Oct 21 - Oct 31, 2024
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.
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11 days
10 nights
25 meals
9B 8L 8D
1
In Transit to Program
In Flight
4
Sens, Cruising the Yonne River
Montereau-Fault-Yonne
5
Camille Claudel Museum
Moret-sur-Loing
6
Fontainebleau
Melun
7
Barbizon
Evry
11
Program Concludes
In Flight
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
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 Théodore Rousseau and Jean-François 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-Oise to see the home and final resting place of Vincent van Gogh.
Featured Expert
All trip experts
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.
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.
Suggested Reading List
(17 books)
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 Art & History of France: A Barge Voyage on the Yonne & Seine
Program Number: 24422
F is for France: A Curious Cabinet of French Wonders
An alphabetized catalogue of quirky French culture and history tidbits.
How Paris Became Paris: The Invention of the Modern City
A captivating history of the growth, design, and planning of Paris, telling the story of how the modern city came to be.
My Life in France
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.
Monet at Giverny
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.
The Most Beautiful Walk in the World: A Pedestrian in Paris
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.
Paris Noir: African Americans in the City of Light
A history of black Americans who settled in Paris, France, from 1900 to the present.
Murder in the Marais
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
This pocket atlas contains detailed maps of every neighborhood in Paris, as well as details about bus and metro stops.
Markets of Paris
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.
The Hotel Majestic
The most famous fictional detective in France, Maigret, tackles a case in the heart of Paris.
The New Paris
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.
A Moveable Feast
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.
A Traveller's History of Paris
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.
Lonely Planet French Phrasebook
This handy phrasebook focuses on pronunciation, basic grammar and essential vocabulary for the traveler.
The Secret Life of the Seine
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
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
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.
