home of american impressionism

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Stress-free travel

Please note that this trip has been filled.
For more information or to be put on a waiting list, call the Museum at (860) 434-5542, ext. 111.

There is an informational meeting for Barge Trip
Wednesday, November 17, 7pm

The School of Barbizon
and French Impressionism

September 30 - October 10, 2011

A Barge Trip from Paris to Barbizon, October 2011
Hosted by Jeff Andersen, Director, Florence Griswold Museum

$2,995 (land cost per person, based on double occupancy)

Contact International Barging Tours for additional information
or to register for this trip (860) 767-7005

Single accommodations are not available on this trip due to limited cabins, however, IBT will assist in pairing up single travelers.

Join friends and other Museum members for an extraordinary 10-day barging trip in France. This fantastic travel opportunity is hosted by Museum Director Jeff Andersen and presented by International Barging Tours, the same outfit that presented the very successful barge trip in the Netherlands earlier this year. Once in France, our group will embark on the Fleur, a ten-cabin private barge departing from Paris, and travel east and south along the Seine and Loing rivers to explore picturesque villages, historic chateaux, and magnificent formal gardens. Together, our intimate band of travelers will discover masterworks from the School of Barbizon and French Impressionism, art styles integrally linked to the art and history of the Lyme Art Colony and the Florence Griswold Museum. We will absorb the beautiful landscape that inspired the artists and be immersed in the lush and relaxing French way of life. This well-crafted trip includes expert lectures by art historians and tours by professional guides throughout. Program highlights include guided tours in the Chateau Vaux-le-Vicomte, Chateau Fontainebleau, and Chateau-Landon, the artistic ateliers of Jean-Francois Millet and Rosa Bonheur, the Auberge Ganne -- home to many of the Barbizon painters -- and memorable sojourns in the creative hamlets of Barbizon, Moret-sur-Loing, and Giverny where Claude Monet’s house and gardens can be toured along with the Museum of Impressionisms. The Musée d’Orsay will be a featured stop in Paris.

The land cost includes group transfer from the Paris airport to the barge, seven
nights accommodations on a deluxe barge, two nights in a Paris hotel, breakfast and dinner daily, all sightseeing and entrance fees, lectures by art historians, all taxes and tips, and group transfer from Paris hotel to airport.

Day-by-day Itinerary

Day 1
Paris
Upon arrival at the airport, you will be met by your group leader. From there you will coach to your barge in Paris. After dropping off your belongings on the barge, you will have time to explore the "city of light" on your own. Your group will meet again in the late afternoon for a briefing of the days to come and an onboard safety lecture, after which you will join your fellow travelers for a welcome dinner. In the evening, the barge motors on the river Seine to just outside Paris where it moors for the night.

Day 2
Melun
After breakfast, travel by coach to Chateau Vaux-le-Vicomte. In addition to the beautiful furnishings, you will see an exciting exhibition about the famous garden designer, André le Nôtre, best known for his work on the gardens of Versailles. You will enjoy lunch on your own at the chateau before the group continues to the village of Barbizon, where the first stop is Auberge Ganne for a fascinating lecture about the Barbizon School of painting. Your tour continues next door, at the house and atelier (workshop or studio) of Theodore Rousseau, a well-known artist of the realism movement. Lastly, enjoy a tour in the atelier of Jean-Francois Millet, who played a very important role in the evolution of French drawing. Your barge is waiting nearby in Melun.

Day 3
Moret-sur-Loing
Today, you will visit the famous Chateau Fontainebleau.This chateau was redesigned, modified and furnished for Napoleon 1st, as a symbol of wealth and grandeur. It was here that he abdicated the throne in 1814. The gardens, designed by le Nôtre, are well worth a visit. After lunch travel to nearby Thomery where you will attend a lecture at the atelier of Rosa Bonheur, a Barbizon painter and sculptor who in addition to painting animals, found much of her inspiration at Chateau Fontainebleau. Our trusted barge awaits your return in Moret-sur-Loing.

Day 4
Nemours
Before leaving the barge, your local guide will come aboard and introduce you to the charming town of Moret-sur-Loing. Afterwards, you will enjoy a walk “in the footsteps” of British Impressionist, Alfred Sisley, who lived and worked in the village. Along the way, you will discover where and how he got his inspiration. We will enjoy an afternoon of barging on the Loing river to our next destination, Nemours.

Day 5
Neronville
Today’s journey takes you to Egreville and the garden of Antoine Bourdelle, a sculptor known for his larger-than-life-size figures full of intricate details, and who was also once an assistant to the great Auguste Rodin. After visiting this unique garden, you continue to the medieval town of Chateau-Landon for lunch. In the afternoon you will visit an atelier where molds for sculptural reproductions are made. Neronville is the day’s destination.

Day 6
Montargis
Today's schedule includes a wonderful excursion to two smaller artist communities with strong ties to the Barbizon school of painting. The day kicks off with a visit to the town of Bourron Marlotte to meet your local guide, followed by a coach ride to the scenic "pleine verte" where many famous Frenchmen, including Cezanne had homes and many others came to enjoy "Bohemian weekends". Next, you will learn about the painters who once lived in the village of Bourron Marlotte. Before lunch, we explore a studio of a local artist for a coffee break in true artistic fashion: surrounded by the painter's artwork. Afterwards, you will coach to Grez-sur-Loing, to visit a bridge that became the subject of many Barbizon painters. After admiring the bridge over the river Loing, the day is capped off by a stop at the town hall's painting collection, before returning to the barge.

Day 7
Montargis
After breakfast, our coach takes you to the Maritime museum in Briare to learn about the design of the local canal by celebrated artist and engineer, Gustave Eiffel. The lecture is followed up with a walk to the canal bridge. Afterwards, we return to Montargis and visit the Musée Girodet. You have the rest of the day to explore the shops and bridges in Montargis. Tonight we have our last dinner on the barge.

Day 8
Paris
After breakfast we return to Paris by coach. Once your bags are dropped off at the hotel, you will continue to Musee d’Orsay, where you will be treated to a lecture in the museum focusing on the French Impressionists and the School of Barbizon. You will have time to spend at the museum to continue your exploration of this art movement. The rest of the day is yours to discover Paris.

Day 9
Paris
A super day lies ahead: a bus will take you to Giverny where you will visit the home and gardens of Monet. Next door, in the Museum of American Art, a docent will enhance your understanding of American Impressionists, such as Homer, Whistler and Hopper. On your last night in Paris, enjoy a farewell dinner at a nearby restaurant.

Day 10
Departure
Group departure to Charles de Gaulle Airport.