loading spinner
France

The Art & History of France: A Barge Voyage on the Yonne & Seine

Program No. 24422RJ
Bonjour! Join us for a riverboat voyage along the Seine to explore Paris, enjoy field trips to the homes of famous artists, walk in the gardens of the Palace of Fontainbleau and more.

Enroll with Confidence

We want your Road Scholar learning adventure to be something to look forward to—not worry about. Learn more

Protecting the Environment

We offset a portion of the emissions created by your travel. Learn more

Prefer to enroll or inquire by phone? 800-454-5768
Select your type of room
Price will update based on selection
Prices displayed below are based on per person,doubleoccupancy.

DATES & PRICES

Ship Outside
Apr 22 - May 2, 2024
SOLD OUT
Ship Outside 5,899
May 20 - May 30, 2024
SOLD OUT
Ship Outside 5,899
Filling Fast!
Jun 17 - Jun 27, 2024
Ship Outside 5,899
Sep 9 - Sep 19, 2024
SOLD OUT
Ship Outside 5,899

DATES & PRICES

Ship Outside
Filling Fast!
Apr 22 - May 2, 2024
Ship Outside 7,899
May 20 - May 30, 2024
SOLD OUT
Ship Outside 7,899
Jun 17 - Jun 27, 2024
SOLD OUT
Ship Outside 7,899
Sep 9 - Sep 19, 2024
SOLD OUT
Ship Outside 7,899
Oct 21 - Oct 31, 2024
SOLD OUT
Ship Outside 7,899

At a Glance

Board a charmingly authentic barge for a voyage along the Seine on a journey that leads through the artworks and history of France. Begin your learning adventure by spending one night in Paris, an opportunity that allows for a field trip to the Champagne region to explore the home of Auguste Renoir in Essoyes. Then, embark your riverboat on the Seine to thrill in the French countryside and make stops that allow you to explore the gothic cathedral of Sens, the Palace of Fontainebleau renowned for its magnificent gardens and the village of Barbizon that gave life to its own school of painting. Marvel in the architecture of the Chateau de Vaux-le-Vicomte, enjoy expert-led field trips at the Musee d’Orsay and Basilica of Saint Denis, and be transported back in time as you explore the homes of Claude Monet and Vincent Van Gogh.
Activity Level
Let's Go!
Walking up to three miles; cobblestones; standing up to one hour at a time.
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.

Best of all, you’ll…

  • Journey by motorcoach to Essoyes in the champagne region to explore the home and studio of Auguste Renoir.
  • Enjoy a field trip to the village of Barbizon to learn about artists like Theodore Rousseau and Jean-Francois Millet who became members of the Barbizon School of painting.
  • Thrill in an exploration of the home and gardens of Claude Monet at his home in Giverny, and journey to Auvers-sur-Olise to see the home and final resting place of Vincent Van Gogh.
Featured Expert
All Experts
Profile Image
Jennifer Burdon
Born and raised in York, England, Jennifer Burdon has been living in Paris for many years. She holds a master’s degree from Durham University where she specialized in 19th-century French literature and art history. Jennifer leads excursions in Paris, specializing in Impressionism, the French Revolution, the experiences of African-Americans in Paris and Ernest Hemingway. She has also written for a small British paper focused on the Parisian art scene. Jennifer enjoys sharing her knowledge of the city with charm and a subtle British wit.

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

Profile Image of Jennifer Burdon
Jennifer Burdon View biography
Born and raised in York, England, Jennifer Burdon has been living in Paris for many years. She holds a master’s degree from Durham University where she specialized in 19th-century French literature and art history. Jennifer leads excursions in Paris, specializing in Impressionism, the French Revolution, the experiences of African-Americans in Paris and Ernest Hemingway. She has also written for a small British paper focused on the Parisian art scene. Jennifer enjoys sharing her knowledge of the city with charm and a subtle British wit.
Visit the Road Scholar Bookshop
You can find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
The New Paris
by Lindsey Tramuta
Move past the clichés and learn about what makes up Paris today. Explore the open-minded sensibility, diverse populations, and hidden corners of The New Paris.
Murder in the Marais
by Cara Black
Literate and thrilling, with a strong sense of the geography and flavor of Paris, the first in a series of mysteries starring Aimee Ledoc shows off the French-American detective's wit and wile. The series continues with Murder in Belleville (FRN562), Murder in the Sentier (FRN563) and many more.
Paris Pratique Par Arrondissement
by Atlas Indispensable
This pocket atlas contains detailed maps of every neighborhood in Paris, as well as details about bus and metro stops.
The Hotel Majestic
by Georges Simenon
The most famous fictional detective in France, Maigret, tackles a case in the heart of Paris.
Markets of Paris
by Dixon Long & Marjorie Williams
An in-depth guide to the best markets in Paris. Dive into the heart of French culture and navigate the markets like a local with maps, tips, and handy phrases.
How Paris Became Paris: The Invention of the Modern City
by Joan DeJean
A captivating history of the growth, design, and planning of Paris, telling the story of how the modern city came to be.
Lonely Planet French Phrasebook
by Marie-Helene Girard, Anny Monet
This handy phrasebook focuses on pronunciation, basic grammar and essential vocabulary for the traveler.
My Life in France
by Julia Child
The touching and famous story of Julia Child in France, where she learned to cook and fell in love with French cuisine, all in her own words.
A Moveable Feast
by Ernest Hemingway
A treasure for anyone interested in Parisian cafe society and its luminaries circa 1925. Hemingway includes sharp portraits of Gertrude Stein, Ezra Pound, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Ford Maddox Ford and others who idled on their way to greatness.
The Most Beautiful Walk in the World: A Pedestrian in Paris
by John Baxter
Australian critic and writer Baxter draws on his second career as a literary tour guide in his adopted city for this witty memoir, laced with terrific tales.
The Secret Life of the Seine
by Mort Rosenblum
After losing his Paris apartment, Rosenblum, a born storyteller, takes to a houseboat moored on the Seine. The result is this entertaining tour of the places and people he encounters during his explorations along the river.
The Food & Wine of France: Eating & Drinking from Champagne to Provence
by Edward Behr
Behr seeks out the best of French food, in encounters from Champagne to Provence, to tell the stories of French artisans and chefs who work at the highest level. He shares what he learns from these experts on French traditions and how to best enjoy this food.
The Flaneur: A Stroll through the Paradoxes of Paris
by Edmund White
A 'flaneur' is a stroller, a loiterer, someone who ambles through city streets in search of adventure and fulfillment. Edmund White, who lived in Paris for sixteen years, wanders through the streets and avenues and along the quays, into parts of Paris virtually unknown to visitors and indeed to many Parisians.
Paris Noir: African Americans in the City of Light
by Tyler Stovall
A history of black Americans who settled in Paris, France, from 1900 to the present.
Monet at Giverny
by Caroline Holmes
Claude Monet spent the last 43 years of his long life at Giverny, creating the paintings and gardens for which he is now revered. From the standpoint of his garden this book considers the controlling intelligence behind both landscape and art, and the influences that shaped Monet’s life and vision.
F is for France: A Curious Cabinet of French Wonders
by Piu Eatwell
An alphabetized catalogue of quirky French culture and history tidbits.
A Traveller's History of Paris
by Robert Coles
A fast-moving, short survey of French history with a focus on Paris from its foundation, through the heady days of revolution and up to modern times.





Important registration tip:
If you want to attend the live lecture, please do not wait until the last minute to enroll.
If you enroll after a lecture is complete, we’ll send you a recording of the event.