Art of the Côte D’Azur

CULTURAL TOURS ART OF THE CÔTE D’AZUR

FIVE NIGHT HOLIDAYS | 26 APRIL & 17 OCTOBER 2023

French artists began to discover the attractions of the Côte d’Azur and the iridescent quality of the region’s dazzling light towards the end of the 19th century. Monet was the first artist to be lured to the Riviera, arriving there in 1885. Matisse, Chagall, Picasso and many more soon followed him. The simple villages they painted may have turned into smart resorts but the light and beauty have not changed and still inspire artists today.

DAY 1

the itinerary

We fly from London to Nice and transfer to the 3* Hôtel Apollinaire in the centre of Nice.

2

We begin our tour with a visit to the Marc Chagall Museum. When it opened it was originally intended to hold the 17 canvases of The Biblical Message, which depict scenes from Genesis, Exodus and The Song of Solomon. Today, it holds many other works by the artist, primarily those inspired by religion. During the afternoon we go to Vence to see the Chapel of the Rosary, an ambitious project which took Matisse more than four years to complete.

3

We drive to St-Paul-de-Vence today and enjoy lunch at the Hôtel Colombe d’Or. Our autumn holiday will also include the Maeght Foundation with its stunning collection of works by Picasso, Miró, Hepworth and many others.

4

We visit the Musée d’Art Moderne et d’Art Contemporain and then in the afternoon the Musée Matisse where the talents of this artist can be enjoyed to the full. Here we see not just his paintings, but also sculptures, ceramics and stained glass.

5

We visit the Château Grimaldi in Antibes. Most of the paintings by Picasso on display were donated to the town by the artist. Afterwards we go to Le Cannet where Pierre Bonnard lived for many years. The town was the driving force in establishing a museum dedicated to the artist’s work, and in 2011 the Musée Bonnard opened in the Hôtel Saint-Viannay. The collection is constantly being expanded and in February 2014 the artist’s ‘L’Amandier’ was added to the impressive collection.

We drive to Nice airport for the flight to London.

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DAY 6

Pierre Bonnard, Amandier en Fleurs, 1930 © Adagp, Paris 2014 Le Musée Bonnard

TOUR LEADER

SIMON MONCKTON

Simon Monckton studied Theology and is one of our most popular tour lecturers. Simon Monckton writes: “The climate of the stretch of coast between Cannes and Menton is the finest in Europe and provides ideal conditions for gardening and painting. It was because of this, together with the fact that before the Côte d’Azur became so fashionable, life here was relatively cheap, that so many of Europe’s leading artists and gardeners made it their home.”

TOUR INFORMATION

DEPARTURE DATE & PRICES

DATE PRICE SINGLE SUPP

26 April 17 October £1,998 £390

Our prices are per person, based on the shared occupancy of a twin/double room. Supplement for single occupancy as shown.

FLIGHT DETAILS

Flights with British Airways: Depart London Heathrow 11.25, arrive Nice 14.35 Depart Nice 15.35, arrive London Heathrow 16.45 Flight times subject to change – regional departures available on request.

WHAT WE INCLUDE

• Return flights • Five nights’ accommodation with breakfast • Two dinners and one lunch • All entrances fees and gratuities as described • The services of a Kirker Tour Lecturer

ART & GARDENS OF THE CÔTE D’AZUR

For those who wish to combine the exceptional art and wonderful gardens of the French Riviera, the two tours “Art of the Côte d’Azur” & “Gardens of the Riviera” run consecutively and many clients enjoy the opportunity to book both together. The price to join both tours is £3,675. Single supplement £690.