• Day 1: Arrival in Paris

Board the TGV and travel at high speed to Paris. You can also arrive by plane. In the afternoon, we'll meet at the hotel and set off by bus to discover the bustling metropolis along the Seine. We'll see world-famous monuments: on the Place de la Concorde stands a 22-metre-high obelisk, the start of the famous Champs-Élysées avenue, which stretches for almost two kilometers. We won't miss the Arc de Triomphe either! And of course, the Eiffel Tower! We'll make a brief photo stop at the Trocadero, from where we'll have the best view of the city's symbol. Over dinner in a restaurant, we'll get ready for the next few days. (A)

• Day 2: A stroll through Paris and the Louvre

We knew that the Paris metro is the fourth oldest in Europe, and has existed since the 1900 Universal Exhibition. The metro will take us quickly from place to place over the next few days. Our tour of the city begins on the Île de la Cité, near Notre-Dame de Paris. This Gothic cathedral, severely damaged by fire in April 2019, is the symbolic center of France. We'll take our lunch break in the Jardins des Tuileries, the former château park between Place de la Concorde and the Louvre. We'll then visit the Palais Royal. Richelieu, Louis XIV and Philippe d'Orléans all lived here. Today, there's hardly a more beautiful place in Paris than the galleries of the Palais Royal, with its boutiques, art galleries, bistros and restaurants. In the afternoon, we'll visit a special museum. The Louvre, once a royal palace, is now the world's largest museum. We'll stroll through the vast collections. We'll see the sublime beauty of the "Venus de Milo" and discuss the mysterious smile of the "Mona Lisa". Did the artist Leonardo da Vinci use a male model, or perhaps even portray himself with a healthy dose of irony? (F)

• Day 3: A stroll through Paris and a cruise on the Seine

We'll be craving the ambiance of the Belle Époque - we'll head up to Montmartre: we'll stroll around Place du Tertre, admire the Sacré-Coeur and enjoy the breathtaking view over the famous rooftops of Paris. Afterwards, we'll stroll through one of Paris' most interesting districts: the Marais. Our guide will tell us about the evolution of this district, which no longer bears any resemblance to Victor Hugo's 1831 description. We'll perhaps arrive at the city's most beautiful square: the Place des Vosges. In the afternoon, we'll head east of Paris to the new district around the Bibliothèque Nationale. In the late afternoon, we'll meet under the equestrian statue of Henri IV for a cruise on the Seine. Let the world's most famous cityscape pass us by! (F)

• Day 4: Art and commerce

Where travelers once arrived and departed, today we discover the art of the 19th century. The Musée d'Orsay, housed in a former railway station, boasts an impressive collection of Impressionist works and offers a comprehensive overview of Belle Époque culture. We'll stroll through the 19th-century passages and finish our tour at the Opéra, near the Galeries Lafayette department store. Here's a tip: go inside, take the escalators up to the 6th floor terrace. You'll have a magnificent view over the rooftops of Paris. If you wish, visit the nearby Musée du Parfum and immerse yourself in the colorful world of perfume. As an option, in the evening you can enjoy the magnificent panorama of the city between the Eiffel Tower and the Pont Neuf aboard an all-glass boat. Every evening, a refined menu is prepared, accompanied by delicious wines. Let yourself be pampered by attentive service and live music (F).

• Day 5: The gardens of Versailles

Today, you have a choice. Either enjoy Paris at your leisure, or come with us to Versailles. We'll discover the splendor deployed here for the French court. We'll stroll through the vast park of the château, which has become the symbol of the Baroque garden throughout Europe. It is entirely designed according to geometrical principles, with vast vistas determining the whole. To demonstrate their perfect mastery of nature, the marshes were drained and subjected to the geometry of the garden. Just as the absolute king Louis XIV saw himself as the center of political power, the Versailles garden was also oriented towards the Sun King. Later in the day in Paris, you'll have time to enjoy a café au lait in the artistic cafés of Saint-Germain-des-Prés or stroll through the Luxembourg Gardens. (F, A)

• Day 6: Return - See you in Paris!

Let's make the most of the last few hours in this metropolis of joie de vivre. Let's take one last stroll along the neighboring boulevards and covered passages. Why not take a little "Savoir vivre" home with us! We'll say our goodbyes and make our way to the airport or train station to take the plane or train home (F).

Schedules, flight itineraries, hotels and programs are subject to change.

(B=Breakfast, D=Dinner)