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Journey to Paris, Pyreness and Barcelona! Tour the City of Lights, from Notre Dame to the Champs-Élysées. Marvel at the Versailles gardens. Compare the cobblestoned old towns of French San Sebastian and Spanish Barri Gòtic. Finish with art-filled Barcelona and enjoy Antoni Gaudí’s masterpiece, the dazzling, BasÍlica de la Sagrada FamÍlia.
- Depart for Paris, France:
- Arrive in Paris: Meet your tour director and check into hotel
- Tour Paris: Enjoy a guided sightseeing tour of the Arc de Triomphe, Champs-Élysées, Eiffel Tower, Les Invalides, and Notre Dame Cathedral.
- Tour Versailles: The ultimate palace, Versailles was built by Louis XIII, and housed the royal family and its groveling court from 1682, when the Sun King moved in, to the French Revolution. Everything in Versailles is worth a look, from the 250-foot-long Hall of Mirrors, with themed salons- "war" and "peace" -on either side, to Marie Antoinette's faux country hamlet. When being a queen became too much to bear, she would pretend to be a commoner, tending her sheep and wearing peasant clothes. (Please note Versailles is closed on Mondays.)
This costume workshop is a lively role-play activity that puts you in the shoes of the monarchy, clergy, nobility, bourgeoisie, or peasantry to explore the issues underlying the French Revolution.
- Travel to Biarritz on the TGV: Take France’s fastest train to coastal Biarritz, whose fame as a favorite bathing spot for international royalty earned it the nickname “The Queen of Beaches and the Beach for Kings.” Once a whaling town, Biarritz now boasts some of the best surfing in Europe, fantastic views along the Basque coast, and a relaxed resort atmosphere.
- Travel to San Sebastián via Saint-Jean-de-Luz:
- San Sebastián: Though one of Spain’s most popular resorts, San Sebastián is not just beaches. With your Tour Director you’ll visit the old quarter, centered around Plaza de la Constitución (known to locals as “La Consti”). Look for the numbers on the balconies around the square – the plaza was once used for bullfighting, and those balconies were rented as private boxes for spectators. The nearby Saint Vincent church, built in the 1500s, is the city’s oldest standing monument.
- Optional Bilbao excursion: Visit Bilbao, the largest city in Basque country, to explore contemporary art in the Guggenheim Museum.
- Travel to Toulouse via Lourdes: Enjoy a walking tour and stroll among the red brick architecture that earned this artistic city its nickname, the "Rose City."
- Travel to Barcelona via Carcassonne: Medieval Carcasonne looks like a fairytale city from the past -- its turreted citadel, crenelated city walls, and Gothic arched city gates bring you back to the 13th century. Extensive restorations in the 1800s brought the formerly crumbling city back to life, and its hilltop perch provides views over the surrounding green plains and hills all the way to the Pyrenees.
- Carcassonne: Venture to the medieval walled town of Carcassonne, famous for its medieval citadel and imposing watchtowers.
- Tour Barcelona: Enjoy a guided sightseeing tour of Park Güell, Barri Gotic, Olympic Stadium, and the breathtaking Gaudí’s Sagrada Familia. This architectural masterpiece, said to be the master-work of architect Antoni Gaudí, has been under construction since 1882 and is not expected to be completed until 2026! Despite its unfinished state, the church has 18 spindle-shaped towers that soar above the church itself, making for a striking addition to Barcelona’s skyline and more than worth the visit.
Immerse yourself in the art that defines the passion of Spain. Explore the meaning and compare the techniques of artists from El Greco to Salvador Dali and Pablo Picasso. Enrich your knowledge of art history as you debate how these and other artists defined and shaped Spanish culture.
- Depart Barcelona for home:
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