Galina Art and Literature Group Tours Guide by Galina International

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London: one of the great cultural cities of Europe â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the National Gallery is located on Trafalgar Square

Cover Illustration: The Walker Art Gallery Liverpool ÂŠ Galina International 16 Bridge Street Row Chester CH1 1NQ

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Welcome to Galina’s Guide to Art & Literature Tours ‘Experience the Difference’ Galina offer a wide range of destinations and themed tours for groups interested in Art and Literature. Our art tours include the top galleries as well as the locations that inspired the great artists such as Monet and van Gogh and our literary tours offer a chance to visit the homes of famous writers and some of the places that shaped their writing. Destinations include some very close to home and others which involve going ‘overseas’ – but whichever you prefer we are sure that we have a tour that you will like and if we don’t we will do our very best to create one for you. Our tours will be ideal for educational groups as well as for those who are travelling purely for leisure. We hope you find it useful and we look forward to hearing from you. The

team

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Contents Art in London Major London Galleries Attractions outside Central London

Literary London Shakespeare’s Stratford Shakespeare Properties

Art in Liverpool Public Art in Liverpool

Cultural Manchester Cumbria: Romantic Landscape & Literature The World of Jane Austen Art in St Ives Brontë Country Art in Amsterdam Major Galleries in Amsterdam

Art Cities of Flanders First World War Poetry Tours Wilfred Owen at War

Art in Paris Major Galleries in Paris

Auvers-sur-Oise Art in Normandy Design your Tour Booking a Galina Tour

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Art in London

Tate Britain – founded by Sugar Magnate Henry Tate (Photo: Tony Hisgett) London offers unparalleled opportunities for groups wanting to look at the artistic heritage, not just of Britain, but the whole world. As well as traditional galleries (enough to fill a whole week) and the British Museum there are the preserved homes of several artists which can be visited. Of course much of the art of London is not confined to the interiors of museums; the magnificence of the architectural heritage – from the Tower of London and Westminster Abbey through Hampton Court to the Gherkin and the Shard is on permanent display, there are numerous examples of public art which should not be forgotten and for those interested in more contemporary artistic styles it is possible to arrange a street art tour. A Galina Art Tour will show you the best of what London has to offer whatever your group’s interests. © Galina International 16 Bridge Street Row Chester CH1 1NQ

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Major London Galleries

The National Gallery houses 2,300 paintings arranged chronologically & by country/school ranging from the 13th century to 1900. A breath-taking roll-call of artists displayed includes Uccello, van Eyck, da Vinci, Michelangelo & Raphael, Titian, Velazquez, Rembrandt, Canaletto, Goya, Turner, Constable, Ingres, Monet, CĂŠzanne, van Gogh to name but a few. The National Portrait Gallery houses a collection of portraits & images dating from the Middle Ages to the present day. Portraits are included on the basis of the historical significance of the sitter rather than artistic merit & as such shed light upon their life & times as well as position & status. Notable artists represented include Holbein, Gainsborough, Reynolds & Hockney. The collections include a range of media not only paintings but photographs, sculpture & video. Tate Britain functions as the national gallery of British art from 1500 to the present day. More recent artists include David Hockney, Peter Blake and Francis Bacon. Tate Britain includes the Clore Gallery of 1987, designed by James Stirling, which houses work by J. M. W. Turner who bequeathed all his own collection to the nation. The Clore Gallery has been regarded as an important example of postmodern architecture. Tate Britain hosts the controversial Turner Prize exhibition. Tate Modern is Britain's national gallery of international modern art and holds the national collection of British art from 1900 to the present day and international modern and contemporary art. It is based in the former Bankside Power Station which was originally designed by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott. The works are not hung chronologically but thematically â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the themes changing from time to time. The Turbine Hall, which once housed the electricity generators of the old power station, is five storeys tall and used to display large specially-commissioned works. A major extension to the gallery space with new buildings opened in summer 2016. ÂŠ Galina International 16 Bridge Street Row Chester CH1 1NQ

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The Courtauld is best-known for its outstanding collection of Impressionist & PostImpressionist works by artists such as Manet, Degas, Monet, Gauguin, van Gogh & Cézanne. There is a fine collection of modern art from Matisse & Modigliani to Kandinsky, Sutherland & Auerbach. Its holdings also include the richest selection of Renaissance & Northern Baroque art in Britain, with Rubens especially well-represented. As well as paintings, the Courtauld holds collections of prints & drawings, sculpture & decorative arts. The Victoria & Albert is the world's largest museum of Decorative Arts & Design. spanning 5,000 years from ancient times to the present day with objects from Europe. North America, Africa & Asia. The collection of Islamic Art is the largest in the western world. Several of its collections are amongst the most comprehensive in the world. Collections include ceramics, glass, costume, fashion & textiles, ironwork, jewellery, furniture, sculpture, prints, drawings & photographs. The Whitechapel was founded in 1901 & is now internationally acclaimed for its exhibitions of modern & contemporary art having premiered works by artists including Picasso (Guernica), Jackson Pollock, Rothko, Kahlo, Hockney & Lucien Freud. In the 1950s & 1960s, the Gallery was responsible for bringing Pop Art to the attention of the general public. It remains a vibrant part of London's artistic landscape with a full & ever-changing programme of exhibitions across a wide range of media. Some other Galleries       

Barbican Gallery: changing programme of major photographic, fine art & design exhibitions. The Royal Academy of Arts: annual summer exhibitions. Serpentine Gallery: seasonal exhibitions by international modern & contemporary artists Saatchi Gallery: forum for contemporary art with exhibitions by unknown or littleseen artists (pictured below) The Hayward Gallery: currently closed for refurbishment until 2018 Dulwich Picture Gallery: opened to the public in 1817 & is the oldest public art gallery in England housing one of the finest collections of Old Masters. The Design Museum: leading museum devoted to contemporary design in every form from architecture and fashion to graphics

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Attractions outside Central London

The Red House near Bexleyheath (above) was created and lived in by William Morris, founder of the Arts & Crafts movement and was described by Edward Burne-Jones as 'the beautifullest place on earth'. ‘These original features and furniture by Morris and Philip Webb, stained glass and paintings by Burne-Jones, the bold architecture and a garden designed to 'clothe the house', add up to a fascinating and rewarding place to visit.’ Leighton House Museum (right) near Holland Park is the former home of the Victorian artist Frederic, Lord Leighton (1830-1896). The only purpose-built studio-house open to the public in the United Kingdom, it is a veritable a ‘private palace of art’ featuring the extraordinary Arab Hall with its golden dome.

Cookham on the Thames near Maidenhead was home to painter Sir Stanley Spencer and most of his works depict village life. A number of the landmarks seen in his canvases can still be seen in the village and some of his works can be seen at the small Stanley Spencer Gallery in the centre of the village. © Galina International 16 Bridge Street Row Chester CH1 1NQ

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Hogarth’s House in Chiswick (below) was the artist's country retreat from 1749 until his death in 1764; he had a ‘painting room’ over his coach-house at the bottom of the garden. It holds an extensive collection of the artist’s 18th century prints and the panelled rooms house some replica pieces of 18th century furniture. Hogarth’s grave is a short walk away in the churchyard.

London Art Galleries – Suggested 2 Day Tour Day One: - The National Gallery - The National Portrait Gallery - Optional West End Show Day Two: - Tate Britain OR Tate Modern - Further gallery visit OR - Afternoon free time in London OR a Flight on the London Eye Add an extra day & include more of artistic London or some general sight-seeing and shopping or a river cruise to Greenwich.

