle Medieval European stronghold, generally the fortified dwelling of the king or lord of the territory in which it stood. The castle developed rapidly in Western Europe from the 9th century. In form it was somewhat sprawling compared to later fortified buildings. The castle's enceinte (outer wall) was surrounded by one or more moats, which were crossed by drawbridges that could be raised from the inner side. The gateway itself was heavily protected and often defended by a barbican, or watchtower. One or more baileys, or walled courtyards, surrounded the donjon. The age of the medieval castle came to an end with the increasing use of firearms in the 15th–16th centuries. Return to your hotel.
DAY 07:
GUIMET MUSEUM / VERSAILLES
Palace of Versaille
The Dapper foundation that manages the museum, has a library of about 5,000 documents on African art, and publishes art books around the themes of the exhibitions for both adults and children. Bringing African art to the knowledge of a large public has always been the aim of the museum since it opened its doors in 1986. Visit the exhibitions of contemporary African art and pieces from the precolonial period. Continue to visit theGiverny and Versailles. Begin with a visit to Monet's House in Giverny and embark on a journey of discovery as you see the painter's furnishings and his collection of Japanese engravings, followed by a pleasant walk around the famous water lilies. Proceed to visit to the incredible and awe-inspiring Palace of Versailles. Visit the Great Royal Apartments, Hall of Mirrors, Queen's Bedroom and the Gallery of Battles. Return to your hotel.
Transfer to the train station in due time for your departure on the EUROSTAR TRAIN to London, England. Upon arrival in London you will be met and transferred to your hotel. This afternoon enjoy an introductory tour of London. Visit the Tower of London, which is situated in East London on the boundaries of the boroughs of Stepney and the City of London. Directly south, spanning the River Thames, lies the famous Tower Bridge. The Tower of London dominates the river approaches to the City of London. View The House of Parliament. Proceed to Westminster Abbey. The Abbey is England's most important church and has been the site of every coronation since 1066. View Big Ben this is not actually the name of the building, or of the clock tower. It rather refers to the bell itself. Visit St. Paul’s Cathedral, the masterpiece of Sir Christopher Wren, the great English architect. Completed in 1710 after just 35 years of building, it is the seat of the Bishop of London. Continue to Brixton, which is renowned for its music venues and clubs. The Brixton Academy is probably the best known. (Madonna’s concert was the biggest live webcast ever at the time.) Brixton is the center for Africans and Carrebean people in London. See the selection produce, see parrot fish from the Seychelles, sweet potatoes from Jamaica and even six-inch snails from Nigeria. There are also brightly coloured cottons bearing African prints and music shops selling reggae and jazz. Visit the museum housing the Black Cultural Archives, see the plaque in Dexter Square commemorating Bob Marley, who was a frequent visitor here. Return to your hotel
The British Museum was built in 1753 and the Museum's distinctive Greek revivalist structure was built during the 19th century. The British Museum brings back life into the masterpieces of the world's ancient civilizations. You will not only learn about the significance of the Rosetta stone and the beauty of the Parthenon sculptures, but also explore other objects. Visit the Egyptian Exhibition and view the mummies. Witness the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace, the London home of the Royal Family. Return to your hotel. Balance of the day at leisure.
DAY 10:
STONEHENGE / BATH
Stonehenge
The most famous prehistoric monument in the world, and now a world heritage site, Stonehenge stands alone in the vast empty tract of Salisbury plain. Its origins date back nearly 5,000 years and it has been home to pagan religion and spiritual worship, not to be mention public debate ever since. View this vast collection of stones what was it intended for? Was it observatory of the moon, a temple to the sun, or an elaborate cemetery? Who were the people who carried and carved these 40 tons rocks? Continue to Bath, another world heritage site, is a beautiful Georgian city with delightful crescents, terraces and architecture. Following our guided tour of the city visit Bath Abbey and Pulteney Bridge overlooking the river Avon cascading over the weir. Visit the Roman Baths, where over one million liters of boiling water still burst from the hot springs everyday. Return to your hotel.
DAY 11:
LONDON /NEW YORK
Transfer to the airport in time for your flight to New York, arriving in the afternoon local time.
