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Paris at New Year - Art and architecture in the Ville Lumière
7
days
from
US$6,340
Book today with a deposit of
US$951
29th December 2026 - 4th January 2027
Tour highlights
- A collection of Paris’s finest museums, including the main galleries (Louvre, Musée d’Orsay) as well as lesser-known attractions.
- Recently refurbished museums and galleries including the Hôtel de la Marine and the Musée Carnavalet, plus the magnificently restored Notre-Dame.
- Stay in a centrally-located 5-star hotel in the Saint-Germain-des-Prés district.
‘He who does not visit Paris regularly will never be truly elegant’ wrote Honoré de Balzac in 1830 (Traité de la Vie Élégante). His assertion goes some way to explain the allure of Paris, even at a time of deep social and political turmoil, manifested in the July Revolution of the same year. Paris, whose streets were soon to be drastically re-envisioned by Baron Haussmann into the boulevards so recognisable today, was unquestionably the place to be and be seen. Not unsurprisingly, the dazzle of the Ville Lumière and the lifestyle of its inhabitants has endured, and Parisians remain the ultimate arbiters of good taste.
Never does Paris appear more elegant than over Christmas and New Year, inevitably conjuring up the festive atmosphere of Act II of Puccini’s opera La Bohème. Led by distinguished art historian Desmond Shawe-Taylor, MRT aims to offer just as much fun, together with a rich cultural feast, in considerably more comfort. Our tour focuses on Paris’s artistic riches, from the major museums such as the Louvre and the Musée d’Orsay, to lesser-known gems including the Musée Jacquemart André, and with some special temporary exhibitions along the way.
Besides the art galleries, we shall also be visiting the Musée Carnavalet, museum of the history and culture of Paris, reopened in 2021 after lengthy refurbishment; the sumptuous 18th-century Hôtel de la Marine, the former royal garde-meuble and navy headquarters whose apartments and reception rooms opened to the public in 2021; and the magnificent cathedral of Notre-Dame, one of the finest examples of Gothic architecture, devastated by fire in 2019 and reopened in 2024 following extensive restoration work.
Itinerary
Travel by Eurostar at c. 10.30am from London St Pancras. Transfer within Paris to the sumptuous Palais Garnier opera house for a guided tour. Continue across the Seine to our hotel in Saint-Germain-des-Prés.
The Marais is a lovely district which is home to several outstanding museums. The Musée Carnavalet, with myriad collections devoted to the history of Paris, re-opened in 2021 after radical refurbishment. Housed in the Hôtel Salé, the Picasso Museum possesses one of the greatest collections of the artist’s work, from all periods of his career.
The Musée de l’Orangerie holds the celebrated circular paintings of water lilies by Monet as well as the magnificent Walter Guillaume collection. Our tickets include entry to the exhibition Monet, painting time, which commemorates the centenary of his death. The 18th-century Hôtel de la Marine is one of the finest neoclassical buildings in Paris. Originally the royal garde-meuble that managed the furnishing of royal properties, its apartments and reception rooms opened for visitors in 2021 following a major refurbishment.
The Musée d’Orsay is home to the world’s finest collection of Impressionism, and also to the contemporaneous academic tradition of painting and sculpture. You have tickets for the exhibition devoted to American Impressionist painter Mary Cassatt. Opulent turn-of-the century home of a banking family, the Musée Jacquemart-André features many Italian Renaissance items among its varied collections.
Morning visit to the Louvre, which for the range and quality of its collections remains the greatest art museum in the world. Some free time in the afternoon to pursue your own interests.
Guided tour of Notre-Dame, the majestic Gothic cathedral on the Île de la Cité, which has been spectacularly restored following the devastating fire of 2019. Another visit will be added this afternoon, depending on temporary exhibition schedules.
Take the Eurostar to London St Pancras, where arrival is scheduled for c. 1.30pm.
Practicalities
Two sharing: US$6,630 or US$6,340 without Eurostar. Single occupancy: US$8,580 or US$8,290 without Eurostar.
Private coach for transfers; hotel accommodation; breakfasts, 4 dinners and 1 lunch with wine, coffee, water; all admissions; all tips; all taxes; the services of the lecturer and tour manager.
Hotel Bel Ami, Paris: 5-star hotel in the Saint-Germain-des-Prés district on the left bank. Single occupancy rooms are doubles for sole use.
Coach travel is not possible or practical in parts of central Paris, so some of the venues are reached on foot or by metro. A fair amount of walking is necessary, as well as standing around in museums. There are some late nights but starts are leisurely. You need to be able to lift your luggage on and off the train and wheel it within stations.
Between 9 and 19 participants.
Before booking, please refer to the FCDO website to ensure you are happy with the travel advice for the destination(s) you are visiting.
Dates & prices
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2026
Date
Speaker
Price
Date:
29th December - 4th January 2027
Speaker:
Price:
from US$6,340
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