France

The Best of Northern France: Paris and Normandy

Program No. 21095RJ
Alongside scholars and local experts, find out how the history, architecture, cafés and cuisine makes these two regions both so unique and both so distinctly French.

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At a Glance

Experience two faces of France on this journey that combines field trips led by top-notch Road Scholar experts with plenty of time for independent discoveries. Begin by discovering Paris’ grand boulevards, Gothic architecture and world-class museums. Then venture to Normandy to explore its Celtic-influenced culture, medieval history, natural beauty and tantalizing cuisine.
Activity Level
Let's Go!
Walking up to 3 miles per day during scheduled activities; cobblestone street, uneven ground and hilly terrain. Use of the metro in Paris; walking up/down stairs with railings as elevators/escalators are not always available at each station. Must be prepared for large crowds in Paris.
Small Group
Small Group
Love to learn and explore in a small-group setting? These adventures offer small, personal experiences with groups of 13 to 24 participants.

What You'll Learn

  • Explore Paris’ markets, museums and cafés and take a field trip to the opulent Palace of Versailles.
  • Learn the story of the Allied Invasion of Normandy as you explore the D-Day landing beaches.
  • Discover Mont Saint-Michel, a medieval island fortress and abbey that is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

General Notes

Program includes independent time to explore the city and several meals on your own. Group Leaders will provide directions for self-directed excursions. Suggestions for free-time activities provided in preparatory materials. Hotels vary by date. Give us a call to combine this learning adventure with select dates of "The Best of Southern France: Provence and the Cote d'Azur" (#21096) for even more learning in France! Due to the fire at Notre Dame, the cathedral is closed to visitors. Road Scholar programs that visit île de la Cité will be able to see the outside of the cathedral, but we will not be able to go inside.
Featured Expert
All trip experts
Profile Image
Libby Chandler
Libby Chandler lives in the southwest county of Devon in the United Kingdom, across the English Channel from the Normandy Beaches. At the age of 22, she moved to France to live in the Alps and polish her French for several years. Libby is an addicted traveler with a lust for learning, spending her time in France and across Europe. Leading groups since 1994, she works as a freelance group manager for educational organizations and in the Himalayan mountains during the winter.

Please note: This expert may not be available for every date of this program.

Profile Image of Libby Chandler
Libby Chandler View biography
Libby Chandler lives in the southwest county of Devon in the United Kingdom, across the English Channel from the Normandy Beaches. At the age of 22, she moved to France to live in the Alps and polish her French for several years. Libby is an addicted traveler with a lust for learning, spending her time in France and across Europe. Leading groups since 1994, she works as a freelance group manager for educational organizations and in the Himalayan mountains during the winter.
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Year
2024
  • 2024
  • 2025
Date and Direction
Oct 17 - Oct 25 (Paris to Roissy-en-France)
  • May 16 - May 24 (Paris to Roissy-en-France)
  • Jun 06 - Jun 14 (Paris to Roissy-en-France)
  • Jul 04 - Jul 12 (Paris to Roissy-en-France)
  • Aug 22 - Aug 30 (Paris to Roissy-en-France)
  • Sep 05 - Sep 13 (Paris to Roissy-en-France)
  • Sep 12 - Sep 20 (Paris to Roissy-en-France)
  • Sep 19 - Sep 27 (Paris to Roissy-en-France)
  • Sep 26 - Oct 04 (Paris to Roissy-en-France)
  • Oct 03 - Oct 11 (Paris to Roissy-en-France)
  • Oct 10 - Oct 18 (Paris to Roissy-en-France)
  • Oct 17 - Oct 25 (Paris to Roissy-en-France)
Please Note: The program differs on certain dates.
Please Note: The program differs on certain dates.
Select trip year and date
2024
  • 2024
  • 2025
Oct 17 - Oct 25 (Paris to Roissy-en-France)
  • May 16 - May 24 (Paris to Roissy-en-France)
  • Jun 06 - Jun 14 (Paris to Roissy-en-France)
  • Jul 04 - Jul 12 (Paris to Roissy-en-France)
  • Aug 22 - Aug 30 (Paris to Roissy-en-France)
  • Sep 05 - Sep 13 (Paris to Roissy-en-France)
  • Sep 12 - Sep 20 (Paris to Roissy-en-France)
  • Sep 19 - Sep 27 (Paris to Roissy-en-France)
  • Sep 26 - Oct 04 (Paris to Roissy-en-France)
  • Oct 03 - Oct 11 (Paris to Roissy-en-France)
  • Oct 10 - Oct 18 (Paris to Roissy-en-France)
  • Oct 17 - Oct 25 (Paris to Roissy-en-France)
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. As a result, some program activities, schedules, accommodations, personnel, and other logistics occasionally change due to local conditions or circumstances. Should a major change occur, we will make every effort to alert you. For less significant changes, we will update you during orientation. Thank you for your understanding.
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9 days
8 nights
15 meals
7 B 5 L 3 D
DAY
1
In Transit to Program
In Flight
DAY
2
Arrive Paris, Registration, Orientation, Welcome Dinner
Paris
D
Les Jardins du Marais

Activity note: Hotel check-in from 3:00 p.m.

