Program 681: French Impressionism; Perfect Week in Paris; First Timer’s Louvre

Celebrate Bastille Day with French guides. They'll explain the impressionist techniques perfected in the early 20th century, provide insider advice for designing the perfect Parisian itinerary, and help tackle the immense collection at the Louvre.

• Paris-based tour guide Elisabeth van Hest
• French tour guides Veronique Savoye and Arnaud Servignat
• James Gardner, author of  "The Louvre: The Many Lives of the World's Most Famous Museum" (Grove Atlantic)

• The Rick Steves online guide to Paris.
• Dutch-born Elisabeth van Hest is a licensed private tour guide, based in Paris since 1973, specializing in showcasing the arts of Paris. She can be reached at [email protected] for France tours in English, German, Dutch and French.
• Rick writes about one of his favorite Impressionist artworks, Renoir's "Dance at the Moulin de la Galette." 
• Information about visiting Monet's studio and gardens at Giverny, an hour away from Paris.
• Veronique Savoye offers custom tours and French language lessons, and posts about French culture from her base in the Loire Valley, on her French Girl in Seattle website.
• Arnaud Servignat provides tour guiding services in Paris, and offers Air BnB accommodations on a houseboat, on the Oise River, northwest of Paris at Port-Cergy.
• L'Atelier des Lumieres is a digital art center in a former foundry on rue Saint-Maur that caller Stephanie recommends visiting. 
• The Sorbonne offers two-week summer courses in English at its campus in Paris on a variety of subjects, with discounted tuition for retirees. 
• James Gardner is the author of "The Louvre: The Many Lives of the World's Most Famous Museum."
• The Louvre has recently made its entire collection available to view virtually on its website.
• James also spoke with Rick about the history of the building housing the Louvre on Travel with Rick Steves program #644 in July 2021. 

The gilt rapture
of a Loire sunset
chases me back to Paris.
— C. E. Siemens, Oceanside, California

Grandest ancient span
Masterwork of Roman stones
Standing relentless

Ten thousand tons of
Daydreams in elegant steel:
Emblem of Paris
— Bruce Huang, Rockville, Maryland

Geraniums flame
Timber and stucco walls lean
Canals gleam — Colmar!
— Teresa Janssen,  Port Townsend, Washington

Brittany lunch time
Could not say "beurre." We both laughed.
International language.
— Jim Cotey, Murphreesboro, Tennessee