Our tour will begin with an afternoon visit to the splendid Hôtel
de Lauzun on the Ile-St-Louis, a townhouse or hôtel particulier
of the Louis XIV period. We have permission, in principle, to see the
fabulous Galerie Dorée of the Banque de France,
which offers the Baroque at its most spectacular. In the Marais district
the salons of the Hôtel de Soubise, the Bibliothèque
de l’Arsenal and the Hôtel de Rohan display the lighter tastes
of the rococo. By contrast, the eccentric Deyrolle on the Rive Gauche
is an intriguing addition to the list of 18th-century interiors in Paris.
Our hotel is on the Rive Droite, close to the Place Vendôme
and the Louvre. A visit to the nearby Hôtel
de Charost, residence of the British Ambassador since 1814, promises
to be a highlight of our stay. Different phases of neo-classicism appear
in a number of mansions, such as the Hôtel de Bourrienne,
with Napoleonic decoration. They culminate in the grandest Empire interior
in Paris, which we will include, subject to special permission.
There will be an excursion to the Château de Bagatelle,
originally an 18th-century hunting lodge, to the Château de Malmaison
and to La Petite Malmaison, built by Empress Josephine.
Moving on into the late 19th-century and Art Deco periods, we plan to
include the lavish interior of the former Hotel Potocki.
On the last evening we hope to visit a magnificent privately-owned townhouse
on the Ile-St-Louis. |
PRICE
l £1,280
The cost includes accommodation in a comfortable hotel in Paris (4 nights);
ground transport by private coach; all meals except two dinners; guides;
taxes; entrance fees and the services of a lecturer and a tour organiser.
Please note: Flight/Eurostar arrangements and transfers
are not included.
Single room supplement £280
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