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Literary London

Shakespeare’s London The Globe Theatre on Bankside was built in 1599 by Shakespeare's playing company, the Lord Chamberlain's Men and was destroyed by fire on 29 June 1613. A second Globe Theatre was built on the same site by June 1614 and closed in 1642. A modern reconstruction named ‘Shakespeare's Globe’, opened in 1997 near the site of the original (above). It was founded by the actor and director Sam Wanamaker and during the season plays are staged daily. The reconstruction was carefully researched so that the new building would be as faithful a replica as possible. An exhibition explains the history of the theatre and guided tours of the building or of the Bankside area are available while the traces of another Elizabethan playhouse, the Rose, can be viewed on certain Saturdays through the year. Red rope lights around the site indicate the size of the Rose, its courtyard or pit and the position of its two stages. A series of poster facts sheets which tell you much about not only the Rose, but about the area of Bankside which it occupied in the late 1590s and early 1600s. © Galina International 16 Bridge Street Row Chester CH1 1NQ

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Charles Dickens is another author indelibly associated with London. He described the city as a ‘magic lantern’ and many of his novels not only use London as a backdrop but are actually about the city and its character. The Charles Dickens Museum is in Holborn occupies a typical Georgian terraced house which was Charles Dickens' home from 25 March 1837 to December 1839 and was where he wrote Oliver Twist, Pickwick Papers and Nicholas Nickleby. Visitors can ‘explore his study, the family bedchambers, and the servants’ quarters below stairs. See treasures including Dickens’s desk, handwritten drafts from the novels he wrote here, and his young wife’s engagement ring. Walk through rooms dressed with their furniture, table ware, portraits, marble busts, china ornaments and paintings.’ Guided walks are available which take groups in the very footsteps of Dickens and some of his most memorable characters. Groups with a particular interest in Dickens might consider adding Rochester to their itinerary – particularly if they can travel during the colourful Dickens Festival held each June or the December Dickensian Christmas Market.

The Old Curiosity Shop in its somewhat incongruent modern setting Other literary locations in London which may be of interest include: the British Library (where there is an exhibition of treasures from our national literary history); the homes of Sigmund Freud and John Keats; the Sherlock Holmes museum in 221B Baker Street devoted to the great detective; Carlyle’s House in Chelsea; a guided walk of Oscar Wilde’s London.

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Literary London – Suggested 2 Day Tour Day One: Dickens - Visit to the Dickens Museum - Guided walking tour of Dickens’ London - Optional evening show Day Two: - Globe Theatre - Shakespeare’s London walking tour - Afternoon free time in London OR a Flight on the London Eye Add an extra day & include more of artistic London or some general sight-seeing and shopping or a river cruise to Greenwich.

Other London Tours We also offer tours to London themed around World War I and World War II including visits to the Imperial War Museum, The Churchill War Rooms, HMS Belfast, The National Army Museum and a Blitz Walk around the old city. Please contact our office for details. For details of our London Cityscape Bankside & Canary Wharf Tours please see our website.

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Some Other Options in and around London - St Paul’s Cathedral & ascent of the Dome - Thames river cruise (Westminster to the Tower or all the way to Greenwich) - Flight on the London Eye - The Shard - The Emirates Cable Car (with views across the O2 & Canary Wharf) - West End Show - London Zoo - Windsor & Eton - Hampton Court Palace - Kew Gardens

Hampton Court Palace

Parliament from the South Bank – groups can take a flight on the London Eye for stunning views over the historic centre of London

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Shakespeare’s Stratford

Autumn at Anne Hathaway’s Cottage at Shottery near Stratford upon Avon Birthplace – allegedly – of the Bard, the ‘Swan of Avon, Stratford, set in the delightful heart of England, has so much to offer the visitor. A whole day can easily be spent simply visiting the various Shakespeare Properties in and around the town but there is far more to see and do and ideally a tour of two or more days is needed to really appreciate what the area has to offer. Naturally, the Royal Shakespeare Company offer dramatic productions of the highest quality and it is possible to see backstage on one of their organised tours as well as taking in a play during the evening (subject to their schedule). For those interested in history in a broader sense Warwickshire has an abundance of riches and only a short distance from Stratford can be found several outstanding destinations: Kenilworth Castle, the home of her favourite, the Earl of Leicester, and once visited by none other than Queen Bess herself; Warwick, a charming old town with one of the greatest castles in the kingdom; Coughton Court, a historic hall implicated in two treasonous plots - the Throckmorton Plot of 1583 to murder Queen Elizabeth and the Gunpowder Plot of 1605; Coventry with its two adjacent cathedrals and Leamington Spa which was once a fashionable watering hole and where the waters can still be drunk from a fountain. Slightly further away are the charming Cotswolds, Blenheim palace and the university city of Oxford. © Galina International 16 Bridge Street Row Chester CH1 1NQ

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Shakespeare Properties & Locations in and around Stratford It is possible to explore various periods of Shakespeare’s life by visiting each of the locations on a guided walking and coach tour with a local Blue Badge Guide.

Shakespeare’s Birthplace Located in the centre of Stratford the house where Shakespeare was born has been carefully preserved to give a fascinating glimpse into the world of the young poet. An introductory exhibition ‘Famous Beyond Words’ explores his extraordinary story and what sparked his imagination and how he continues to shape our lives today. ‘Shakespeare Aloud!’ brings the Birthplace and gardens to life with colourful performances every day of the year. Shakespeare’s Schoolroom & Guildhall Michael Wood called this schoolroom ‘one of the most atmospheric, magical and important buildings in the whole of Britain’. New Place This was his family home from 1597 until he died in the house in 1616. The house was demolished in 1759, a registered garden has been designed to commemorate the importance of the site and ‘allow visitors to make their own personal connection with Shakespeare’. Hall’s Croft The beautifully furnished Jacobean home of Shakespeare’s daughter Susanna and her husband, Dr John Hall. Wander into the tranquil walled garden and discover the fragrant medicinal herbs, as Dr Hall would have used in his remedies.

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Holy Trinity Church

Holy Trinity is the church where William Shakespeare was baptised, where he worshipped and where he is buried. It is Stratford's oldest building, in a striking position on the banks of the River Avon, and has long been England's most visited parish church. Anne Hathaway’s Cottage A beautiful 500 year old cottage where Shakespeare courted his bride-to-be. See original furniture including the Hathaway bed and uncover five centuries of stories in this picturesque cottage and 13 generations of the family who lived there. The cottage is surrounded by a traditional garden with a sculpture trail.

Mary Arden’s Farm Located in Wilmcote, a village a few miles from Stratford, Mary Arden's Farm (above) and her adjacent house allow visitors to step back in time for all the sights, smells and sounds of a real Tudor farm and explore the house where Shakespeare's mother grew up.

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RSC, Stratford situated on Waterside, alongside the River Avon, the Royal Shakespeare Theatre is a Grade II listed building and retains many of the art deco features of the 1932 Shakespeare Memorial Theatre. A sister theatre, the Swan, is nearby. There is a viewing tower to ascend for a superb view of the town, river and adjacent countryside. Performances (not necessarily of Shakespeare) are held throughout the year.

Shakespeare’s Stratford – Suggested 2 Day Tour Day One - Shakespeare's Birthplace - Guided walking tour of Shakespeare's Stratford - Visit to his grave in Holy Trinity Church. - Anne Hathaway's Cottage - Optional theatre performance (subject to availability) Day Two - River Avon Cruise and / or - Theatre Backstage Tour - Mary Arden's Farm Add an extra day & include visits to Warwick & Coventry – or why not follow in the Bard’s footsteps and add a day in London to your tour to take in the Globe Theatre?

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Art in Liverpool

The Walker Art Gallery Great art is not confined to the capital! The great industrial cities of the north have always prided themselves on their cultural life and both Liverpool and Manchester continue to offer the best of both traditional art and more cutting edge and innovative styles. Liverpool has far more for the visitor than just music and football (though it certainly does have these!) The Walker Art Gallery, part of the city’s outstanding neo-classical quarter and located near the unparalleled St George’s Hall, contains a world-class collection of painting and sculpture dating from the renaissance and hosts regular exhibitions including the John Mores Painting Prize held every two years. Adjacent to the Walker are the Central Library with its preserved Victorian reading rooms and the World Museum with a particularly important Egyptian collection.

The Albert Dock – home to Tate Liverpool © Galina International 16 Bridge Street Row Chester CH1 1NQ

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Situated in the Albert Dock on the Mersey waterfront is Tate Liverpool offering a more contemporary collection. In the southern suburbs is Sudeley House, home of Victorian shipping magnate George Holt whose collection includes work by Thomas Gainsborough, Joshua Reynolds, Edwin Landseer, John Everett Millais and J. M. W. Turner. A ferry ride across the river is Port Sunlight village, home to the Lady Lever Gallery full of pre-Raphaelite and other masterpieces collected by soap tycoon William Hesketh Lever.

