The Art of Living

Paris

​Take a full day trip out to explore the Palace, Grand Trianon, Estate of Marie Antoinette, and 800 acres of gardens at Versailles; or smart Fontainebleau – enveloped by the 77-square-mile Forêt de Fontainebleau – home to superb walking and rock-climbing opportunities, and a cosmopolitan drinking and dining scene. Indulge in Parisian people-watching along Boulevard Saint-Germain, dotted with famed terraced cafés, haute couture shops and fine-dining restaurants. And avoid the crowds at late-night museum openings on certain evenings at The Louvre, Musée d’Orsay and Centre Pompidou. 

Stay: Hôtel de Crillon (3 nights)

Your Stay

Hôtel de Crillon, A Rosewood Hotel

One of Paris’s most legendary hotels, overlooking Place de la Concorde, near the Champs-Elysées and Jardin des Tuileries, is back on the map following a magical makeover.

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Reims

Drive Time: 2 hours (93 miles)

​Apart from the obvious, this region is rich in world heritage sites, history and art. Reims is a great base from which to explore the city, its four UNESCO World Heritage sites, and the Musée des Beaux-Arts (as a university town, it’s also much livelier in the evenings). You’ll also probably want to spend some time touring the champagne houses (Taittinger is home to some of the region’s most beautiful chalk caves); heading out to explore Montagne de Reims’ villages and vineyards on a half-day trip; or taking a jaunt over to Épernay for a stroll along Avenue de Champagne – one of the world’s most expensive streets.

Stay: Domaine les Crayères (3 nigh​ts)​

Your Stay

Domaine Les Crayères

Once the home of Madame Pommery (and across the street from Maison Pommery itself), expect a bubble-infused, unpretentious yet elegantly sophisticated air, a lovely 17-acre park; and an impeccable hands-on approach.

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Burgundy

Drive Time: 3 hours (185 miles)

​France’s most flourishing region draws visitors in, not only with its promise of fabulous wines but also its profusion of exquisite cuisine, stone-built towns, medieval abbeys, canals and châteaux. Head to Dijon’s Musée des Beaux Arts – one of France’s oldest and most interesting museums, thanks to the richness of its encyclopaedic collections and the historical interest of the building that holds them. Hospices de Beaune is one of the country’s most prestigious historic monuments, with its flamboyant Gothic architecture and renowned 148-acre wine estate. And another real Burgundy gem is its last independent, family mustard mill, The Fallot Mustard. Experience mustard-making ‘the old way’, then enjoy a tasting of their signature Dijon and Burgundy mustards.

Stay: Grand Hôtel La Cloche (3 nights)

Your Stay

Grand Hôtel la Cloche – MGallery By Sofitel

Filled with reproductions from the Musée des Beaux-Arts’ collection, Grand Hôtel La Cloche has been meticulously designed to remain in keeping with its heritage and Haussmann-style exterior.

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Évian-les-Bains

Drive Time: 3 hours, 30 minutes (200 miles)

​Taste Évian’s greatest export at source, the Cachat Spring (the most famous of Évian’s numerous springs) located opposite the Cachat Pump Room (Évian’s best Art Nouveau building and one of the finest examples of spa resort architecture in France). Take a boat out to the wonderfully named Pré Curieux Water Gardens, a protected wetland of all sorts of eco-systems, only accessible by solar-powered boat. And no trip here is complete without a flutter at Casino d’Évian (Europe’s largest theme casino).

Stay: Hôtel Royal at Evian Resort (4 nights) ​

Your Stay

Hôtel Royal at Evian Resort

Located on 47 acres in the hills above Evian-les-Bains overlooking Lake Geneva, recently revamped Hôtel Royal now has a healthy dose of contemporary design elements alongside its palace spirit, Belle Époque façade and frescoes.

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Évian-les-Bains

​Depart Geneva Airport on your international flight back to the UK​