May 28 to June 8 2008

Discovery of French Ceramics

Led by Brian Ransom a distinguished ceramics artist and professor at Eckerd college in St Petersburg Fl you will enjoy 10 days of  visits centered on ceramics with in depth visits and  contacts with artists in two villages where ceramics and traditional pottery production spanned several centuries.
Visits of two of the most prestigious porcelain production areas in France  Sevres and Limoges where specialists will share their technical expertise.
A special tour of Jean Girel's France's ceramic master craftsman studio's and lunch with him and his wife
Visits of major monuments, icons of France cultural heritage and an opportunity to experience several meals featuring local specialties and wines

Extensive exposure and explanations of French culture, traditions and idiosyncrasies by Emmanuel Roux your guide for the duration of the trip.

The trip will create the opportunity to establish mutually beneficial relationships with French Artists and ceramics associations where workshops exhibitions exchanges and artists in residence programs are possible and will be addressed.

Itinerary 

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12 days total 10 days in France

The trip will start in Paris Thursday may 29 08 at about 11 am ( all flights from the Us arrive usually between 7 and 10 AM )

While I could assist in arranging the Transatlantic flights It is up to the participants to choose carriers and reservations since some may wish to use frequent flyer miles

Wednesday May 28

Transatlantic flight to Paris CDG from the US

Thursday  may 29 th 11 Am

Limo transfer from Charles de Gaulle airport to Sevres in Paris immediate outskirts
check in the hotel
Lunch followed by a visit of the Sevres national porcelain museum
http://www.musee-ceramique-sevres.fr/

Evening free. Dinner in Sevres

Friday May 30

Visit of the manufacture Nationale de Sevres  Lunch meeting and Q&A  with artists of the manufacture and possibly with a former executive director of the museum and manufacture and a world specialist of Sevres porcelain
http://manufacturedesevres.culture.gouv.fr/site.php?type=P&id=4

Leave by bus for Bourges 2.5 hr drive south of Paris
visit of the famous gothic cathedral one of the most spectacular cathedral in France
http://www.bourgestourisme.com/accueil_english.php
Drive to La Borne

La Borne is a small village of 200 inhabitants where over 80 ceramic artists live and work within a couple miles. Traditional potters activity has been documented for over 800 years and it is now a famous center for ceramics  http://laborne.fr/actu/index.php?p2
It is 2 miles away from a very small town and 25 miles from the nearest town
Accommodation will be in private homes and in a small country hotel in Henrichemont the little town .
Our visit here will be an opportunity to have a glimpse of French traditional village life and to experience a very unique artists community where ceramics is the prevalent economic activity and a source of great pride mixed with a great sense of independence and individuality among its members. http://www.ceramiclaborne.org/
Dinner in a local restaurant with local specialties

Saturday May 31

Visit of the local pottery Museum
Lunch with ceramists followed by studio visits
Dinner with the artists and wine tasting

Sunday June 1

Studio visits
Lunch on your own in one of the two local restaurants
Visit of the open air cathedral of Jean Linard a surreal fairytale set in an old quarry 
http://laborne.fr/actu/index.php?2005/07/01/32-la-cathedrale-de-jean-linard
Farewell dinner with the artists

Monday June 2

Drive to Limoges 2.5 hr
Check in the hotel
Lunch in a colorful market restaurant
Optional visit of the Adrien Dubouche museum of  the best Limoges porcelain and a whole history of clay throughout the ages around the world or visit the old city of Limoges
http://www.musee-adriendubouche.fr/gb/homes/home_id20818_u1l2.htm
Dinner on your own. Limoges's wealth before porcelain has been built on cattle from the surrounding area and there are  many excellent small traditional restaurants

Tuesday June 3

Visit of royal Limoges factory the oldest porcelain producer
Visit of the Four des Casseaux a giant kiln listed on the register of France's historic monuments. It had a capacity of over 10 000 pieces per firing and is now idle, replaced by more modern and efficient kilns
http://www.limoges360.com/place-27.php
Lunch on your own in Limoges
Visit of Bernardaud one of the major porcelain manufacture
http://www.bernardaud.fr/GB/manuf/ind_circ.htm
Optional visit of an enamel studio an other Limoges specialty dating back to the medieval times
Dinner of regional specialties Possibly with a porcelain specialist

Wednesday June 4

Early morning departure for Macon in the Beaujolais area  4.5 hr drive
Lunch with Master Craftsman Jean Girel
http://www.jeangirel.com/a_p1acc.html
Jean Girel is only the second ceramist to have been honored by the French minister of culture for having achieved the highest level in his field This French honor,attributed to only 56 persons is the equivalent  of  the  "Japanese Living Treasures".
Visit of Jean Girel's studio and gallery Q&A
Check in hotel in Cluny the Potin Gourmand a hotel restaurant with an authentic medieval theme (updated with all the modern facilities) that used to be an old pottery.
Dinner on your own in the charming town of Cluny in southern Burgundy

Thursday June 5

Morning departure, drive through the vineyards of the Beaujolais, to St Quentin la Poterie another potters village with 50 artists in or near by
Check in the hotel Villa saint Victor A spectacular castle overlooking a valley
Lunch with artists followed by a visit of the Mediterranean pottery museum and studios visits
http://www.site-france.com/languedoc-roussillon/gard/musees/musee-la-poterie-mediterranenne-frame.htm
dinner with artists
http://www.gard-provencal.com/an/vv/stquentin.htm

Friday June 6

Studio visits in the morning
 Lunch on your own 
Studio visits
Dinner at the hotel or in a private residence

Saturday June 7

Market day in Uzes
http://www.uzes-tourisme.com/sitegb/index.html
Uzes is one of the prettiest  hill town in France and has a very colorful market where a whole array of foods, clothing and specialties are displayed in the historic center
drive to the Pont du Gard  a spectacular Roman aqueduct and a UNESCO world heritage site
http://www.pontdugard.fr/index.php?langue=GB
drive to Avignon to the bullet train station for return to Paris Charles de Gaulle airport
http://www.trainweb.org/tgvpages/tgvindex.html
check in the hotel near the Charles de Gaulle airport
Dinner on your own

Sunday 8

Transfer from the hotel to the terminal .Morning departure for the transatlantic flight back to the US

End of the trip

It is possible to extend the trip by a stay in Paris before or after the dates indicated and I would be happy to assist in arranging an extension.

Cost
Cost is $2950 Us dollars per person for double occupancy. It includes all lodging and breakfasts, the meals indicated, admissions, ground transportation.
Gratuities to bus drivers or for extra attention are optional.
Not included are the transatlantic flights, insurance and any expenses of a personal nature and alcoholic beverages when not specified as well as additional costs due to airlines delays, strikes or acts of God beyond our control. Travel insurance is advisable and recommended.
Call me with any question you may have
The price is based on the Dollar / Euro  being at 1.55 and 15 participants and may be reduced if more people join. A 50% deposit is required to secure the reservation and the price.