Medieval and Renaissance Paris

Dates: June 5-12, 2027

Price: From $5,979 from IAD (Washington Dulles International Airport)

Tour Operator: Jet Vacations

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Paris is a city of layers, whether those layers are buried beneath the buildings or hidden in plain sight — architectural, cultural, and historical. One layer beneath the gorgeous surface of Paris lies a medieval wonderland of rich artistic and historic wonder. This excursion, created exclusively for W&L travelers and curated by Sidney Gause Childress Professor of the Arts George Bent, takes us to the heart of modern Paris to see the medieval arteries that continue to give it life. Many know of the awe-inspiring stained glass of Sainte-Chapelle, but at every turn in Paris lies a hidden gem of medieval majesty.

After a day of familiarizing ourselves with Paris, we will jump right into walking tours of Notre Dame, Sainte-Chapelle, and the Conciergerie, all within minutes walking distance from the other. When King Louis IX commissioned Sainte-Chapelle in the 13th century, he wanted to house sacred relics and tell biblical stories through its stained glass. Little did he know how long it would be preserved, and that Paris would perhaps be the greatest home of historical relics in its very construction. During the fourth and fifth days, we will explore the beautiful and haunting Jewish Quarter, the Musée Carnavalet and Saint-Germain-des-Prés, one of Paris’s oldest neighborhoods and most contemporary shopping districts. Professor Bent will unlock all the medieval nooks and crannies of this palimpsest of a neighborhood.

We will finish with a day in Chartres to see the Gothic architecture of the Chartres Cathedral and then a day in Montmartre for the Abbey of Monmarte and for the Sacré Cœur Basilica, which will give you the ultimate panorama of the City of Light. This journey in the layered city of Paris is completely catered to our professor and his guests.