TRIP CANCELLED
Price
$4,485 per person ($500 deposit)
+$1,270 for a single room
Travel with us to southwestern France’s most exciting landscapes, from the European capital of culture Marseille to the medieval walled town of Carcassonne! Start the journey in Marseille with its over-two-millennia-old history, head west through Montpellier and Arles with their incredible art galleries and architecture, and end your time in the cities of Camon, Carcassonne, and Toulouse.
Tour Highlights
- Walk to the 600-BCE Old Port in Marseille, stopping at Fort St Jean and the bohemian Cours Julien
- Wander through Marseille’s Villa Méditeranée and La Vieille Charité
- Visit Notre-Dame de la Garde
- Explore Arles, one of Van Gogh’s biggest inspirations
- Discover Frank Gehry’s The Tower
- Stay in the heart of Marseille at the Mercure Canebière
- Wander through the bustling market in Mirepoix
- Journey through the stunning ruins of Lagarde Castle
- Explore the Cité Médiévale of Carcassonne and its Museum of Fine Art
- Enjoy an excursion through the Toulouse, a city invigorated by art and cuisine
- Enjoy staying in the beautifully restored Château de Camon
Tour Cost Includes:
- Accommodation based on double occupancy
- Daily full breakfast, four lunches, and four dinners
- Glass of wine at welcome and farewell dinner
- Sightseeing, tours, entrances and transportation (public and private) detailed in the full itinerary available upon request
- Services of a Distant Horizons Tour Manager
- Gratuities to drivers and local guides
Tour Cost Doesn’t Include:
- Airfare and travel to and from France
- Transfer from Marseille airport
- Meals not listed
- Gratuities to tour manager
- Porterage at hotel
- Drinks other than the glasses of wine at the welcome and farewell dinners
- Travel insurance
Itinerary
Our program begins in Marseille with a tour of the Old Port. This port city is shedding much of its once-gritty reputation and emerging as a place where ambitious cultural and culinary offerings take center stage.
We’ll begin our three-day visit by enjoying a walking tour of the city. Walk to the 14th-century Fort St Jean with its commanding views over the blue waters of Marseille. Spend time at the Villa Méditeranée a museum that seeks to celebrate Mediterranean culture and stroll through La Vieille Charité, Cours Julien, and visit the world-famous French artist C215 street art murals. You may decide to rest at a cafe after out walking tour or continue to visit Le Corbusier’s UNESCO heritage site, the Radiant City, and French poet Jean Adamo’s Monument Arthur Rimbaud. On our last day in Marseille, marvel at the Notre-Dame de la Garde, which is perched high atop a hill where a gilded statue of the Virgin could guide ships in from the sea, before we visit some of the fine local art galleries.
From Marseille, we head to Montpellier, where we’ll spend the night, stopping at the Chateau La Coste, an amazing art space, and marvel at stunning works by Richard Serra, Louise Bourgeois, Sean Scully, and Hiroshi. Continue to Arles, visiting Frank Gehry’s The Tower at Luma Arles. Arles is filled with Roman treasures and shady squares that you may want to explore further. And if its colorful, sunbaked houses evoke a sense of déjà vu, it’s because you’ve seen them already on a Van Gogh canvas—the artist painted 200-odd works around town.
The next day we head to Camon, stopping first at the splendid city of Mirepoix, a medieval town dating back to the 11th century. Today is bustling market day, when the central square turns into one of the biggest and most beautiful outdoor markets in the region. Stop and see the castle ruins of Lagarde, with quite a commanding presence overlooking the valley below. Our day ends in Camon and the splendid Château de Camon. Built originally as a Benedictine monastery and set in a castle in the fortified village of Camon, L’Abbaye-Château de Camon is beautifully restored, with an exquisite salon, sixteen individually decorated rooms, and a terrace running the length of the chateau, offering views of the landscaped gardens.
Enjoy a full day trip to Carcassonne and step back in time at the marvelous Cité Médiévale. Built on a steep spur of rock, Carcassonne’s rampart-ringed fortress dates back more than two millennia and is an outstanding example of a medieval fortified city. Before returning to Camon, you may decide to stop at the Carcassonne Fine Arts Museum, which presents a rich panorama of Western painting.
The last day will be in Toulouse, a city of pink stone invigorated by art and cuisine. The ochre rooftops and blushing brick churches have earned the city the nickname La Ville Rose. Begin with a walking tour of Place du Capitole (the grandiose main square), the Théâtre du Capitole (one of France’s most premier opera houses), and the medieval Vieux Quartier. Experience a food tour with a local chef and visit the cutting-edge gallery, Les Abattoirs. Return to Camon for a beautiful farewell dinner in the Chateau.
Our ART LOVER’S tours are organized and sponsored by the MAG Council to benefit MAG and are open to all interested travelers.
For more information, email Michelle Turner at mt1@rochester.rr.com or Emily Whitson at emilyw@distant-horizons.com.
For questions or assistance, please contact the MAG Council at magcouncil@mag.rochester.edu or 585.276.8910.
Anyone unable to attend a MAG Council Art Tour must make their request for a refund by contacting the MAG Council Office prior to the event registration deadline. For international/overnight tour refunds, the policy of the managing travel agency will take precedence.
If it is necessary for the MAG Council to cancel an Art Tour, all payments made will be refunded in full.
The Memorial Art Gallery’s tour operator, Distant Horizons, is a California Seller of Travel (CST #2046776-40) and a participant in the California Travel Restitution Fund. Information regarding the rights of California residents to make a claim may be found at tcrcinfo.org. California law requires certain sellers of travel to have a trust account or bond. Distant Horizons has a trust account.