Liverpool’s world-famous waterfront with its ‘Three Graces’ However art in Liverpool is not confined within the walls of traditional galleries. The city itself is a UNESCO World Heritage Site boasting architectural monuments in styles covering the last three centuries: Tudor Speke Hall, an unrivalled Georgian quarter including Rodney Street and the home of photographer Edward Fitzmaurice Chambré Hardman now preserved by the National Trust, the Victorian classicism of William Brown Street, the Edwardian pride of the Three Graces on the Pier Head, the largest Protestant cathedral in Europe (above), the 1960s Metropolitan Cathedral known affectionately as the Mersey Funnel and most recently the ‘Granby Four Streets’ project in Toxteth which won the Turner Prize for its regeneration work. © Galina International 16 Bridge Street Row Chester CH1 1NQ

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The Albert Dock And for those who insist that no visit to Merseyside is complete without at least a nod to the scouse heritage of football and music there is the option to have a tour of Anfield Stadium or to visit the Beatles Story or British Pop Music Experience, Liverpool’s latest visitor attraction.

St Georges Hall – the finest example of neo-classical architecture in the world For details of our Cityscape Geography tour to Liverpool please see our website or for our World War II Tours to Liverpool including visits to the Western Approaches, secret underground HQ for the Battle of the Atlantic, & the U-boat Story where German submarine U-534 is on display please contact our office.

U-534 U-boat at Woodside Ferry © Galina International 16 Bridge Street Row Chester CH1 1NQ

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Public Art in Liverpool Liverpool boasts a variety of great public art; the most famous instances are the giant yellow Superlambanana (with its many smaller replicas), sculptures of the Beatles, John Lenon, Ken Dodd and Cilla Black, two dazzle ships, Epstein’s Liverpool Resurgent, works by Tracey Emin, Gormley’s Another Place – the Iron Men on Crosby Beach, Dream by Jaume Plensa and the largest Chinese arch anywhere outside China.

Another Place in Crosby

Chinese Arch

The ‘Fab Four’ at the Pier Head

Dream near St Helens

A ‘dazzle’ ship near the Albert Dock

A Superlambanana at the Pier Head

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Cultural Manchester

The Lowry Centre at Salford Quays At the other end of the East Lancs Road is Liverpool’s great rival, Manchester. Manchester also has much to offer the art lover. The city has two major galleries – The Manchester Art Gallery in the city centre and The Whitworth near the university. Both have much to interest the visitor but the region is perhaps best known for the work of local artist L. S. Lowry. His iconic images of cotton mills and ‘matchstick’ people have come to typify the old industrial Lancashire that is now for the most part merely a memory but the Lowry Centre at Salford Quays houses an extensive collection of his work. The Northern Quarter has recently become noted for its street art projects.

Manchester’s Art Gallery dates from the founding of the Royal Manchester Institution in 1823 © Galina International 16 Bridge Street Row Chester CH1 1NQ

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One of Manchester’s most famous literary residents was Mrs Gaskell, author of Cranford (based on the Cheshire town of Knutsford where she grew up) and North and South and biographer of Charlotte Bronte. Her novels are noted for their social commentary, bringing the slums of the industrial north to the attention of the Victorian public. In 1850 the Gaskells moved to a villa at 84 Plymouth Grove just to the south of Manchester (then still a rural area so she was able to take her cow with her); today her house is preserved as a museum dedicated to her life and work.

Mrs Gaskell’s home in south Manchester We can also offer Industrial Heritage Tours to Manchester including a visit to Quarry Bank Mill at Styal and WWII tours including the Imperial War Museum North and the Stockport Air Raid Shelters. Please contact our office for details.

Quarry Bank Mill © Galina International 16 Bridge Street Row Chester CH1 1NQ

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Art in Liverpool & Manchester – Suggested 2 Day Tour Liverpool - Tate Liverpool OR - Walker Art Gallery OR - Port Sunlight village & Lady Lever Art Gallery - Public Art in Liverpool (sculpture, Superlambanana, dazzle ships) - Optional River cruise on the Mersey Ferry with a chance to visit the U-Boat Story Or - Visit to Crosby to view the Gormley sculptures ‘Another Place’ Salford or Manchester Visit to ‘Dream’ by Jaume Plensa - Manchester Art Gallery OR - Whitworth Gallery OR - The Lowry Optional alternative visits: Anfield Stadium Tour, Old Trafford Stadium Tour, Beatles Story, British Music Experience, Speke Hall.

Add an extra day & include the Lake District, Chester or North Wales as well

Art is not just an elitist interest – street art in Liverpool

Speke Hall near Liverpool © Galina International 16 Bridge Street Row Chester CH1 1NQ

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Cumbria: Romantic Landscape and Literature

Dove Cottage in Grasmere – home of William Wordsworth The first tourists to visit Cumbria were Celia Feinnes in 1698 and Daniel Defoe in 1724. They seem to have found it a rather frightening experience: Celia referred to ‘inaccessible high rocky barren hills which hang over one’s head in some places and appear very terrible’ while Defoe described the area as ‘the wildest, most barren and frightful of any that I have passed over in England, or even Wales itself’. Thomas West’s Guide to the Lakes (1778) really began the era of modern tourism – West refers to ‘persons of genius, taste and observation’ who have begun to tour their own country – just the sort of people who would appreciate a Galina Group Tour to Cumbria perhaps! The visitor to Cumbria in the 21st century can expect, as could their predecessors in the eighteenth, ‘scenes that surpass all description and objects which will affect the spectator in the highest degree. Such as wish to unbend the mind from anxious cares or fatiguing studies will meet with agreeable relaxation in making the tour of the lakes. Something new will open itself at the turn of every mountain.’ We couldn’t put it better! The recommendations of the romantic poets, most notably William Wordsworth, and the coming of the railways secured the area’s future as a mustsee tourist destination. Ironically part of the original appeal was its isolated © Galina International 16 Bridge Street Row Chester CH1 1NQ

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solitude! The modern traveller in search of the romantic poets can visit the school in Hawkshead where Wordsworth was a pupil and no fewer than three of his homes are open to the public - Dove Cottage, Rydal Mount and Cockermouth where there is also a brewery which offers guided tours should your group need a little light refreshment.

Rydal Mount, another of Wordsworth’s homes, and the Langdale Valley Literary critic John Ruskin’s delightfully located home at Brantwood can be combined with a boat trip on Coniston and the local museum (‘The most thought-provoking in the Lakes’ – according to The Rough Guide to the Lake District) is dedicated to his work and is home to an exhibition about Malcom Campbell’s high-speed boat Bluebird. Mirehouse and its gardens will also appeal to groups interested in the literary tradition of the area - ‘the house has a wealth of unique literary connections with Tennyson, Southey and Thomas Carlyle’. For fans of cute cuddly creatures Beatrix Potter’s home can be visited at Hill Top and there are related visitor attractions at Brockholes, Bowness and Hawkshead as well as the Armitt Museum and Library.

Great Langdale Valley © Galina International 16 Bridge Street Row Chester CH1 1NQ

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Numerous other options are possible – boat and train rides, industrial heritage sites, historic castles, geology walks, even a museum dedicated to Laurel and Hardy! And there will always be time to sample some of the local specialities – including gingerbread and sticky toffee pudding, allegedly invented on the shores of Ullswater.

Literary Cumbria: Suggested 2 Day Tour Day One: Visit to Wordsworth’s childhood home Cockermouth Transfer to Grasmere Visit the village and Dove Cottage Check in at accommodation and evening free (optional group meal) Day Two: Rydal Mount (or choose from a wide range of alternatives) Travel to Hawkshead to visit the village Transfer to Ambleside Boat trip from Ambleside to Bowness Additional Days If you add an extra day – or two - you can discover more of what the Lakes have to offer – perhaps focus on Beatrix Potter or include a castle or stately home such as Muncaster, Sizergh, Holker or Levens and a ride on a steam railway (Lakeside and Haverthwaite or the charming Ravenglass and Eskdale). Alternatively, include a destination outside the Lakes as a contrast – York, Liverpool or Chester are obvious possibilities. The choice is entirely yours!

