No other art movement in history had such an amazing evolution as the so called “impressionist painters”. Not only the merchant value of their paintings developed in a way never seen before, they also opened doors for all the following movements like expressionism, cubism, fauvism,… Manet,Monet,Renoir,Cezanne,Van Gogh and so many others used to live for a part of their live on Montmartre . Let’s see together their environment and let’s visit the Orangery -museum containing a part of Monet’s master-piece: the famous water-lilies, paint in his garden in Giverny. Even if he is not an “impressionist” we will not forget Toulouse-Lautrec and the Moulin Rouge during our tour.

Sixty kilometers outside of Paris and half an hour ride by car from Fontainebleau this manor is still in our days a jewel away from the beaten tracks . Why? -The manor is still family –owned -The rich furniture and paintings of 17th century are among the best that French chateaux can offer you -the beautiful garden and the whole structure inspired strongly the future palace of Versailles Let’s discover together the almost untouched baroque -atmosphere and mainly the amazing story of Nicolas Fouquet , in charge of the royal finances and creator of this marvel-story which is still not cleared by the historical-searchers up to now. The reasons of his fall, according the given order by the sun-king Louis 14th to arrest him remain a mystery.

Much older and also huger then Versailles the “chateau de Fontainebleau” is considered as “The house of the French Kings”. I will guide you in an easily understandable but also passionate way through six centuries of French history and architecture. You will physically see -from inside and outside -the eldest part ,going back to the 13th century and the main parts built in the French renaissance ,16th century. And we’ll virtually meet the main personalities ,who wrote the history of this chateau:the French kings Francis 1st,Henry 4st,the emperor Napoleon and many others :,queens ,mistresses, artists and even a pope . The park invites for relaxing promenades ,the surrounding forests can be considered as the cradle of impressionist painting .