Afternoon: 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. 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.

Dinner: At a restaurant near the hotel, we will enjoy a plated meal together. In France, restaurants take pride in creating a relaxed atmosphere where patrons can take their time and enjoy every bite. This allows the customer to set the pace of the meal, and means that they have to inform the server when they are ready for the check (“l’addition”) at the end of the meal. It is customary for servers to wait until everyone has finished their dish before clearing the table and bringing out the next course. You may indicate to the server that you have finished your meal by placing your utensils together on the right hand side of your plate. Meals are accompanied by complimentary bread (“pain”) and water (“eau” or “l’eau”), so you need not ask for them. When wine is offered at meals, please note that it is customary to fill your glass halfway to allow the wine to breathe.

Evening: At leisure.

DAY
3
L'Ile de la Cité, Sainte Chapelle, Musée d'Orsay
Paris
B,L
Les Jardins du Marais

Activity note: Use Paris Metro; walking up/down stairs in the metro as elevators/escalators are not always available at each station; metro stairs have railings; standing for up to 15 minutes at a time in the metro when seats are not available; total time traveling on metro approximately 1/2 hour. Walking on cobblestone streets for up to 3 miles throughout the day; standing for up to 2 hours during museum visits on even ground; getting on/off motorcoach; crowds to be expected.

Breakfast: At the hotel, we will enjoy a buffet including eggs, breakfast meat, breads, cheese, cereals, jam, butter, yogurt, and fruit. Coffee, tea, juices, water included.

Morning: Via the metro, we will head with the Group Leader to meet our expert instructor, with whom we will explore the heart of Paris: L'Ile de la Cité. It was originally occupied by the Iron Age Parisii tribe. Legend says they took their name from Prince Paris of Troy. It became a prominent settlement in Roman Gaul as Lutetia and later capital of the Merovingian dynasty. Today, it is home to some of Paris’s most iconic sites including the flower market, the Sainte Chapelle, and the Cathédrale de Notre Dame. The Sainte-Chapelle, one of the glories of Gothic architecture, was begun in 1239 and completed less than a decade later, an achievement in itself given its structure and ornamentation. Originally part of the royal palace of Capetian monarchs, it was built by King Louis IX (Saint Louis) to house religious relics he acquired from the Holy Land — including the Crown of Thorns! The sense of other-worldliness in the upper church comes from amazing stained glass, held within slender columns in the flamboyant Rayonnant style of architecture, creating the sensation of being inside a jewel box. Construction on Notre-Dame Cathedral began in 1163 and was not completed until 1345. Damaged and restored a number of times — including the disastrous fire of April 2019 — it remains one of the largest and finest examples of Gothic architecture anywhere. We will be able to admire the exterior.

Lunch: We will take the metro to the Musée d'Orsay, where we will enjoy a plated meal plus coffee, tea, water.

Afternoon: 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.

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

Evening: Depending on the time of year, enjoy either a late afternoon or evening cruise along the Seine to view the magnificent monuments lining the river.

DAY
4
Versailles, Montmartre
Paris
B,D
Les Jardins du Marais

Activity note: Getting on/off motorcoach; walking on cobblestone streets for up to 3 miles throughout the day; standing for up to 2 hours during museum visits on even ground. Use Paris Metro; walking up/down stairs in the metro as elevators/escalators are not always available at each station; metro stairs have railings; standing for up to 15 minutes at a time in the metro when seats are not available; total time traveling on metro approximately 1/2 hour. Crowds to be expected.

Breakfast: Hotel buffet.

Morning: We will head out via motorcoach to the Château de Versailles. Here we will meet a local instructor who will conduct an expert visit of this impressive property. Our expert will take us through this royal chateau to see the different chambers and tell us about the history they witnessed. The Palace of Versailles was the principal residency of the royal French family and the French court from 1682 until 1789, with the beginning of the French Revolution. The beautiful gardens of Versailles are an excellent example of French garden planning. We will return to Paris by motorcoach and head to Montmartre.

Lunch: On your own in Montmartre.

Afternoon: We will visit Montmartre, a neighborhood made famous by past artists like Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Maurice Utrillo, Pablo Picasso, Vincent van Gogh, Edgar Degas, and Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec. It continues to be popular with current Parisian artists and writers. We will see the Sacré Coeur and Place du Tertre as well as explore the back and side streets of the neighborhood. We will return to the hotel via metro.

Dinner: Dinner with Meal Vouchers.

Evening: At leisure.

DAY
5
Transfer to Bayeux, Giverny, Monet's Garden, Rouen
Bayeux
B,L,D
Churchill Hotel

Activity note: Getting on/off motorcoach; driving approximately for 3.5 hours (about 180 miles, 290 km) from Paris to Bayeux with stops along the way; walking up to 3 miles throughout the day; standing for up to 1 hour at each visit; even and uneven ground; there are some steps at the Cathedral of Rouen that are unavoidable.