Lake Windermere at Ambleside © Galina International 16 Bridge Street Row Chester CH1 1NQ

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The World of Jane Austen

Jane Austenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s home at Chawton Jane Austen (right) is one of the best loved of English novelists. She drew her inspiration from the locations & personalities she encountered in her life and it is possible to follow in her footsteps by visiting her native county of Hampshire and the spa resort of Bath, in her day the most fashionable watering hole in the kingdom. You can track down the birthplace of Jane Austen (the rectory at Steventon now sadly demolished), visit the cottage in picturesque Chawton where she lived in later life and stroll round the ancient city of Winchester, once the capital of England, where she spent her last days and where she is buried. ÂŠ Galina International 16 Bridge Street Row Chester CH1 1NQ

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‘They arrived in Bath. Catherine was all eager delight; her eyes were here, there, and everywhere.’ Northanger Abbey We can follow Jane to Bath where she lived in the early years of the 19th century; she was not especially happy there (sad at leaving her childhood home) and not especially productive during those years but she set two of her novels in the city – Northanger Abbey and Persuasion – and it is still possible to experience a little of the elegance of former times by visiting some of the locations Jane would have known, taking the waters in the Pump Room (‘Every creature in Bath [...] was to be seen in the room at different periods of the fashionable hours’), viewing the Assembly Rooms where polite society gathered in the evenings, the preserved Georgian Town House at No 1 Royal Crescent (a museum which has been decorated and furnished just as it might have been during the period 1776-1796) and The Jane Austen Centre (a permanent exhibition situated in an original Georgian townhouse telling the story of Jane’s time in Bath, including the effect that living here had on her and her writing). Groups will also want to tour the Abbey and the Roman Baths, though the latter were as yet unexcavated in Jane’s day. Guided walks can be arranged.

The Georgian elegance of Bath – though not Jane Austen’s favourite place © Galina International 16 Bridge Street Row Chester CH1 1NQ

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Literary Hampshire Hampshire is a delightfully English county and it is a great destination for lovers of some of the most English of novelists. Apart from Jane Austen, Anthony Trollope was a pupil at Winchester’s famous public school and some have seen in the city and the nearby St Cross Hospital the inspiration for his Barchester novels. Not far away in Portsmouth is the house where Charles Dickens was born (below right) – within sight of the city’s dockyards which now house two of Britain’s most famous warships, the Mary Rose and HMS Victory. To supplement all this literature and history a tour of the Sapphire Gin Distillery or a carriage ride in the New Forest might offer a welcome break from the culture.

The World of Jane Austen: Suggested 2 Day Tour Day One: Chawton Travel via Steventon to Chawton - visit to Jane Austen’s House Depart for Winchester. Free time to explore the city & cathedral Day Two: Bath Visit to the Assembly Rooms where society functions were held in Jane’s time * Visit the Jane Austen Centre (a range of talks and guided walks can be arranged) Option to visit No. 1 Royal Crescent Free time to visit the Pump Room & Abbey (Option to visit the Roman Baths) Additional Days If you add an extra day – or two - you can discover more of what southern England has to offer including Portsmouth Historic Dockyards, Romsey and Broadlands, the Watercress Line, Butser Ancient Farm or the Sapphire Gin Distillery among many possibilities.

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Art in St Ives The small seaside town of St Ives has become a mecca for artists thanks to the influence of great figures such as Barbara Hepworth and Ben Nicholson and the opening of a branch of the Tate there. ‘Ben Nicholson (1894–1982) was one of the most radical British artists of the twentieth century and has long been recognised as a leading exponent of the modern movement in Britain … St Ives was a seminal influence on Nicholson’s art, and his home for 19 years. He and his wife Barbara Hepworth became key figures in the development of the artists’ colony in the town.’ A visit to St Ives is a rather special experience, very different to that of the great galleries of our major cities. Groups can experience St Ives from the artist’s perspective and uncover the town’s heritage as an artists’ colony with a walking tour podcast available to download free or on iPads obtainable for hire from the Tate. This multimedia walking tour ‘takes you through St Ives, connecting places and spaces in and around the town to Nicholson, his work and his life.’ Venues in St Ives Tate St. Ives & Hepworth Museum Home of post-war British Modernism, the gallery was built to celebrate the artists as well as the surroundings and atmosphere that inspired them. Visiting the Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden is a unique experience that offers a remarkable insight into the work and outlook of one of Britain’s most important twentieth century artists. New Millennium Gallery New Millennium is Cornwall's largest independent gallery. St Ives Ceramics The closest thing to a pottery museum in Cornwall, it contains many wonderful examples from international old masters as well as local potters. The Leach Pottery The Leach Pottery was established by Bernard Leach in 1920. One of the great figures of 20th century art, Leach played a crucial pioneering role in creating an identity for artist potters in Britain and around the world. The pottery offers tours and activities including raku firings.

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Hepworth in Yorkshire

Art in St Ives: Suggested 4 Day Tour Day One: Outward travel Day Two: - Visit to Tate St. Ives - Barbara Hepworth Museum & Garden - Ben Nicholson walking tour of St Ives - Visit to New Millennium Gallery - St Ives Ceramics - The Leach Pottery Day Three: A full day excursion around Cornwall Day Four: Eden Project (Inside the artificial biodomes located in a reclaimed Kaolinite pit are plants that are collected from all around the world.) Return Image Credit: flickr user "SideLong"

ÂŠ Galina International 16 Bridge Street Row Chester CH1 1NQ

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Brontë Country

The Brontë Parsonage Museum and Rev Brontë One of the most evocative literary locations is undoubtedly the Brontë Parsonage in the picturesque village on the edge of the moors which inspired the dark and brooding novels of the three famous sisters Charlotte, Emily and Anne. The family home where their father was the parson is now a museum dedicated to their lives and work. Guided walks and talks can be arranged to suit the needs of your group. A particularly appropriate way to arrive in Haworth is aboard a steam train of the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway. It is possible to include a stop in Thornton to view the exterior of the house where the sisters were born and to include a visit to Tudor Oakwell Hall - 'Fieldhead' in Shirley & a school run by a friend in Charlotte's day. While in Yorkshire there is plenty to fill a whole week’s itinerary! Art lovers can include the Sculpture Park and Hepworth Gallery (see previous page) while for the rail enthusiast the National Railway Museum in York is essential. In fact York itself could easily keep a group busy for couple of days but don’t forget the beauty of the Dales, the industrial heritage of the region, the great castles, stately homes and country houses (Skipton, Bolton, Castle Howard, Harewood House, Bramham, Brodsworth, Temple Newsam to name a few), ruined abbeys and fine gardens. It is also possible to slip across the border into Lancashire or Derbyshire where more scenic and cultural treasures await the visitor.

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Brontë Country: Suggested 2 Day Tour Day One: Outward travel Oakwell Hall Thornton Village Day Two: Keighley & Worth Valley Steam railway Brontë Parsonage Museum Guided walk of Haworth Return

Brontë Country near Haworth Other Famous Literary Figures whose home can be visited by the public include: Walter Scott – Abbotsford House in the Scottish Borders Robert Burns – his cottage is a major visitor centre in Ayrshire Laurence Sterne - Shandy Hall in Coxwold, Yorkshire Dr Johnson – his homes in Lichfield and London are now museums of his life D H Lawrence – the Birthplace Museum is in Eastwood in Nottinghamshire Lord Byron – Newstead Abbey in Nottinghamshire Bloomsbury Group - Charleston, East Sussex Rudyard Kipling - his Jacobean house, Bateman’s, in Sussex Thomas Hardy – his thatched cottage is in Higher Bockhampton, Dorset

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Art in Amsterdam

The cultural heritage of the Netherlands encompasses some of the greatest artistic geniuses of the last five hundred years. Some names instantly spring to mind – Bosch, Hals, Rembrandt, Vermeer, van Gogh, Mondrian, Escher … the list is certainly extensive and the collections in the great galleries of Amsterdam and the other cities of the Netherlands reflect this richness. Amsterdam alone could detain the visitor for several days simply touring the many cultural attractions within the city without even venturing outside but for groups with a more ambitious itinerary in mind it is important not to forget that there is much to see throughout the Netherlands in terms of art, architecture and history. Haarlem, Rotterdam and The Hague all offer outstanding galleries while Delft, the home of Vermeer, is still the centre for the manufacture of the famous blue porcelain. A little further afield the Kröller-Müller museum boasts not only a world-famous collection of 19th and 20th century art, but also a large collection of pieces by Vincent van Gogh: ‘if you’re an art lover and you’re in Gelderland, you cannot afford to miss this chance.’ The palace of Het Loo at Apeldoorn is just one of many impressive examples of architecture from Holland’s golden age. And perhaps no visit to Holland can ever be truly complete without paying homage the icons of Dutch culture; groups can attend the flower auction, visit the bulb fields in season, witness demonstrations of clog and cheese making and explore the preserved windmills such as those at Kinderdijk, Zaanse Schans or at the wonderful Open Air Museum near Arnhem.

