Winter in France: Culture & Charm on the French Riviera

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

Afternoon: Orientation: The Group Leader will greet everyone with a warm welcome and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule and any changes, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer any questions you may have. Please note that due to winter hours, there may be last minute itinerary changes. In the event of a change we will alert you as quickly as possible. Free time is reserved for your personal independent exploration. Please note that program activities, schedules, and personnel may need to change due to local circumstances. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding.

Dinner: At a local restaurant.

Evening: At leisure. Continue getting to know your fellow participants, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead.

Activity note: The center of Old Nice is pedestrian-only, thus only accessible on foot. Walking up to 3 miles in Old Nice on cobblestone streets and uneven ground; standing for up to 1 hour at a time during activities.

Breakfast: Hotel buffet includes breads and pastries, fruits, yogurts, cheeses, cereal, and a selection of coffee, tea, juice, and water.

Morning: At the hotel, we will enjoy an expert lecture on the history of the Riviera, presented by the Group Leader. With our Group leader, we will discover and savor the flavors of Nice as we explore the famous local food and flower market and stop at artisan shops where local specialties are made.

Lunch: on own

Afternoon: Together, we will embark on a brief walking exploration of the old town.

Dinner: At a local restaurant.

Evening: At leisure.

Activity note: Getting on/off motorcoach. Walking up to 2.5 miles throughout the day. Standing for up to 2 hours.

Breakfast: Hotel buffet.

Morning: We will head out on our motorcoach to Antibes to explore the Picasso Museum. Rising high over the Mediterranean, the Picasso Museum occupies the stunning medieval Château Grimaldi. As rulers of Monaco, the Grimaldi family lived here until the revolution. Picasso was offered use of the chateau in 1946, resulting in over 200 works by the artist including paintings, ceramics, and lithographs inspired by the sea and by Mediterranean themes and Greek mythology. The museum also includes pieces by Miró, Calder, Léger and the Russian-born artist Nicholas de Staël.

Lunch: In Antibes, at a local restaurant.

Afternoon: We will continue to discover Antibes with our Group Leader. We will return to Nice by motorcoach

Dinner: On your own to choose what you like.

Evening: At leisure.

Activity note: Getting on/off motorcoach. Walking up to 3 miles throughout the day at Cimiez Hill and art museums. Standing for up to 1.5 hours at during each museum visit.

Breakfast: Hotel buffet.

Morning: At the hotel, we will enjoy an expert lecture on art in the Riviera, and learn about the strong influence that the Riviera and Southern France had on art and artists ranging from Picasso to Matisse. We will then depart the hotel via motorcoach for an overview of the sites of Nice. We will see the Russian Orthodox church, stop on the hill for a panoramic view of the city, and drive along the Promenade des Anglais. Next, we will depart for the Cimiez Hill Neighborhood to explore the gardens of the Monastery of Cimiez, which feature the ruins of Nice's Roman past and the Matisse Museum. We will visit the Matisse Museum and see a comprehensive collection of the artist's works. Pieces from all periods of his life offer a comprehensive panorama: from the first paintings made in 1890 to the famous gouache cutouts, 236 drawings, 218 engravings, and the complete presentation of the books illustrated by the artist.

Lunch: At a local restaurant near the harbor.

Afternoon: We will travel to the Chagall Museum. This Museum features Biblical scenes illustrated in 17 large paintings, sculptures, stained glass windows, mosaics, and tapestries. There are also 205 preparatory sketches, 39 gouaches (1930), 105 engravings (1956), and 215 lithographs. We will return to the hotel by motorcoach

Dinner: On your own to explore the local fare.

Evening: At leisure.

Activity note: Getting on/off motorcoach. Walking up to 2 miles in Monaco on uneven ground, flat surfaces, and inclined terrain; walking approximately 1 mile at Villla Euphrasi with some unavoidable steps in gardens. Standing for 1.5 hours at a time during activities.

Breakfast: Hotel buffet.

Morning: We will set out for a scenic drive via motorcoach along the Middle Corniche road, offering breathtaking views of the Mediterranean coast, making our way towards the Principality of Monaco. Upon our arrival to Monaco, we will walk to the Prince's Palace, where we will see the Changing of the Guard.

Lunch: On your own to enjoy what you would like.

Afternoon: We will head via motorcoach to the Villa Euphrasi to learn about the story of Béatrice de Rothschild. Uncover the many tales of her life and passions. Explore the Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild; her rose-colored villa, then filled the mansion with antique furniture, Old Master paintings, sculptures, objets d'art, and an extensive collection of rare porcelain. The gardens are one of the most beautiful in all of France.

Dinner: On your own.

Evening: At leisure.

Activity note: Walking up and down a hill in St. Paul de Vence (at your leisure); .

Breakfast: Hotel buffet.

Morning: Via motorcoach we will go to the hill town of St. Paul de Vence. As one of the oldest medieval towns on the French Riviera, it is well known for its picturesque, winding streets, modern and contemporary art museums and galleries such as Fondation Maeght. The Maeght Foundation is a private museum of modern art that houses paintings, sculptures, collages, ceramics and all forms of modern art by many important 20th-century artists including Pierre Bonnard, Georges Braque, Alexander Calder, Marc Chagall, Sam Francis, Alberto Giacometti, Alexander Calder, Wassily Kandinsky, Ellsworth Kelly, Fernand Léger and Joan Miró. Following this visit, you will have some Free Time to explore the village of St. Paul de Vence on your own.

Lunch: Participants will be given “tickets restaurant” (or meal vouchers) that can be used at select restaurants, bakeries, brasseries and cafes. Choose what you would prefer to eat from any eatery that has a "TR" sticker on the front window to designate that they accept meal vouchers. Change is not given back if your meal cost is less that the value of the voucher provided. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions and directions.

Afternoon: We will continue on to Vence to examine the Chapel of the Rosary, a unique building which was designed and constructed by Henri Matisse as a monument to the gratitude he felt towards his nurse Monique Bourgeois. Matisse designed every element of the building, from the exterior to the details of decoration - a culmination of his artistic life. (Please note the chapel is closed annually from mid-November to mid-December and may not be available on all program dates and will be replaced by the Fernand Leger Museum in Biot).

Dinner: At a local restaurant near the hotel, we will celebrate our learning adventure with a delicious meal.

Evening: At leisure.Say farewell to new Road Scholar friends and prepare for departure in the morning.

Activity note: Hotel check-out is 12:00 noon.

Breakfast: Hotel buffet. This concludes our program. 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. Please join our Facebook page and share photos of your program. Visit us at www.facebook.com/rsadventures. Best wishes for all your journeys!