… On the Way to Marie-Antoinette

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Mysteries, myths and legends surround Marie-Antoinette, the beautiful Queen of France who became a symbol for the wanton extravagance of the eighteenth-century monarchy. From the day of her coronation in Versailles as she was just 19, Marie-Antoinette was adulated and admired for her vivacity, intelligence and great beauty with her blue eyes, porcelain complexion and graceful deportment.

She brought about changes at Versailles in the realms of decorative arts, music and fashion. From her Austrian education, the Queen brought the standards of hygiene, paying also an elaborate attention to her ablution and her appearance. She also had a real passion for flowers, a luxury that was immediatly withdrawn by Elisabeth Vigier-Lebrun, her official painter. Not least in the gardens of “Le Petit Trianon”, her pastoral retreat, the Queen indulged in her love of fragrant blooms. Using her distinctive personal style to defy the ridig etiquette of the Versailles Court, Marie-Antoinette had developed a taste for fashionable things in alliance with very creative people such as her couturiere Rose Bertin, her hairdresser Léonard and of course her perfumer Jean-Louis Fargeon. No doubts that even today, Marie-Antoinette still remains the most notorious queen, and distinguished as a patron of the arts.

THE 2008 “MARIE-ANTOINETTE” EXHIBITION IN PARIS

Paris “The City of Lights” celebrates Marie-Antoinette by an exceptional exhibition of nearly 300 unique works (paintings, sculptures, objets d’art…) coming from all over Europe, that reflect the strong and complex personality of the Queen, and her life from the Austria Court to the Conciergerie. Considering the last comparable exhibition dates back to 1955, this extraordinaire exhibition cannot be missed.
It is scheduled from March 15, to June30, 2008.

ON THE WAY TO MARIE-ANTOINETTE program

ON THE WAY TO MARIE-ANTOINETTE program features a unique approach of the legendary Queen of France’s lifestyle, through conferences and cultural visits, classes of both pastry/macaroons and fragrances, walking trail in Paris, etc.
This one-of-a-kind program includes the visits to the Paris Grand Palais exhibition and to the Chateau de Versailles & Domain Marie-Antoinette (VIP access and English-speaking guide 18th century expert), one hands-on macaroons class for learning how to cook this crispy and creamy pastry that the Queen loved so much, one fragrances class taught by Elisabeth de Feydeau, the author of “The Scented Palace”, the Marie-Antoinette trail highlighting the places the Queen loved to stay.

Accomodation, lunches and dinners are in accordance with this program’s high quality environment : all very refined. ON THE WAY TO MARIE-ANTOINETTE has been designed by Corinne Preteur and is exclusive to Lifestyle Vacations. The tours are limited to 10 participants, and are escorted by Corinne personally.

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DETAILED ITINERARY : 5 DAYS / 4 NIGHTS

> Day 1 (Wednesday) : Welcome to Paris + Macaroons Cooking Class
Private transfer from Paris Charles de Gaulle’s international airport to an elegant three-star hotel located steps from the famous Avenue des Champs Elysées. Check-in at the hotel*** and relax. At noon, lunch at the restaurant of the Jacquemard André tiny museum. From 2:30 to 5:30pm, hands-on macaroons class with chef Myriam at the Nouvelle Athènes cooking school. The tasting follows with a tea, a hot chocolate, a coffee or a juice. Back to the hotel at the end of the afternoon. Dinner at lovely French traditional restaurant nearby the hotel. Overnight at the hotel***.

> Day 2 (Thursday) : Grand Palais Exhibition + Fragrances Class
After the breakfast, we will walk down the Champs Elysées to the Grand Palais Museum of Arts. We will meet with the guide and enter to the exhibition. The visit lasts 1hr30mn. Lunch by your own.
At 2:30pm you will enter in the secret haven of the perfumers with an olfactive fragrance three-hour class taught by Elisabeth de Feydeau, the author of “A Scented Palace” (the book retraces the biographical itinerary of Jean-Louis Fargeon, the perfumer of Marie-Antoinette). With Elisabeth, you will experience the intensity of the centifolia rose, iris, cut jasmine, tuberose, orange blossom, modulated by a fine woody touches of cedar and sandalwood… in the spirit of the « Sillage de la Reine » which was Marie-Antoinette’s favourite fragrance !
The class ends with a tasting of a delicious hot chocolate and macaroons.
Dinner at a Champs-Elysees restaurant run by a woman Executive chef. Her cuisine is just amazing… Overnight at the hotel***.

