France Tours
France offers life-changing, eye-opening tour possibilities for every performer. The American Celebration of Music will incorporate the best that France’s great cities have to offer, by arranging amazing concert venues and “must-see” site-seeing experiences. In 2019, we commemorate the 75th Anniversary of D-Day and the liberation of France. Please click on the itinerary links below to discover the best fit for your ensemble. Remember — in order to maximize your cultural and musical experience abroad, we consider these tour options a solid starting point, upon which we can further customize the ideal concert tour for your ensemble.
Tour #1 – 5 nights | 7 days
Rouen | Caen | Paris
Arrive at Paris airport. Transfer to Caen via Rouen to see the Cathedral. Take an excursion to Coleville to perform a short memorial recital, and participate in a wreath laying ceremony at the American Cemetery, site of the June 6th Normandy Invasion. Return to Caen to visit the Peace Memorial. Performance as part of the American Celebration of Music in France. Transfer to Paris. Enjoy an orientation tour of Paris including stops at the Arc de Triomphe, Eiffel Tower, Place de la Concorde, Latin Quarter, etc. Take a half-day guided tour of Paris historique, including Notre-Dame Cathedral, Champs Elysees, Luxembourg Palace and Gardens, Place de la Bastille, and other highlights. Performance as part of the American Celebration of Music in France. For choirs only: Late morning performance in Notre Dame Cathedral. Enjoy an afternoon tour of Paris artistique, including entrance to the Louvre. Enjoy a Farewell Dinner and depart for home.
Tour #2 – 6 nights | 8 days
Rouen | Caen | Paris | Versailles
Arrive at Paris airport. Transfer to Caen via Rouen to see the Cathedral. Take an excursion to Coleville to perform a short memorial recital, and participate in a wreath laying ceremony at the American Cemetery, site of the June 6th Normandy Invasion. Return to Caen to visit the Peace Memorial. Performance as part of the American Celebration of Music in France. Transfer to Paris. Enjoy an orientation tour of Paris including stops at the Arc de Triomphe, Eiffel Tower, Place de la Concorde, Latin Quarter, etc. Take a half-day guided tour of Paris historique, including Notre-Dame Cathedral, Champs Elysees, Luxembourg Palace and Gardens, Place de la Bastille, and other highlights. Performance as part of the American Celebration of Music in France. For choirs only: Late morning performance in Notre Dame Cathedral. Enjoy an afternoon tour of Paris artistique, including entrance to the Louvre. Take a morning guided tour of Versailles. Enjoy a Farewell Dinner and depart for home.
Tour #3 – 7 nights | 9 days
Chartres | Tours | Mont St. Michel | Caen | Paris
Arrive at Paris airport. Stop en route at Chartres for a tour of the magnificent cathedral. Enjoy a guided tour of the Loire Valley, including entrance to one of the most famous Chateaux. Performance as part of the American Celebration of Music in France. Morning transfer to Mont St-Michael. Take a half-day sight-seeing includes entrance to the Abbaye, La Merveille, the Abbaye Gardens and the Refectory. Transfer to Caen via Coleville to perform a short memorial recital, and participate in a wreath laying ceremony at the American Cemetery, site of the June 6th Normandy Invasion. Performance as part of the American Celebration of Music in France. Morning guided tour of Caen, including a visit to the Peace Memorial. Also pass the Abbaye-aux-Hommes, built by William the Conqueror. Transfer to Paris. Enjoy an orientation tour of Paris including stops at the Arc de Triomphe, Eiffel Tower, Place de la Concorde, Latin Quarter, etc. Take a half-day guided tour of Paris historique, including Notre-Dame Cathedral, Champs Elysees, Luxembourg Palace and Gardens, Place de la Bastille, and other highlights. Performance as part of the American Celebration of Music in France. For choirs only: Late morning performance in Notre Dame Cathedral. Enjoy an afternoon tour of Paris artistique, including entrance to the Louvre. Take a morning guided tour of Versailles. Enjoy a Farewell Dinner and depart for home.
Tour #4 – 7 nights | 9 days
Barcelona | Montserrat | Pont du Gard | Avignon | Aix-en-Provence | Nice
Arrive in Barcelona. Take a panoramic tour of Barcelona’s highlights including Gothic Quarter, Plaça del Rei, Roman City, Plaça Reial, Port Vell, etc. Take a guided tour includes the Eixample Quarter, location of many of Barcelona’s best Modernista buildings. Travel down the Passeig de Gràci. Then visit La Sagrada Familia. Afternoon clinic or school exchange. Half-day sightseeing to Montserrat to visit the monastery. The monastery, with its church and the various subsidiary buildings, is a little city on its own. The monastery complex proper is reached by way of the Plaza de la Cruz (Catalan Plaça de la Creu). Hear Escolania, one of Europe’s oldest boys choir sing the 11 am Mass in the monastery. Afternoon guided tour to Montjuïc. Visit the Poble Espanyol. Performance as part of the American Celebration of Music in Spain. Transfer to Avignon via Pont du Gard, an ancient Roman aqueduct bridge. Take a half-day sightseeing tour of Avignon, the capital city of Provence. Performance as part of the American Celebration of Music in France. Transfer to Nice via Aix-en-Provence, a charming city renowned for its elegant boulevards, historic fountains, and vibrant markets. Arrive in Nice and take a short orientation tour including a visit to the Promenade des Anglais. Enjoy an excursion along the French Riviera, beginning in Monaco to explore the charming Old Town. Visit the picturesque seaside town of Villefranche-sur-Mer known for its colorful Mediterranean architecture. Performance as part of the American Celebration of Music in Spain. Enjoy and evening Farewell Dinner. Transfer to Nice and depart for home.
Tour #5 – 8 nights | 10 days
Paris | Brussels | Bruges | Amsterdam
Arrive in Paris and take an introductory city tour including a stop at the Arc de Triomphe, Eiffel Tower, and the Latin Quarter. Take a half-day guided tour of Paris historique, including Notre-Dame Cathedral, Arc de Triomphe, Eiffel Tower, Champs Elysees, Place de la Concorde, Luxembourg Palace and Gardens, Latin Quarter, Place de la Bastille, and other highlights. Performance as part of the American Celebration of Music in France. For choirs only: Late morning performance in Notre Dame Cathedral. Enjoy an afternoon tour of Paris artistique, including entrance to the Louvre. Transfer to Brussels. Take a guided tour of the highlights of Brussels, including the Grand Place, Manneken Pis, Atomium, Eglise Notre Dame, and entrance to the Musée Instrumental du Conservatoire de Musique. Excursion to Bruges. Enjoy a canal ride for great views and an orientation to this unique city. See the Markt (Grand-Place), Belfort-Halien, and visit the Basilica of the Holy Blood. Performance as part of the American Celebration of Music in Belgium. Transfer to Amsterdam through Den Haag and Delft, to visit one of its famous porcelain factories. Take a guided tour of Amsterdam including the Begijnhof, the Bloemenmarkt, and entrance to the Anne Frank House. Also enjoy a one-hour cruise on Amsterdam’s beautiful canals. Performance as part of the American Celebration of Music in The Netherlands. Morning excursion to Alkmaar. The village of Alkmaar’s chief tourist attraction is its cheese market. Return to Amsterdam for an afternoon tour of the Reijksmuseum. Enjoy a Farewell Dinner and depart for home.