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Major Art Galleries in Amsterdam

Opened in 1885, the Rijksmuseum contains collections reflecting a broad range of Dutch Art & History from the Middle Ages to 1900 as well as works from other European countries. Undoubted highlights include the Golden Age masterpieces by Rembrandt, Vermeer, Frans Hals, Jan Steen & Ferdinand Bol. The Rijksmuseum has over 8,000 objects on display amonsgt which are ceramics, silverware, a textiles & costume collection, furniture & an Asian Collection which is located in the new Asian Pavilion. The Stedelijk Museum is dedicated to modern and contemporary art & design. Its collection includes works by van Gogh, CĂŠzanne, Picasso, Matisse, Chagall, Mondrian & Kandinsky with works also by later 20th century artists such as Warhol. Lichtenstein & de Kooning. Even the refreshment kiosk is worth a visit with murals by Karel Appel, a founder member of the CoBrA movement in the 1940s. Since the 1970s, the museum has also built up a significant video art collection which now has more than 900 works. The Rembrandthuis was the artist's home from 1639 until his bankruptcy in 1656. The inventory of contents taken at that time forms the basis for the recreation of its appearance in the 17th century with furniture, objets d'art & paintings by the artist himself, Peter Lastman, his teacher & by some of his pupils & contemporaries such as Ferdinand Bol. The house contains a collection of almost all Rembrandt's etchings & paintings. A tour of the house includes the kitchen, living room & Rembrandt's studio. The Van Gogh Museum has the largest collection of the artist's work in the world with more than 200 paintings including The Potato Eaters, Sunflowers, Almond Blossom & Wheatfield with Crows as well as a number of still life pieces, landscapes & self-portraits. There are also 400 drawings & 700 letters. The museum also features notable works by several of van Gogh's contemporaries in the Impressionist & Post-Impressionist Movements including Gauguin, Toulouse-Lautrec & Pissarro.

ÂŠ Galina International 16 Bridge Street Row Chester CH1 1NQ

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Art in Amsterdam: Suggested 4 Day Tour Day One:

Outward travel Day Two: - Rijksmuseum - Van Gogh Museum Day Three: - Stedelijk Museum - Free time in Amsterdam OR - Optional excursions (options include Anne Frank House, the Royal Palace, Edam & Volendam, Het Loo, Arnhem) Day Four: Return.

Anne Frank house and West Church at dusk – her statue is shown above Other Tours to the Netherlands For details of our History Tours to Holland covering Anne Frank, the Holocaust (including the Portuguese Synagogue, National Holocaust Museum & Kamp Vught) and the Battle of Arnhem please see our web site or contact our office. © Galina International 16 Bridge Street Row Chester CH1 1NQ

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The Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam (above: Photo: John Lewis Marshall )

Â© Galina International 16 Bridge Street Row Chester CH1 1NQ

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Art Cities of Flanders

Two views of Bruges – the canal, the bell tower and one of the historic streets Many groups enjoy a visit to one of the great art cities of Flanders – Ghent, Antwerp, Brussels and above all Bruges. Bruges has been described as the ‘Venice of the North’ because of its many picturesque canals which wind between the historic buildings of this most beautiful of unspoilt medieval towns. It is possible to take a boat trip or climb the bell tower for a view of the city from on high. Among the ‘must see’ sights in Bruges are the Basilica of the Holy Blood, the Provinciaal Hof, the Madonna of Bruges by Michelangelo in the Onze Lieve Vrouwekerk, the Gruuthusemuseum, the Begijnhof and Old St. John's Hospital. Bruges is also noted for its lace, its beer and its chocolate. The historic city centre is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Chocolate Shops

An essential feature of a visit to Belgium for many groups is a chance to visit a chocolate shop

The city of Ypres is most associated with the devastation of the Great War but it offers the visitor several museums dedicated to the arts and the reconstructions of the Cloth Hall and Cathedral are themselves masterpieces of reconstruction. See below for our WWI Literature Tours.

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A short journey away is Ghent, famed for its Altarpiece (above- detail), the Adoration of the Mystic Lamb, in St Bavo's Cathedral, attributed to the brothers Hubert and Jan van Eyck. Ghent’s Museum voor Schone Kunsten is its largest collection of fine art, displaying medieval paintings and works by Rubens and van Dyck. The contemporary Stedelijk Museum voor Actuele Kunst (SMAK) is one of Europe’s most dynamic modern art galleries while the Design Museum Ghent has a large collection contained within an elegant 18th century townhouse. Antwerp is not only a city of diamonds it was also home to Peter Paul Rubens and the Rubenhuis recreates the artist’s home and gallery. Antwerp’s largest art collection is exhibited in the Museum voor Schone Kunsten, which occupies a massive Neo-Classical building. The permanent collection contains both ancient and modern works. The city also has a Photography Museum and a particularly fascinating glimpse into by-gone days is offered by the Museum of Printing which occupies a large 16th-century house that belonged to the printer Christopher Plantin; its rooms resemble the types of interiors painted by the old masters. Brussels offers an impressive richness of galleries and architectural gems, including some outstanding examples of art nouveau (including the Musée Horta, home and studio of the city’s greatest architect) – even the Metro stations have been turned into works of art. Fans of Tintin and the comic strip will know that Hergé, creator of one of the most famous of all Belgians, was born in the city so it is no surprise to find a major museum devoted to this popular art form but more traditionalists are also well served by the Musées Royaux des Beaux-Art de Belgique and the Musée Magritte, which includes outstanding examples of the work of the Belgian Symbolists.

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Art Cities of Flanders: Suggested 4 Day Tour Day One:

Outward travel Day Two: - Ghent - Bruges Day Three: - Brussels - Option to visit Antwerp Day Four: - Ypres & return.

No visit to Brussels is complete without taking in the Grand Place (above and below) and the nearby Mannekin Pis, or sampling the local delicacies – chocolates, chips, beer and waffles, all readily available at the many bars and kiosks around the old streets lined with buildings from the days of the city’s prosperous past. In the upper part of the city is the Royal Quarter with parks, terraces, palaces and galleries. The city is also famously home to the institutions of the European Union and beyond that district is the Parc du Cinquantenaire which is home to several museums including ones dedicated to the army and to the motorcar. This is merely to list the highlights of a visit to the Belgian capital – we can tailor your tour to include exactly the places your group wants to visit.

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First World War Poetry Tours The futility of trench war is inevitably associated with the great poets of the Western Front. Hearing their work read aloud at the very sites that inspired them can be a profoundly moving experience. Poems such as Dulce et Decorum Est have become synonymous with opposition to war but it must be remembered that not all the poets were opposed to war in principle or were not actually opposed to it at all. Especially in the early period poetry tended to be jingoistic and to regard the whole business as an exciting and stirring adventure worthy of the manly spirit of the British Empire. Rupert Brooke (left) had thanked God ‘Who has matched us with His hour, / And caught our youth, and wakened us from sleeping’. Of course, opinions changed dramatically in some cases as the slaughter wore on through 1916 and 1917 but not all the literary figures of the Great War regarded it as an unmitigated disaster even after it was over. Other Literature Tours As well as the poetry of the Great War we can offer tours themed round other literary works – examples include Sebastian Faulks’ novel Birdsong and R.C. Sheriff’s classic drama of life in the trenches, Journey’s End. In both cases the tours use evocative locations to explore the key themes in the context of similar literary works. Journey's End is set in a British trench near St Quentin in the days leading up to the launch of the Ludendorff Offensive on 21st March, 1918. Sherriff served on the Western Front from late 1916 until he was wounded at the beginning of the battle of Passchendaele in 1917. He was able to draw on his experiences as a front line company commander to provide his work with authenticity & to explore themes & ideas which would have been familiar to him. A Birdsong tour starts in Amiens where Stephen & Isabelle met and travels through the region of the Somme, the contrasting scene of Stephen’s picnic and the dreadful conditions of trench warfare, to the monument at Thiepval which Elizabeth visited and on to Messines near Ypres where the effects of mining activity can still be seen. © Galina International 16 Bridge Street Row Chester CH1 1NQ

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Wilfred Owen at War: from the Somme to the Sambre-Oise Canal One particularly poignant way to organise a visit to the Western Front is to build the itinerary around the military career of Owen, visiting some of the key locations that shaped his experience of the war.

