France Normandy and Giverny Photo and Painting Tour

Your journey begins with an overnight flight from the home to Paris, France. The tour is concentrating on your time photographing in Normandy with Nancy, therefore if you would like to spend time in Paris visiting museums and other city sights, you may wish to add on days on your own pre or post trip.

Departure time from the Paris airport (CDG) will be announced. Your driver for today, will pick up the group and transfer you to Mont St-Michel today. There will be a photography stop along the way in Caen along with time for lunch. Caen is the third largest city in Normandy, following Le Havre and Rouen. It was founded by William the Conqueror in the 11th century. Please note the majority of your luggage will be left in Bayeux enroute to Mont St-Michel, therefore only your camera gear, personal items, and clothes for these two evenings will need to be in carry-on size luggage. Since group accommodations are on Mont St-Michel it is necessary from the car park to take a shuttle on to the island and walk to hotel, carrying your overnight luggage. Nancy will discuss the timing of your photography outings the next day, taking advantage of high and low tides.

An unforgettable sight ~ The Mont Saint-Michel is one of Europe’s most amazing sights. Normandy meets Brittany in the bay it emerges from, your eye is drawn to the island it is built on. You will have two chances for sunset and sunrise photography or painting.

If you wish you can take the same shuttle from the island to the mainland, where you can walk to various vantage points to capture this beautiful structure rising from the sea or with the waves of sand in the foreground. Grab lunch at one of the many restaurants in town or the winding streets of the island. Overnight Mont St Michel (13th: B, D)

*Hotels on Mont St-Michel do not have elevators due to their historical significance, therefore you will also need to be prepared to handle steps in the hotel as well as the island.

Your driver and bus will pick you up at the car park this morning and transfer you to Bayeux, where your left luggage will be at the hotel. Although it was the first large town liberated by the Allies in Normandy in 1944, Bayeux escaped serious damage during the Second World War, much to the delight of lovers of history. All different styles of architecture from antiquity through the Renaissance up to the modern day are represented in this town that was, until the 11th century, the capital of lower Normandy. The impressive cathedral which sits at the heart of this historic town was built between the 11th and 13th centuries. You can’t hear of Bayeux without mention of its famous tapestry, an embroidered cloth over 200 feet long which tells the story of William the Conqueror. All within walking distance of the hotel.

The next day you will take a day trip to the D Day Beaches, for a half day tour with the groups own personal guide. This will be a day of history and landscapes. Although this location is not about Monet, it is an important addition to your workshop. Your guide will be passionate about the history and this region of Normandy and take you to the landing beaches themselves, the inland battlefields, the cemeteries of all three principal armies, the museums, and explain the stories and history behind each.

Your last full day there will be a discussion meeting after breakfast. Shooting in historic center of Bayeux, visit the museum with famous tapestry, Cathedral and town. All within walking distance. Prepare for early departure tomorrow morning. Overnight Bayeux (B, D; B; B)

Sitting on the estuary where the Siene River meets the English Channel, is the historic seaport of Honfleur. Photograph at the old harbor where there are 16th to 18th century townhouses, as well as picturesque fishing boats. Claude Monet and native son Eugene Boudin were regular artists painting along the Honfleur coastline and city. Enjoy lunch before re-boarding the bus to your final destination for the day Etretat beach area and town.
During the 1880’s, Monet made repeated visits to Etretat to draw by the sea. It had already been painted by Delacroix and Courbet. By the 1890’s Monet began producing his first series paintings here of the large rock arch on the beach. This series was done at different times of day and captured different kinds of light….his own form of white balance! There will be two opportunities for sunrise and sunset in this beautiful location, again Nancy will discuss daily outings at dinner, taking in to account low and high tides.

Optional Tour: An optional tour that participants can take part in is a 2 hour boat tour from Fécamp to Etretat. Impressing chalk cliffs, arches to pass underneath and rivers that run underground into the bay. The seas can be rough and may not be for everyone, which is why it is an optional suggestion. You can capture some beautiful photography from a different perspective, if the tides, seas and light align. Overnight Etretat (B, D; B)

Move on to Rouen this morning and photograph the lovely streets and the Cathedral where Monet did his famous series of paintings. Rouen was one of the greatest ports along the Siene becoming the capital of Normandy. If anyone has the interest there is a museum here in honor of Joan of Arc’s death in 1431, it is located in the Archbishop’s Palace next door the Cathedral

Continue on to Giverny, after getting settled in Nancy will announce what time to meet and go over the town map, and timing of your photography and painting outings. There will be a welcome dinner at the hotel with sunset being so late, those with energy can venture out on your own.
Begin early the next morning at the gardens working with Nancy amidst the Spring flowers. The bus tours from Paris will arrive late morning through early afternoon, which is when you will take a break in town for lunch once the gardens get a bit crowded. After lunch return to the gardens for additional photography and painting.

The next day enjoy photography in town and go to the Impressionism Museum in Giverny to see wonderful examples of Monet and other Impressionist artists and spend the balance of the afternoon there and walking in the area. If possible, before dinner Nancy will find a place to shoot along the river.

While viewing the famous gardens we will draw parallels between the work of Monet as the gardener and of the artist. In each roll, he studied, cultivated and modified nature to show us beauty and mystery. Standing in his historic garden, bathed in the magical light that he also worked in, we will be inspired quite possibly in a way we have not yet experienced as photographers and painters. Overnight Giverny (B, D; B; B)

The flight time out from Paris will be announced as everyone will be transferred to the airport together. If you wish to extend your stay in Paris, you can take transportation from the airport to the city center. Depending on your flight time this morning enjoy breakfast at the hotel. (B)