Let’s experience the vision of this incredible chateau – and do it without waiting in line! We’ll see how its architecture and perspective illustrate the absolute power of a king who wanted a new seat, far from the dangers of Paris. What exactly is this Art of Architecture and gardens à la Française that all of Europe at the time tried to imitate – but never quite equaled.

Different possibilities :

• The Grands Appartements plus gardens
• The Royal Gardens (between March and October)
• The Queen’s Domaine (The Petit Trianon, The Queen’s Hamlet)
• The Grands Appartements, Gardens and The Queen’s Domaine (full day)

All aboard for modernity! The Museé d’Orsay is housed in the former Gare d’Orsay, a train station built with no expense spared for the World Expo of 1900. Many of the works of art now inside were the subject of scandal, and therefore right at the forefront of modernity. Which artworks were considered scandalous and why is the subject of one of our tours of the Orsay. Or we can simply discover the greatest masterworks of this huge museum.

At this exquisite private villa from the 18^th century, that the Master Sculptor used for his receptions, we’ll look at the stages of Rodin’s career and the unique method he used for modelling clay, then marble.

We’ll find out how he was influenced by the Asiatic Art he discovered at the World Expos – fabulous melting pots of creativity – as were many artists of time, including Rodin’s lover and student Camille Claudel.

The Paris Opéra is a monument that overwhelms, as much for its remarkable exterior as for its extravagant interior. Conceived as a sacred space, the idea is that the visitor is supposed to lose sense of time and space as they move through its rooms. We’ll progress up the extraordinary grand staircase to the Grand Foyer, seen by many as more beautiful than Versailles’ Hall of Mirrors, into the auditorium, to admire Chagall’s stunning ceiling, while looking in on the famous Phantom of the Opera…

NOT CURRENTLY AVAILABLE

Most famous of all of France’s cathedrals, built in the gothic style invented by the French in 1137, Notre Dame still guards her secrets; Of the twelve apostles keeping watch over the spire, why are all facing toward Paris, except one, Saint Thomas? Which is the most important relic protected in the Treasury of the cathedral today? What does it mean when it’s said the building is harmonic? From which group of merchants has a testimonial been found underneath the crypt of Notre Dame?

These two architectural masterpieces were once part of the Palais de la Cité, royal residence of the Valois and Capetien families. How was Saint-Louis aka Louis the IX trying to transform Paris into a New Jerusalem? Why was Paris the richest capital in Europe and why did Phillip the Fair need a room just for his guards?

Situated in the old orangery of the gardens of the Palace of the Tuileries, come and discover Monet’s famous Waterlilies. And one of Europe’s most beautiful collection of Impressionist paintings, the Collection Jean Walter and Paul Guilhaume, where you’ll learn the incredible story of Domenica, femme fatale of both these gifted art collectors.

The most famous art gallery in the world, and the largest, the Louvre’s magnificence can be overwhelming to any visitor. It covers a huge period of time, from treasures of ancient civilisations to iconic masterpieces. Skip the queues, choose what interests you and be guided by an expert who knows what is where.

• The Masterpieces
• The Italian Renaissance
• Treasures of Antiquity: Mesopotamia, Egypt, Greece
• The Louvre as Imperial Palace

This collection of belle-époque, realist, impressionist and Dutch paintings, located in an architectural gem built for the 1900 World Expo, houses works from Rembrandt, Courbet and Monet. Yet here you are far from the masses of tourists found elsewhere. The Petit Palais offers a quiet, luxurious space to contemplate and admire these masterpieces.