WE INVITE YOU TO JOIN US ON THIS INIMITABLE JOURNEY TO THE PARIS AND ENVIRONS KNOWN ONLY TO TRUE PARISIANS. DISCOVERING THE ESSENCE OF PARISIAN LIFE WILL ENGAGE ALL YOUR SENSES FOR A FULLY AESTHETIC EXPERIENCE. AS DAVID MCFADDEN REMARKS IN L'ART DE VIVRE, "IN FRANCE, THE ‘ARTS' OF LIVING CANNOT BE SEPARATED FROM THE ‘ART OF LIVING'."

We are guests at the Victoria Palace Hotel, a landmark since 1913 in the heart of Paris' Left Bank. Situated just off the lively rue de Rennes, it captures the spirit of a neighborhood renowned for its artistic vitality and sheer enjoyment of life. The tastefully appointed rooms with their Louis XVI décor are designed with every modern amenity. The evening of your arrival we meet for a champagne reception at the hotel.

Sunday

We visit the studio of Judith Bledsoe, a prolific painter who embodies the magic of creation. Located in the cité Falguière where Soutine and Modigliani used to work, the atelier has a history that comes alive with Ms. Bledsoe's creative energy. After a picnic lunch in the adjacent garden, we spend the remainder of the day at the Saint Ouen Marché aux Puces. Parisian flea markets came about over one hundred years ago when the bourgeoisie decreed that rag and bone men had to trade their wares beyond the city's fortifications. Today over 2,500 stalls are organized in several individual markets, each one with its own distinctive character. From the copper kitchen artifacts hanging in the Marché Paul Bert to the museum quality 18th century gold gilt consoles displayed in the Marché Biron, irresistible temptation is the common experience. Not only do we meet antique dealers whose shops are open to the public, but also those who cater to the trade only. Dinner is in a Louis XIII setting in the Latin Quarter. Our guest is a well-respected Parisian interior decorator.

Monday

We spend a day in the country near Chartres with Marianne Paquin, culinary expert and author of Desserts Traditionnels de France. Ms. Paquin invites us to her home where we roll up our sleeves and learn to use the basic French dough pâte à choux in creating an entire meal, from the appetizer to the main course and dessert. We then enjoy our own gastronomic delights — en croûte! In the afternoon, we tour private manor homes in the region. On our way back to Paris, we stop for a private tour of the Louis Vuitton Travel Museum, located in the house where Louis Vuitton and his descendents lived. Since 1854, the Louis Vuitton story has been linked to the evolution of travel. We also have the opportunity to see the workshops where special orders are manufactured. We spend our evening in the Marais, a district that was once a labyrinth of medieval streets inhabited by viscounts and also contained the Jewish quarter. Today it is a trend-setting neighborhood known for its boutiques and galleries. A local architect joins us for dinner and an evening stroll.

Tuesday

The French tradition of luxury goods is world-renowned. We sneak behind the scenes to meet Pierre Bourdon, a professional nose who has a deeply rooted passion for the world of perfume. As Chairman and Chief Perfumer of Fragrance Resources, Mr. Bourdon is responsible for creating such fragrances as Christian Dior's Dolce Vita and Davidoff's Good Life for men. He helps us to unveil the mystery of French perfume culture. Next is a stop at Fauchon, the crème de la crème of gastronomic specialty stores — a feast for one's eyes as well. The history of this famous caterer and retailer is revealed. Lunch is at Ladurée on the rue Royale, a favorite belle époque-inspired bistro. Our afternoon is spent at the Place Vendôme. We visit the private collection and archives of Chaumet, the awe-inspiring house of jewelry founded by Marie-Etienne Nitot. Jeweler to Louis XVI as well as to Napoléon, he was called on at the height of his influence to design for the Empress Marie-Louise. We will see many of these dazzling jewels, including diamond tiaras, which set the pattern for the rest of Europe. Interestingly, Frédéric Chopin gave private piano lessons in one of the rooms we visit. The sumptuous dream hotel of César Ritz is our next stop. As he himself said, it would be "the last word in elegance". We enjoy High Tea in the plush Vendôme bar listening to the award-winning harpist Hélene Silvie. Ms. Silvie will perform your requested personal favorites. Our evening is at the Opera or Ballet.

