Today we will visit the single largest building in Paris, the largest palace in Europe and the largest museum in the western world-home to more than 500,000 works of art! It would take a lifetime to see them all. Your leader will choose several of these great art treasures to show you, complete with commentary on the background and the creation of each work. You'll see the Venus de Milo, the Mona Lisa, the Sphinx, the Victory of Samothrace, Michelangelo's Slaves and a variety of extraordinary paintings, with time for personal exploration on your own, after lunch.

The remainder of the afternoon is free---stay in the Louvre as long as you'd like, or continue your personal exploration of the "City of Light" on your own. With your subway and museum passes there is no extra cost. This evening, after dinner, we will visit Vaux-le-Vicomte.

Vaux-le-Vicomte "1,000 candle visit"

Vaux-le-Vicomte is a masterpiece from the 17th century that took 18,000 workers 5 years to complete. Today it is beautifully restored-the gardens alone cover more than 125 acres and are stunning. Listen to the history of this extraordinary château and learn its secrets. We'll visit the castle after the sun sets and experience the castle as those who lived in it did--without electricity. You'll marvel at the myriad of rooms filled with paintings, art treasures, tapestries and antique furnishings in the softness and shadows of candlelight. By special reservation, we are going to visit the castle and gardens by the light of 1,000 candles!

"My spirit has been refreshed, renewed, revitalized by this journey.  I could never have anticipated this trip to be so awesome or absolutely beautiful"
Former Participant, Rose from Wisconsin

BACK | NEXT

Besides being the single largest building in Paris and the largest palace in Europe, the Louvre holds close to a half million works of art!

The Louvre, which was originally a palace, has beautiful walls and ceilings!