> Day 3 (Friday) : Full-day excursion to Versailles, an immersion into the secret world of Marie-Antoinette at the 18th century…
After your breakfast, private transfer to Versailles. You will spend the full-day there, travelling back to the Eighteenth century and imagine the life of the young and glamourous last Queen of France, Marie-Antoinette….
You will be escorted by the best English-speaking female guide and walk on the Marie-Antoinette’s trails from her apartments in the château to the Trianon Estate and the hamlet… a gift from Louis XVI in 1774 where she really founded a haven of privacy to escape from the rigours of the Court etiquette. This unique approach on Marie-Antoinette’s life will enhance your understanding on the Queen’s beauty style and tastes for the fragrances, beauty products, the flowers too… without forgetting her incredible fashionable excess.
Morning visit of the Chateau de Versailles - Lunch by your own in Versailles. Afternoon dedicated to the visit of the Domain Marie-Antoinette with a walk in the park. Back to Paris around 6:30pm, for sure you will appreciate to relax at your hotel.
Dinner at a nice restaurant in the 8th district. Overnight at the hotel***

> Day 4 (Saturday) : Paris, the Marie-Antoinette’s best spots
Copolla’s film shows how the Queen’s sought escape from her marital frustration and the boredom of court life, and build a circle of friends among the Comtess of Polignac, Princess of Lamballe, Comtess of Provence, the Count of Artois and handsome young courtiers including Count Axel Fersen. With her friends, she threw herself into a life of pleasure and careless extravagance included masked balls and theater representations in Paris… Escorted by Elisabeth de Feydeau or Corinne Preteur, you will discover by walking the finest fragrance spots, the elegant boutiques of the Palais Royal, etc. The walking tour lasts 3 hours.
The tour ends in the heart of Saint-Germain-des-Prés. You will lunch by your own… but you could experience Ladurée!
Afternoon free shopping in downtown Paris right or left bank. After days spent together, you will have the best addresses noted on your pad!
At 7:30pm, Corinne will take you to enjoy a wonderful farewell dinner in the pure 18th tradition… at a restaurant that we consider as a pure jewelry. Nothing else to explain about this place and its refined cuisine :,just wait the moment, see the luxurious decoration, and enjoy it the moment!
Overnight at the hotel***

> Day 5 (Sunday) : “Au revoir & à bientôt” (Goodbye and see you soon)
After your breakfast,
check-out and private transfer to Paris Charles de Gaulle’s international airport.

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OUR PRICES PER PERSON (double occupancy)

US$ 2,450.00 per person (double occupancy)
Single Supplement : US$ 270.00
Rates are subject to change based on currency exchange. Call for updated rates.

It includes :
• Round trip transfers from/to Paris Charles-de-Gaulle international airport.
• 4 nights accomodation at the Champs Elysees three-star hotel.
• 4 breakfasts.
• 4 dinners at different Paris top class restaurants (wine is not included).
• The welcome lunch on arrival (Day 1).
• Entrances to the museums (Grand Palais, Chateau de Versailles and Domaine Marie-Antoinette
• Guided tour at Grand Palais exhibition
• Full-day excursion to Versailles with a VIP welcome at both the Château and the Marie-Antoinette’s Estate (entrance tickets included)
• Morning walking tour on the Marie-Antoinette’s trail (Day 4)
• One hands-on macaroons class with Executive chef Myriam in Paris.
• Four-hour Fragrances class at a prestigious perfumer taught by E. de Feydeau.
• Ground transportation for the Versailles excursion.

Are Not Included :
airfare to/from France, lunches on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, drinks at the restaurants, subway/bus tickets in Paris, personal expenses, personal insurance.

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2008 TOUR DATES

March 19-23
April 2-6
April 9-13
April 16-20
May 14-18
June 4-8
June 25-29

A minimum of 6 participants is required for each session.
Tours are limited to 10 persons

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