Belle Époque Paris Tour

Travel to Paris

Take a morning train from London to Paris or, if travelling by coach, take the short sea ferry crossing from Dover to Calais and make your way to Paris.   On arrival in Paris meet up with a local guide for a short Paris discovery bus tour. We will make a special stop at Avenue Rapp to wonder at the extraordinary, flamboyant and eccentric architecture of renowned Art Nouveau architect Jules Lavirotte.  Continue to the hotel for next 3 nights.

Enjoy a Welcome dinner in a traditional Parisian Brassiere this evening.

Galeries Lafayette, Palais Garnier and historic arcades

Quick stop to admire the stately architecture of Gare St Lazare train station, before arriving at Galeries Lafayette for a private heritage tour. Here you will discover this amazing department store, admire the stained glass dome and back stage treasures. The store is a true Art Nouveau masterpiece and one of the most iconic architectural monuments in Paris.

Afterwards, we continue to the 19^th century Palais Garnier. This world-famous opera house is also known as the Opera Garnier, here you will marvel at the building’s spectacular structure and ornate stonework.

Lunch at Les Noces de Jeannette, a restaurant with more than a century of history. Inside, the décor evokes the story of Opéra Comique and Paris’s iconic Grands Boulevards.

In the afternoon, we enjoy a guided walk through the historic Parisian arcades. Galerie Vivenne, a covered mall built in 1823 to plans by architect François-Jean Delanno. The Passage des Panoramas built in 1799, is considered to be the first covered walkway in Paris and has retained its old-fashioned charm. Passage Jouffery built in 1836, is one of the most visited covered arcades in the capital. Passage-Choiseul an iconic passage in the Opéra district, here you can admire the recently restored glorious glass roof.

Your tour ends at La Samaritaine where you have free time. This is one of the original department stores in Paris and one of the most impressive buildings in the 1st arrondissement of Paris. Newly re-opened to the public for the first time in several decades. La Samaritaine features plenty of Art Nouveau architecture, as well as several restaurants and plenty of concept shopping opportunities.

The evening will be at leisure.

Museum D’Orsay and the chic 16^th district

Morning visit to Museum D’Orsay, located on the Left Bank of the Seine. It is housed in the former Gare d’Orsay, a Beaux-Arts railway station built between 1898 and 1900. The Museum holds mainly French art dating from 1848 to 1914, including paintings, sculptures, furniture, and photography.

Optional lunch at the Musee d’ Orsay

In the afternoon, we enjoy a guided walking tour around Paris’ 16th arrondissement, notable for its art nouveau buildings and public structures. Visit neighbourhood townhouses, hotels, and see the many iconic metro entrances built by Hector Guimard, a leading figure of the art nouveau movement.

The evening will be at leisure.

Return to the UK

Transfer to the station for the Eurostar to London or drive to Calais for the short sea ferry crossing to the UK.