Brother poets – Owen and Sassoon, the Forrester’s House & Owen’s Grave at Ors Owen arrived in France in 1917 and served near Serre and in this area that he was sent to occupy shallow trenches facing Munich Trench. His experiences in this sector helped to inspire his poems The Sentry and Exposure.

Near Serre – where Owen first served Owen was moved to the area around Auchonvillers (‘Ocean Villas’ to the British, where today there stands a Tea Rooms with preserved trenches and a museum housing a collection of rare and important militaria and memorabilia from the First and Second World Wars, gathered over many years by military historian and collector André Coillot.) After suffering concussion Owen spent time at the Casualty Clearing Station at Cerisy-Gailly in March and, after serving in the line at Savy Wood, again in May 1917 when he was observed to be suffering from a nervous condition of some sort during action to the north of St Quentin. His poem S.I.W. (Self-Inflicted Wound) was possibly informed by what he had seen here. Hospital Barge undoubtedly reflects the fact that the wounded were transferred to barges at Gailly Lock for transport out. © Galina International 16 Bridge Street Row Chester CH1 1NQ

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On his return to France after his recuperation in the UK Owen’s unit crossed the St Quentin canal near Riqueval Bridge and was posted at Joncourt. A plaque in his memory is located on the Marie (Town Hall). On 1 October 1918 Owen led units of the Second Manchesters to storm a number of enemy strong points on the Beaurevoir-Fonsomme Line near the village towards a farm known as Swiss Cottage. For his courage and leadership in the Joncourt action, he was awarded the Military Cross: 2nd Lt, Wilfred Edward Salter Owen, 5th Bn. Manch. R., T.F., attd. 2nd Bn. For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in the attack on the Fonsomme Line on October 1st/2nd, 1918. On the company commander becoming a casualty, he assumed command and showed fine leadership and resisted a heavy counter-attack. He personally manipulated a captured enemy machine gun from an isolated position and inflicted considerable losses on the enemy. Throughout he behaved most gallantly.

At the end of October Owen spent a night in the cellar of the Forester's House near Ors. From here he wrote home to his mother describing conditions there. The building identified as that house has been converted into a striking white memorial to Owen and his work. A few days later on the 4th of November Owen’s unit attempted to cross the Sambre-Oise Canal. He was killed standing on the bank. His grave can be found in the nearby military cemetery in Ors village. His mother received the telegram informing her of his death on Armistice Day.

The Sambre-Oise Canal where Owen was killed

The Military Cemetery in Ors where Owen is buried © Galina International 16 Bridge Street Row Chester CH1 1NQ

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Soldier Poets of World War I: Suggested 4 Day Tour Day One: Outward travel Day Two: Ypres Salient, 1914-16) The war in Flanders from the end of mobility & the stalemate of the trenches to the attrition of Passchendaele. The poetry of Rupert Brooke, Lawrence Binyon, Jessie Pope, John Freeman, John McCrae & Charles Sorley. Visits to: - Hooge: The Salient; idealism, patriotism, jingoism & nationalism; the mood in 1914 - Langemark German Cemetery: Attitudes towards the foe; at home & at the front - Pilckem Ridge: Gas & the reality of war; stalemate & endurance - Essex Farm Cemetery & Dug-outs: Injuries, death & the experience of war - The Menin Road & Hellfire Corner: The poetry of resolution & stoicism - Tyne Cot Cemetery: Changing perception of war; from field of honour to charnel house - Free time in Ypres - Last Post Ceremony at the Menin Gate at 8.00 pm Day Three: The Somme The war in Picardy. The Somme & attitudes to the war. Poetry of Alan Seeger, Noel Hodgson, Robert Graves & Siegfried Sasson. Women's poetry. Visits to: - Serre: Pals' battalions, the volunteer spirit & the first day on the Somme - Newfoundland Park Preserved Battlefield: Trench warfare & the end of optimism - Thiepval Memorial to the Missing: Altered perceptions in the wake of the Somme - Blighty Valley: Soldiers, wounds & casualties - Ovillers & Mash Valley: A killing field. The industrialisation of warfare - Dartmoor Cemetery: Diverging views between the front line & civilian attitudes - Mametz & Mansel Copse: Noel Hodgson's grave; the Somme as a watershed event Day Four: Arras, Vimy & Return Growing antipathy towards the war. The conscript army. The poetry of Isaac Rosenberg, Siegfried Sassoon, Ivor Gurney, Wilfred Owen, A.P. Herbert, Edmund Blunden & Robert Graves. Visits to: - Edward Thomas' grave: Disillusion & disaffection; cynicism & bitterness - Isaac Rosenberg's grave: Soldier Poets; voices of a generation or disaffected minority? - Vimy Ridge reconstructed trenches & Memorial: The pity of war & aftermath

ÂŠ Galina International 16 Bridge Street Row Chester CH1 1NQ

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Art in Paris

“Paris is the only city in the world where starving to death is still considered an art.” ― Carlos Ruiz Zafón, The Shadow of the Wind This might be taking it a bit far and certainly we don’t expect our clients to suffer such hardship in order to appreciate the unrivalled artistic heritage of one of the greatest art cities of Europe. Paris has attracted artists since medieval times but the French Revolution and political and social change in France had a profound influence on art in the capital and it was only to reach its artistic prime in the 19th century and early 20th century. The bohemian culture and radical attitudes there meant that Paris allowed an artistic freedom unavailable elsewhere and the bars, salons and dealers offered the opportunity for artists to promote their work and meet with each other. Impressionism, Symbolism, Art Nouveau, NeoImpressionism, Divisionism, Fauvism, Cubism, Art Deco and Abstract art movements all evolved in Paris and among the famous artists who worked there are Monet, Manet, Renoir, van Gogh Cézanne, Rousseau, Picasso, Matisse and Modigliani. Naturally the work of these great figures is to be found in the many galleries the city boasts but an art tour to Paris has to be more than simply a series of formal galleries; the visitor will expect to experience something of the atmosphere of Montmartre, still the home of artists today, and to appreciate the magnificence of the architectural heritage which is to be found across the city and representing every style from the gothic through classicism and baroque to art deco, art noveau, modernism and post-modernism.

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Major Paris Galleries

Musée d'Orsay (Photo: Daniel Vorndran) The Louvre is the world's most visited museum and one of the largest. It exhibits nearly 35,000 objects from prehistory to the 21st century. Originally a fortress of Philip Augustus, through subsequent centuries and the attentions of 11 monarchs the castle was made into one of the world’s biggest palaces. Its most famous masterpiece is the Mona Lisa and the action in Dan Brown’s Da Vinci Code begins with a murder in one of the galleries. The notorious pyramid at the entrance is a feature in its own right The Musée d’Orsay in the former Beaux-Arts railway station built for the Parisian Universal Exhibition in 1900 the museum houses the largest collection of impressionist and post-impressionist masterpieces in the world, by painters including Monet, Manet, Degas, Renoir, Cézanne, Seurat, Sisley, Gauguin and Van Gogh. The Musée de l'Orangerie was originally built in 1852 by the architect Firmin Bourgeois and completed by his successor, Ludovico Visconti, to shelter the orange trees of the garden of the Tuileries, the gallery now houses works by impressionist & postimpressionist artists such as Cézanne, Renoir, Matisse & Picasso & including eight Water Lilies by Monet (below).

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The Pompidou Centre (above) is largest museum for modern art in Europe, the building itself is a masterpiece of architectural design. It houses the Public Information Library, the Musée National d'Art Moderne, which is the largest museum for modern art in Europe, and IRCAM, a centre for music and acoustic research. The Musée Marmottan Monet features a collection of over three hundred Impressionist and Post-Impressionist works by Claude Monet (with the largest collection of his works in the world), Degas, Manet, Sisley, Pissarro, Gauguin & Renoir. The Musée Picasso is housed in a magnificent 17th century building nick-named the Hotel Salé. It contains the only public collection in the world that enables visitors to follow Picasso's creative process using sketches, drawings, engravings, photographs, illustrated books & documents. Picasso's own collection is also held by the museum & includes works by Cézanne, Renoir, Modigliani, Matisse & Miró. The collection was donated to the French state by Picasso's heirs in lieu of paying inheritance tax. Musée Rodin: Dedicated to the work of French sculptor Auguste Rodin Musée d'Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris: Modern & contemporary art Musée de la Mode et du Textile: Costume from the French Regency to the present Musée des Arts Décoratifs: Furniture, interior design, ceramics, glass & porcelain

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The iconic symbol of Paris, the Eiffel Tower with another landmark, the Tour Montparnasse, in the background. Groups can include an ascent of either tower in their itinerary; the Tour Montparnasse has the advantages that it does not involve queuing and, as they say, it cannot be seen from the top!

