Walking In The Footsteps of Saint Madeleine Sophie Barat: Paris, Joigny, Lyon and Nice

Flight from your preferred airport to Paris.

When you arrive in Paris, you’ll be greeted at the airport by your Travel For Teens guides, who will accompany you for the duration of your journey. You’ll board your private coach directly to Joigny, home of the Centre Madeleine Sophie Barat, where we will be welcomed by the Sisters of the Order of the Sacred Heart. Tour the home where Sainte Madeleine Sophie grew up and enjoy your first dinner of traditional Burgundy cuisine at the Centre with the Sisters.

Begin your first full day in France with a tour of the quaint village of Joigny. After lunch, take a contemplative walk through the vines with the Sisters. Walk through the rolling green hills of vineyards for an immersive experience into one of the most important aspects of French culture. During the afternoon, the Sisters will lead us in several spiritual meditation exercises. Students will have free time to explore Joigny before having dinner at the Centre.

It’s time for the next stop on our journey. Take your private coach from Joigny to Lyon, stopping for lunch along the way. Upon arriving in this beautiful city, have a guided walking tour led by a local. We’ll walk through the traboules, or secret passageways that connect the buildings; visit the ancient Roman amphitheater and learn about the city’s multicultural past, and explore both sides of the Rhône and Saône Rivers. We’ll savor a dinner of traditional Lyonnais cuisine before taking an evening walk for gelato or dessert crêpes.

We understand that student travelers have diverse interests and needs, so our staff do their very best to accommodate everyone’s must-sees. This morning, students will have the choice of taking the funicular up to see the Fourvière Basilica; having more time for souvenir shopping; or taking in one of Lyon’s many wonderful museums. Then we board the train to Nice! Upon our arrival, we’ll take a seaside stroll around Vieux Nice, including the yacht port and the “#ILoveNice” sign. Climb up to the clifftop fortress and waterfall for incredible views of the Côte d’Azur. We’ll have our first dinner of Niçoise cuisine, followed by a nighttime stroll to soak up the ambiance and get a gelato for dessert.

Today we’ll explore some of the charming Provencal villages surrounding Nice. Begin with a morning visit to Èze, a beautiful medieval village on a clifftop, where you can also visit the Fragonard perfume factory. And who said school tours had to be all work and no play? Spend the afternoon relaxing on one of France’s best beaches. In the evening, we’ll have dinner in Nice and watch the street performers on the Promenade des Anglais.

Board the high-speed TGV train from Nice to Paris for a pleasant ride through the French countryside. After arriving in Paris and getting settled in, what better way is there to begin your time than with a trip up the world’s most famous building? After enjoying the view from the top of the Eiffel Tower, enjoy your first Parisian dinner in a classic bistro.

To bring our journey full circle, we’ll visit Sainte Madeleine Sophie Barat’s tomb in the Church of Francis Xavier. Next, students will explore the Musée d’Orsay, home to some of the most famous masterpieces by Impressionists such as van Gogh, Monet, Cézanne, Signac, Manet, Degas and more. Enjoy lunch by the impressive Gothic Cathedral of Notre-Dame. In the afternoon, we’ll enjoy a bike tour of Paris’ hidden alleys and ancient history. Always a student favorite, our local guide will bring us through the Marais, past Bastille, across the Seine and to the ancient heart of Paris. (An alternative will be offered for those not comfortable on a bike.) Later, have some free time to explore the Latin Quarter before enjoying a traditional dinner of fondue and raclette. Cap off this amazing day with a twilight river cruise down the Seine to see Paris lit up at night.

On your last day in Paris, get up close to priceless art like the Mona Lisa and Winged Victory on our guided tour of the Musée du Louvre. We’ll have a picnic lunch in the Tuileries Gardens before climbing the Arc de Triomphe. Enjoy some last-minute souvenir shopping on the world-class Champs-Élysées–now is the perfect time to pick up macarons from Ladurée! We’ll celebrate the end of an incredible journey with an upscale final dinner in the hip artistic neighborhood of Montmartre. See the infamous Moulin Rouge, the ancient windmill that still stands today, and the view from the Sacré-Coeur Basilica before enjoying haute cuisine at one of our favorite elegant restaurants.

Your TFT guides will accompany you to the airport and assist you with check-in for your flight. Wave goodbye as you head through security and sit back and relax on your flight home.