Summer Cultural Excursions

Champagne, the region between Lorraine and Paris, is the only internationally recognized source of real champagne. Learn about the rigorous méthode champenoise that makes this wine so special that it has come to symbolize the essence of celebration the world over. The drive takes you through the region’s rolling hills to Reims where you start the day with a guided tour of a champagne cellar. Lunch is served in a nearby country inn and will be followed by a visit to a smaller, family-owned cellar for a private tasting. Plan to return to Paris in time for dinner.

Minimum: 15 students

Maximum: 25 students

Cost: €125

Cost includes private coach transportation, lunch, entrance fees, guided visits and VAT.

Join the French as they dance in the streets, celebrating all forms of music. Free outdoor concerts are held throughout the city, from the afternoon until the wee hours of the morning. AUP will compile a list of the main activities to help you choose how to best spend your day and evening.

Discover the history, gastronomy, and natural beauty of the South of France during this weekend excursion. After arriving in Avignon on Saturday afternoon by high-speed train, spend the weekend experiencing the rustic side of France. Visits include the city’s famous bridge and Papal palace and a guided walking tour of the old town; the picturesque hillside village of Les Baux de Provence with a guided tour of the Chateau des Baux; and one of the region’s well-known olive producers for a tour of the groves, pressing facilities, and a tasting. Enjoy lunch at a local Provençal restaurant and a trip to the Pont du Gard, a Roman aqueduct and UNESCO World Heritage site. Be sure to bring your bathing suit – on hot days, visitors can wade in the Gard River just below the bridge. Spend a morning exploring the farmer’s and flea markets of Avignon. Return to Paris by train late Monday afternoon.

Please note: this trip has been planned in-between the two French immersion sessions. Immersion students are welcome to attend.

Minimum: 10 students

Maximum: 16 students

Cost: €400

Cost includes round-trip train transportation, hotel accommodations with breakfast, on-site coach transportation, guided visits, entrance fees, one lunch and VAT.

Nicknamed the Château des Dames, the Château de Chenonceau stretches across the Cher River in the Loire Valley. After arriving by train directly to Chenonceau, enjoy the château at your own pace with an audioguided visit. Lunch on-site is provided. In the afternoon, take some time to run around in the garden maze, check out the wax figure museum, or simply enjoy the sunshine. Don’t forget to smell the flowers in both of the adjacent gardens: one for Catherine de Medicis, Henry II’s wife, and one for Diane de Poitiers – his mistress.

Minimum: 10 students

Maximum: 15 students

Cost: €100

Cost includes round-trip train transportation, lunch, entrance fees, and VAT.

The serene landscape and constantly changing patterns of light along the Seine were a major source of inspiration for the many 19th-century artists drawn to this region. In the morning, travel by bus from Paris to Giverny to start with a guided tour of the new Musée des Impressionnismes (formerly the Musée d’art Américain). After lunch in the museum’s terrace-café, stroll down the road to the Fondation Monet and visit the residence where Claude Monet lived for over forty years. The world-famous gardens, restored to their original glory, were Monet's passion. See the setting for the famous Water Lily paintings and visit the artist's home, where you will experience his eccentric taste in decoration and an impressive collection of Japanese prints is on display.

Minimum: 15 students

Maximum: 30 students

Cost: €100

Cost includes private coach transportation, lunch, entrance fees, guided visits, and VAT.

Spend the 14 of July watching the annual parade down the Champs Elysées and enjoying the abundant festivities of this exciting day. At night, you can dance at the firemen’s ball and take in the fireworks. AUP will compile a list of the main activities to help you choose how to best spend the day.

Discover Paris on foot! Join fellow AUP students on these guided walking tours and discover the deeper history of Paris in two of its most celebrated exports: fashion and food.

Fashion Walk  |  Friday, June 8

We all know that Paris is the capital of haute couture and sophisticated design, but where does this originate? In this tour, explore the history of Paris’ traditional fashion districts of Palais Royal and Place des Victoires as well as the evolution in today’s designers. Discover where to buy vintage designer pieces and the coveted ‘little black dress.’

Minimum: 10 students per visit

Maximum: 20 students per visit

Cost: € 15

Chocolate Walk  |  Friday, July 6

Discover the history of chocolate and how Paris is the capital of fine chocolate. Visit a variety of excellent ‘chocolatiers’ and learn using all five senses, including taste! Learn how to choose and appreciate quality chocolate.

Minimum: 10 students per visit

Maximum: 20 students per visit

Cost: € 30 (includes tastings)