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A Selection of Other Art Destinations in and around Paris • Musée d'Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris: the municipal modern art collection has a more Paris-centric bias than the Centre Pompidou. • Rodin Museum: the work of one of the world’s greatest sculptors • National Museum Of Eugéne Delacroix: houses many of Delacroix’s personal belongings as well as art works • Museum of Decorative Arts: houses over 150,000 objects of French craftsmanship and decorative art. • Musée Bourdelle: museum built around Antoine Bourdelle's studio and apartment giving an insight into Montparnasse in its artistic heyday. • Musée Nissim de Camondo: situated in the former private home of a rich Parisian • Gustave Moreau Museum: designed by the painter himself and includes his private apartment and the large gallery he built to display his work. • Sèvres – Cité de la céramique: a merger of the Musée national de CéramiqueSèvres and the Manufacture nationale de Sèvres • Musée du Quai Branly: non-western tribal art • Château d’Écouen: home to the National Museum of the Renaissance

Highlights of the architectural treasury that is the French capital inevitably include Notre Dame on the Île de la Cité and the nearby Sainte-Chapelle and Conciergerie where Marie Antionette was imprisoned before her execution. Napoleon left the city the Arc de Triomphe and the hospital of Les Invalides (now an army museum with the emperor’s grand tomb in the domed church) while from the era of the Second Empire the Palais Garnier has been called ‘probably the most famous opera house in the world’. Just outside Paris are several great chateaux – most notably Versailles (below - symbolic of the old regime of Louis XIV, XV and XVI) but also not to be missed are Vaux-le-Vicomte, Fontainebleau and Chantilly, just as impressive but without the crowds.

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Christmas Market Tours to Paris Our Christmas Market Tours to Paris combine sightseeing with festive shopping - one market stretches along the Champs Elysées as far as the Place de la Concorde, there are over 200 chalets offering a range of Christmas gifts & regional culinary delicacies. The boulevard is lit by more than 400 Christmas trees, decorations & illuminations. There is also a Craftsmen's Village with demonstrations of their work & original gifts. Paris Cityscape Tour Explore Paris from the Île de la Cité through the 19th century modernisation of Paris including the grand boulevards of Haussmann to the new development of La Défense. Discover why the Parisii chose to settle here & how the city has grown & sustained itself over time. An expert Galina guide will explain aspects of the city you don’t get on other tours.

The Transect across Paris from La Défense

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Paris Art Galleries: Suggested 4 Day Tour

Day One: Outward travel Day Two: Major Galleries - Louvre - Musée d'Orsay - Optional Seine river cruise Day Three: Further Galleries / Sightseeing - The Pompidou Centre - Further art-related visits OR - Leisure sightseeing Day Four: Return An alternative option is to spend day three at Auvers-sur-Oise and / or Giverny

View of Montmarte (Photo: Christophe Meneboeuf)

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Auvers-sur-Oise During the 19th and 20th centuries, a number of painters lived and worked in Auvers-surOise, including Paul Cézanne, Charles-François Daubigny, Camille Pissarro, Jean-BaptisteCamille Corot, Henri Rousseau and most famously Vincent van Gogh who spent his last days in the village and is buried there. He produced 70 paintings here in the last 70 days of his life. Daubigny's house is now a museum where one can see paintings by the artist, his family, and friends, such as Honoré Daumier, as well as rooms decorated in period style. A visit to Auvers will typically include some of the following:      

 

Guided walking tour of the village including locations (such as the local church) painted by artists such as van Gogh, Pissarro & Cézanne. Dr Gachet's House: Gachet was a keen supporter of the Impressionists. He treated van Gogh in the final weeks of his life. Auberge Ravoux: Visit the room where van Gogh lived for the last few weeks of his life. The Cemetery: Visit the graves of Vincent & Theo van Gogh. Chateau d'Auvers: a brand new exhibition is being prepared and is expected to be open in 2018. The Musée Daubigny offers original works that testify to the vivid artistic life of the Oise Valley - on the first floor of the Manoir des Colombières, the museum presents a collection of paintings, drawings and engravings from the late 19th and early 20th centuries around the works of Charles-François Daubigny (18171878), precursor of the Impressionists. Maison-Atelier de Daubigny – one of the most ‘authentic’ locations in the village The Absinthe Museum recreates the atmosphere of the Belle Époque cafes where fashionable absinthe was the favourite drink of poets and artists. The original works which it contains reveal its importance in the social life of the village.

The Auberge Ravoux and the Church as painted by van Gogh

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Art in Normandy

Honfleur – a picturesque harbour much frequented by artists There are many good reasons to organise a Galina Group Tour to Normandy but one of the best has to be the fact that the great impressionist artists loved to paint there and their works can still be found in some of the most important galleries in France. The essential place to start is surely Monet’s House and Garden at Giverny; the colourful interior of his home is surpassed only by the displays outside in his beloved garden, complete with the iconic lily pond (below). Examples of his art can be found in the Musée des Beaux Arts in Rouen, the medieval capital of Normandy – it was here that Joan of Arc was burnt at the stake by the English and where later Monet painted the massive gothic cathedral in many different lighting conditions.

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Art lovers will not want to miss the chance to include the picturesque harbour town of Honfleur, a favourite resort of artists since the nineteenth century, the dramatic cliffs at Etretat (also the subject of several paintings by Monet) and MuMa, the Museum of Modern Art in Le Havre, a city which itself constitutes a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its post war architecture. As well as its art gallery visitors interested in contemporary architecture will want to visit the striking Église Saint-Joseph du Havre built between 1951 and 1957/58 by the chief architect for the reconstruction of Le Havre, Auguste Perret, teacher and mentor to the Swiss architect Le Corbusier. L’Appartement témoin Perret can also be visited – it presents a show flat furnished in the style of the 1950s.

The preserved medieval heart of Rouen – capital of Normandy No visit to Normandy is complete without sampling the fine food and drink of the region (below) – especially the renowned cheeses and the produce of the apple orchards of the Pays D’Auge. Groups can visit both cheese farms and cider makers and sample Calvados, the exceptional apple-based liquor named after the region in which it is distilled.

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Other Tours to Normandy Groups visiting Normandy may also want to take the opportunity to include some of the other iconic locations found in the region – the Bayeux Tapestry, the dramatic pilgrimage island of Mont Saint Michel, the D Day landing beaches and associated museums and cemeteries or some of the magnificent castles and cathedrals that still evoke the areas turbulent but deeply religious past. The Basilica of Sainte Thérèse at Lisieux gives testimony to a more recent instance of religious inspiration. Please contact our office for further details.

The chateau at Falaise – William the Conqueror was born on this site and Prince Arthur, nephew of King John, murdered here. Visitors receive a tablet which allows a virtual reality experience while touring the castle.

Mont Saint-Michel is once again an island – visitors can include a tour of the medieval abbey in their visit.

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On the Trail of the Impressionists: Suggested 4 Day Tour

Day One: Outward travel Day Two: Rouen & Giverny - Rouen Cathedral - Rouen Art Gallery - Church of St Joan of Arc, medieval streets & marketplace - Monet’s House and Garden at Giverny Day Three: Honfleur & Le Havre - Visit to the charming harbour town of Honfleur - Continue to Le Havre (UNESCO World Heritage Site) - Visit St Joseph’s Church & MuMa Art Gallery - Return via Etretat Day Four: Return For a longer Impressionist Art Tour a few days in Paris can be added on so as to take in the great art collections housed in galleries such as the Musée d’Orsay Orangerie or Musée Marmottan Monet. A visit can also be arranged to the village of Auvers-sur-Oise where Vincent van Gogh spent his last days and where he is still buried.

The modernist Town Hall in Le Havre – a UNESCO World Heritage Site © Galina International 16 Bridge Street Row Chester CH1 1NQ

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Design your Tour A Galina tour is designed to take you where you want to go. Tell us where you would like to be picked up - your coach will meet you at your chosen point no earlier than six oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;clock (and we do not travel overnight). All our executive coaches have toilets, continental doors and DVD players.