Breakfast: Hotel buffet.

Morning: We will depart Paris via motorcoach, and make our way to Bayeux. Our first stop along the way will be at Giverny. Here we will visit the beautiful gardens of Claude Monet. We will then head out to Rouen via motorcoach.

Lunch: On your own.

Afternoon: We will explore the historic city of Rouen that Monet painted multiple times during his studies of the impact of light. Rouen is also a city that offers outstanding examples of half-timbered houses. We will then continue on by motorcoach to Bayeux where we will check-in to the hotel.

Dinner: At a restaurant near the hotel in Bayeux, we’ll have a plated meal, with water and a soft drink included.

Evening: At leisure.

DAY
6
D-Day Landing Beaches, Normandy American Cemetery
Bayeux
B,L
Churchill Hotel

Activity note: Getting on/off motorcoach; driving 1.5 hours total, about 50 miles. Walking up to 3 miles throughout the day; standing for up to 2 hours; even and uneven terrain.

Breakfast: At the hotel, we will enjoy a breakfast buffet featuring egg dishes, breakfast meat, breads, cheese, cereals, jam, butter, yogurt, and fruit. Coffee, tea, juices, water included.

Morning: We will take the motorcoach to Arromanches. Upon arrival here, we will meet a local expert, who will provide information throughout the day. Here, we will see the remnants of the artificial harbor built by Allied troops to unload equipment during the D-Day landings. We will then drive to the Normandy American Cemetery to pay our respects to those who sacrificed their lives for liberty.

Lunch: At a local restaurant, we will enjoy a plated meal, with water and a soft drink included; other drinks available for purchase.

Afternoon: We will continue the afternoon on the landing beach of Omaha and learn about how the beachhead was taken, with great sacrifices from American troops. We will see and discuss many of the remaining gun positions that survive still today. Then we will explore Pointe du Hoc with our expert, who will explain how American Army Rangers took the heights under a hail of enemy fire. We will have an opportunity to sample the region's renowned calvados apple brandy and regional cheeses at the Château d'Englesqueville, where the first monument to honor American soldiers who fought here during WWII was built. Our Group Leader will lead us this afternoon. We will then have some time to ourselves. You may want to go and see the small, well-preserved cathedral in Bayeux.

Dinner: On your own in Bayeux.

Evening: At leisure.

DAY
7
Mont St. Michel
Bayeux
B,L
Churchill Hotel

Activity note: Getting on/off motorcoach; driving up to 4 hours (about 150 miles, 240 km) round trip from Bayeux to Mont St. Michel. Walking up to 3 miles; inclined terrain at Mont St. Michel; cobblestone streets; standing up to 2 hours at a time on uneven ground.

Breakfast: Hotel buffet.

Morning: We will depart via motorcoach for Mont Saint Michel, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This tiny tidal island houses the majestic St. Michel Monastery. We will use personal audio devices to explore the town and monastery independently.

Lunch: At a local farmhouse inn, we’ll enjoy a plated meal featuring Normandy specialties. Water and soft drinks included.

Afternoon: We will return to Bayeux via motorcoach, where we will have some time for independent exploration.

Dinner: On your own to enjoy what you like.

Evening: At leisure.

DAY
8
Honfleur
Roissy-en-France
B,L
Hotel Oceania Paris Roissy CDG

Activity note: Getting on/off motorcoach; driving approximately for 3.5 hours (about 180 miles, 290 km) from Bayeux to Paris with stops along the way. Walking up to 3 miles and standing for up to 2 hours on even and uneven ground.

Breakfast: Hotel buffet.

Morning: We will leave via motorcoach to enjoy the unique architecture of historic Honfleur. We will learn why this city has one of the few remaining all wooden churches and its important role in the settlement of New France. Then, we will discover the Musée Eugène Boudin with our Group Leader. Located in a 19th-century chapel and two modern extensions with views over Honfleur and the Seine, the Eugène Boudin Museum is named after Honfleur's most famous painter and houses some 1,200-square meters of permanent exhibitions in nine rooms. On display are works by Eugène Boudin and other great impressionists such as Dubourg, Monet, and Jongkind, many of whom stayed and worked at the Saint-Simeon farmhouse on the outskirts of Honfleur.

Lunch: Farewell lunch near the harbor

Afternoon: After a long farewell lunch, we will relax as we return to Paris via motorcoach and check into our hotel.

Dinner: On your own.

Evening: At leisure.

DAY
9
Program Concludes
In Flight
B

Activity note: Hotel check-out 12:00 Noon. See your program’s travel details regarding transfers.

Breakfast: At the hotel, we will enjoy a buffet including eggs, breads, cheese, cereals, jam, butter, yogurt, and fruit. Coffee, tea, juices, water included. This concludes our program.

Morning: Indvidual shuttles will provide transfers for those returning to the U.S. Note for participants combining this program with 21096: Since these programs are designed to be taken together, your transportation to AVignon has been arranged by Road Scholar and is complimentary (Transfer to train station and to hotel will be included). Your group Leader will have your train tickets. 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!






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