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Le Corbusier - The architecture of a genius, from Paris to the Mediterranean
9
days
from
£4,550
Book today with a deposit from
£683
4th - 12th September 2027
Tour highlights
- As complete a picture of Le Corbusier’s genius as can be offered in a single tour, ranging across France and Switzerland.
- See a vast range of his works, from the serene Villa Savoye to the startling chapel at Ronchamp – proof of an artist far more various and subtle than his modernist label allows.
- A journey that mirrors the architect’s own — from a young prodigy in the Swiss hills to the visionary of Marseille.
Le Corbusier has left later generations of architects a problem. It sometimes seems that whatever design solutions they may dream up, Corb arrived there before. And that is without conscious imitation of the master, though no architect has been more imitated.
His energy, his gimlet intelligence and his ambition would have made him master of whatever profession he had chosen, but the fertility of his artistic genius and joy in creation turned him into one of the greatest architects of all time, and the most influential of the twentieth century.
The exploration of the origins of the look of the modern world is a fascinating aspect of this tour, but it is likely that the dominant impression will be of the sheer beauty of Le Corbusier’s buildings. There is far more of subtlety, nuance, sophistication and variety than might be expected of someone often simplistically classed as one of the instigators of International Modernism. He was an individual, not merely a representative of a style or movement. His impact was felt not only through his buildings – which are scattered across four continents – but also through numerous unexecuted projects, voluminous writings, and lecture tours.
This tour concentrates on the rich seam of his works to be quarried in Paris and in an arc out to the east of France, through the Swiss Jura and down through Lyon to Marseille – much of it passing fine natural scenery. It covers a considerable distance, but does give as complete a picture of Le Corbusier’s architecture as can be expected in a tour of this duration.
Begin in Paris where Le Corbusier settled when he was thirty and emerged as a central figure in what became the intellectual capital of Europe in the inter-war years. End in Marseille where Le Corbusier finally realised his collectivist vision of the Mediterranean good life.
Some buildings are in private hands and we see them from the outside, others are public and accessible and a few will be entered by special arrangement.
Itinerary
Travel by Eurostar at c. 10.30am from London St Pancras to Paris. Paris is the site of Corb’s purest statements and of his first large commissions. Visit Villa la Roche-Jeanneret which now houses the Fondation Le Corbusier, and the Immeuble Molitor (1934) in which Le Corbusier created the top floor apartment for himself. First of two nights in Paris.
On the western outskirts, at Poissy, is Le Corbusier’s lyrically beautiful Villa Savoye (1929), one of the icons of the 20th century. See Maison Louis Carré, the only surviving building designed by Alvar Aalto in France.
At the Cité Universitaire, the Pavillon Suisse (hall of residence, 1930) became one of the most influential buildings of International Modernism. The Pavillon Brésilien (1959) attempts an expression of national style while the Atelier Ozenfant (1922, exterior) was the studio-residence of painter-critic and fellow purist. Take the TGV (high speed train) from Paris to Besançon. First of three nights in Besançon.
The son of a watchmaker, Le Corbusier’s home town for thirty years was La Chaux-de-Fonds, and here he built his first houses. See exteriors of The Villa Fallet (1908), a commission obtained by Le Corbusier when he was only 18, and the Villas Stotzer and Jacquemet when he was still under the influence of the Arts and Crafts movement and Ruskin. Classicism, rationalism and modern building techniques began to prevail in the Villas Jeanneret (1912, for his own family, enter by special arrangement) and Schwob (1916, exterior).
Drive into the countryside to the Benedictine monastery at Ronchamp, whose hill-top chapel, Nôtre-Dame-du-Haut (1950), resulted in charges of treachery from hard-line modernists but has proved prophetic in embracing organic, sculptural values. Some free time in Besançon, a lovely hill town dominated by a massive citadel.
The route turns southwest, with a break at La Saline Royale, the remarkable industrial complex in romantic Neo-Classical style (1775) by Ledoux, one of Le Corbusier’s inspirations. His second monastic commission, the hillside Couvent de La Tourette at l’Arbresle, was obtained because his agnosticism was regarded as of less significance than the sacred values of his architecture. Continue south to Lyon. First of two nights in Lyon.
The new town at Firminy-Vert (1956–70) was one of the few pieces of Corbusian town planning actually executed with the master’s involvement and the site became the largest ensemble of his buildings outside Chandigarh. Also designed by Corbusier are the Maison de la Culture, with its dramatically canted side wall, the sports stadium, and the Unité d’Habitation. The astonishing church of St Pierre was finally completed in 2007, and there is a revelatory Le Corbusier museum. Free afternoon in Lyon to explore the historic centre or some of Lyon’s striking modern buildings (Tony Garnier, Renzo Piano) or the Jean Nouvel opera house.
Travel south by TGV. All his life Corbusier had been concerned with issues of housing, urbanism and community, and the fruits of his thinking are to be found in the ‘Unité d’Habitation’ apartment blocks. The one at Marseille (1945–52), though dogged by opposition and delays, is the most monumental embodiment of these theories. Overnight in Marseille.
There is a short optional walk through the old town led by the lecturer before the return journey home by plane (British Airways), arriving at London Heathrow at c. 3.00pm.
Expert speaker
Professor Harry Charrington
Professor of Architecture at the University of Westminster. He qualified as an Architect at Cambridge, where he was the founding editor of Scroope: Cambridge Architectural Journal, and subsequently combined practice and academia in both England and Finland. He has a particular interest in the history of modernism and obtained his PhD from the LSE on Alvar Aalto. His books include the award-winning Alvar Aalto: the Mark of the Hand and contributions to Artek and the Aaltos: Creating a Modern World (Yale University Press).
Practicalities
Two sharing: £4,780 or £4,550 without flights. Single occupancy: £5,860 or £5,630 without flights.
2 TGV journeys (first class) within France; travel by private coach for other journeys; hotel accommodation as specified below; breakfasts and 6 dinners with wine, water and coffee; all admissions; all tips; all taxes; the services of the lecturer and tour manager.
Hotel Édouard 7, Paris: comfortable 4-star hotel, five minutes on foot from the Opéra Garnier. Hotel de Paris, Besançon: 3-star hotel in the historic centre. Hotel Carlton, Lyon: boutique 4-star hotel, well-situated on the Presqu’île. Hotel la Résidence du Vieux-Port, Marseille: 4-star hotel in a 1950s building overlooking the harbour. Bright, modernist décor. Single rooms throughout are doubles for sole use.
This is a tiring tour with a lot of travel and several hotel changes. There is also quite a lot of walking within the cities visited. For the train journeys you will need to be able to carry your luggage on and off the train and within the stations. Average distance by coach per day: 38 miles.
Between 10 and 22 participants.
Before booking, please refer to the FCDO website and Travel Health Pro to ensure you are happy with the travel advice for the destination(s) you are visiting.
Dates & prices
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2027
Date
Speaker
Price
Date:
4th - 12th September 2027
Speaker:
Professor Harry Charrington
Price:
from £4,550
(Based on two sharing)Testimonials
“The whole tour was first class. There was a full itinerary but no pressure of time and everything included was relevant and interesting.
”
“Harry Charrington was outstanding - clear and interesting, friendly and approachable.
”
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