Galina liveried coach We will show you the places you want to see. Our tour administrators and specialist tour consultants will discuss your itinerary with you to ensure that you make the best use of your time on the continent and visit the most appropriate venues for your group. Special requests: we can usually accommodate special requests to include particular museums or cities which have a special relevance to your group. Please tell your Tour Administrator if you have any special requirements or if any members of your party have any additional needs (hotel rooming, dietary requirements etc.) and we will do our best to meet them.

ÂŠ Galina International 16 Bridge Street Row Chester CH1 1NQ

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Channel Crossings You can select from a number of different crossings: Dover to Calais – the shortest sea crossing, taking about 90 minutes and giving good time to take some light refreshments or a fuller meal and to get some fresh air. Ferries also sail from Dover to Dieppe which can offer an attractive alternative for groups visiting Belgium. Folkestone to Calais – the Eurotunnel crossing is quick (35 minutes) and easy and avoids the hazards of choppy seas but there are no refreshments available during the crossing. If you are short of time you might like to consider a day trip to Ypres or Lille using Eurotunnel – ideal for those based in the south east. Hull to Zeebrugge or Rotterdam – this is an ideal option for groups travelling from the north as it avoids an early morning departure and the long drive to Dover and offers comfortable overnight cabin accommodation and excellent ‘all you can eat’ buffet dinner & breakfast. Entertainment, bars, shops and a cinema ensure a pleasant and relaxed crossing so that you arrive in Holland or Belgium refreshed and ready for a day sight-seeing. Portsmouth to Caen – Brittany Ferries operate day and night crossings which can be ideal for groups departing from locations on the south coast or intending to visit destinations in Western Normandy. They also operate to St Malo which may appeal to groups wishing to visit Mont Saint-Michel.

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Accommodation

One of the hotels offered by Galina We can offer a range of accommodation to suit all tastes and budgets â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 3 and four star hotels, city centre locations or in small towns. We can also provide 2* accommodation for groups working with tight budgets. All our hotels include ensuite facilities, lifts to all floors and continental buffet breakfast.

Typical hotels used by Galina Optional Extras: groups who prefer can opt to include evening meals and / or packed lunches (though it can often be better value to try out the local restaurants) and in many cases it is possible to provide porterage & welcome drinks on arrival.

ÂŠ Galina International 16 Bridge Street Row Chester CH1 1NQ

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All hotels are checked to ensure that they comply with health & safety regulations & that they possess a current operating certificate & appropriate public liability insurance, fire safety, hygiene & pest control certificates or local equivalents. We work closely with the proprietors to ensure that our guests receive a warm and efficient welcome wherever they choose to stay.

Guides Our guides are carefully chosen for their friendliness, adaptability and subject knowledge. They have an educational / academic background and their expertise helps to bring to life the locations we visit. In some locations we use Blue badge Guides for their local expertise or guides provided directly by the venue who have an in depth knowledge of a particular site. Some groups prefer to arrange for their own guides to accompany their group and we are quite happy to arrange this for you. Two of our regular guides are featured below.

Left: Steve Clarke, BA (Hons), PGCE Steve is a former Head of Humanities & prior to retiring was an Assistant Head. He began leading tours for Galina in 2010. Steve is a Regional Volunteer for The War Memorials Trust & is also a keen sportsman, captaining his local cricket club. He also enjoys watching the game & is a member of Yorkshire CCC. His other sporting interests include cycling & rugby.

Right: Dr David Nunn, BA (Hons), MA, MEd, PGCE, PhD David has over 30 years' experience teaching History & English in secondary schools & lecturing to undergraduates at Derby & Nottingham universities. He has worked closely with Nottinghamshire County Council to research the impact of the Great War on the county. David is a regular theatre-goer, has a keen interest in literature & the performing arts & also plays cricket for his local club.

ÂŠ Galina International 16 Bridge Street Row Chester CH1 1NQ

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Booking a Galina Group Tour We arranged our first group tour in 1989. Since then we have carried many thousands of people - of all ages - ranging from professional associations, U3A groups & retirement clubs to schools, universities & the military. We've learnt a lot; most importantly that no two groups are the same. Our itineraries are simply suggestions to be shaped & moulded until they become your itinerary. Secondly, people like learning new things & be stimulated by them as well as having a good time & enjoying themselves. We appreciate that a good reputation is based on honesty & fair-dealing as well as quality. We don't hide any costs in the small print & we always make clear what is & what is not included in our pricing & quotations. All coach & ferry (or Eurotunnel) costs, B&B accommodation, entrance fees to museums or venues specifically mentioned in the itinerary & guide costs are included as standard. We will also inform you of the cost of evening meals, single supplements & travel insurance in your quotation. As members of ABTA, we adhere to their Code of Conduct with regard to the quality of service & information that we provide our clients. Free Places In the first instance, we offer 2 free places for groups of 30 or more paying passengers & 1 free place for groups of 29 or less. We can increase the number of free places if you require this (perhaps to raffle them to raise funds) but the tour price will have to be re-costed to take these into account.

Galina liveried coach at Essex Farm near Ypres

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Easy to Contact You can enquire by telephone using our Freephone number 0800 801 560 or you can contact us by email. Just click on one of the "Request a Quotation" tabs you will find throughout our website. The more information you can give us at this stage about when & where you wish to travel the more we can help you.  

Adult Groups Tours: Military & Ex-Services Groups:

www.galinagrouptours.co.uk www.wartours.com

Personal Customer Service Our staff are friendly & approachable. They will be able to offer you practical advice about the tour in which you are interested & are happy to discuss any changes or additions or deletions to the tour itinerary that you may want to make. You will receive a quotation & provisional itinerary within 24-48 hours of your initial enquiry & the name of a member of staff who will be your personal contact during this initial stage. Should you decide to travel with us you will be allocated a tour administrator (usually the same person) who will look after your tour from the day you book to when you return. You can be sure that your tour administrator will have a thorough understanding of your itinerary's individual features & characteristics as well as your group's particular requirements.

Every

Galina client is assigned a qualified Tour Administrator to guide them through their

tour

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Low Deposits & Easy Booking We want to make booking with us as easy & straightforward as possible. We only require an initial deposit to confirm your booking, with the balance of the tour price only payable eight weeks prior to your departure date. For one-day tours we require a group deposit of £600 or £15 per person based on 40 paying passengers). For two-day tours the deposit is £1000 or £25 per person based on 40 paying passengers. For tours of three to five days' duration, the standard group deposit is £2000 or £50 per person based on 40 paying passengers & for tours exceeding five days we require a £3000 group deposit or £75 per person based on 40 paying passengers. Quick Confirmation of Essential Tour Components At the enquiry stage, your quotation will obviously be subject to availability should you decide to book with us. Once we receive your group deposit we will then confirm all the key tour components (hotel, ferry, etc.) & inform you that everything is in place normally within a matter of a few days. For groups that have travelled with us previously we will often make provisional bookings in advance of receiving a deposit. Safety on Tour We go to great lengths to ensure the safety of our passengers. Coach companies & accommodation that we use regularly are physically inspected at least once every three years by members of our staff who are trained as safety auditors. Travel Insurance Galina Group Tours is an appointed representative of Arthur J. Gallagher Insurance Brokers Limited which is authorised & regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Registered Office: Spectrum Building, 7th Floor, 55 Blythswood Street, Glasgow, G2 7AT. Registered in Scotland. Company Number: SC108909.

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Financial Security Your money is safe with us. All tour organisers & groups booking with Galina Group Tours are fully insured for any monies paid as to us in the form of their initial deposit & final balance of the tour price. Our policy also includes repatriation, if required, arising from the cancellation or curtailment of your travel arrangements in the unlikely event of our insolvency. This financial failure insurance has been arranged by Towergate Chapman Stevens through HCC International Insurance Company PLC. There is no additional charge for this cover in addition to the tour price quoted. Emergency Contact Number We will provide you with an emergency contact number when you are on tour in the event that a serious problem arises.

3 Simple Steps to Booking Your Trip with Galina 1. Contact us to discuss your itinerary & give us your preferred travel date/s so we can prepare & send you a price 2. Read your quotation & decide upon your preferred itinerary 3. Return your Booking Form with deposit & we will do the rest!

ÂŠ Galina International 16 Bridge Street Row Chester CH1 1NQ

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