Wednesday

A leisurely morning and free time for lunch offer you an opportunity to relax or explore on your own. A local art historian joins us in the afternoon for a guided visit to a host of art galleries. We attend an evening concert at the Sainte Chapelle, the ultimate Gothic chapel designed by Pierre de Montreuil and completed in 1248. Dinner is at Le Violon d'Ingres, the creation of Christian Constant, one of Paris' most talented chefs. His confit of foie gras with puréed figs is unforgettable.

(In the morning, there is an optional demonstration on the art of French floral arrangement with a Parisian florist well known for his visually arresting bouquets.)

Thursday

The morning is spent discovering the traditional techniques of art restoration. We have the rare opportunity to meet two local masters in their private studios. First, Isabelle Germain demonstrates the art of restoring paintings. Her studio is located in the historic home of sculptress Camille Claudel. From there we head towards the Bastille to meet with Nathalie Silvie, a paper conservator. Lunch is at Bofinger, a typical brasserie with turn of the century décor. Next is a visit to the nearby Thursday flea market. From there, we go to the Comédie Française, formed in 1680 under the orders of Louis XIV to control the content of Paris' theaters. During our private tour we see the extraordinary historic costumes, some of which pre-date the French Revolution, and others designed by such famous couturiers as Worth, Balenciaga and Fortuny and worn by Sarah Bernhardt. Dinner is in Montmartre, the balcony of Paris and the traditional home of poets, singers, painters, and bohemians of all sorts.

Friday

We travel just over an hour from Paris to Sens in Northern Burgundy where we are the guests of Toni and Jean-Claude Tindillier. Jean-Claude was admitted in 1979 to the Association de Mâitre Cuisinier de France, the premier association of French chefs, recognized for being leaders in their profession and guardians of the tradition of fine French cuisine. Toni has honed her culinary skills under his tutelage since 1984. We tour the city famous not only for the first Gothic Cathedral in France, but also for the Cistercian Abbeys of Pontigny and Vezelay. Then we visit the open-air food market where Toni explains the art of buying produce and provisions for a classic Burgundian meal. From Sens we go to nearby Etigny where we enjoy the local specialties prepared by Jean-Claude in his 18th century familial home. Next we participate in a cooking class under his masterful eye. In the evening before returning to Paris, we not only taste our own creations, but also the wines of the region such as Crémant de Bourgogne, Chablis, and Irancy. We learn which wines go with which dishes, their terroir, cépage and history.

Saturday

Our art historian takes us through the Nissim de Camondo museum built in 1913 as a symbol of Count Moise de Camondo's passion for the 18th century and his love for his only son who died tragically. Over three generations, the Camondo family members were patrons of art. They applied themselves rigorously and ardently to gathering an exceptional collection of French decorative art. Lunch is on the Ile Saint Louis, the oldest preserved section of Paris, followed by a walking tour of the island. Our local expert joins us to reveal the history of the Ile Saint Louis. Named after Louis IX, the saintly French King, the Ile Saint Louis is truly a world apart.
We see magnificent 17th century townhouses, many of whose well-known residents were Cézanne, Delacroix, Daumier, and George Sand. The late afternoon is free so that you may return to favorite places. Our farewell evening is at the Palais Royal. A reception in our honor at a private residence where the Taittinger family once lived is followed by dinner at Le Grand Vefour. Commissioned by Cardinal Richelieu in 1642, the palace was christened Palais Royal when Anne of Austria temporarily lived there with her son Louis XIV. Then in 1780, Philippe, Duke of Orleans, hired the architect Victor Louis to design a square like Venice's Piazza San Marco but with a garden. The site became a favorite for French aristocrats as well as Americans like Thomas Jefferson. In the 20th century, many celebrated residents such as Colette and Jean Cocteau lived in the luxurious apartments.