Paris

Built in 1889 for the Paris World's Fair the Eiffel Tower is one of the world's most famous tourist attractions. Alexandre-Gustave Eiffel the 'magician of iron' completed the 300m open lattice structure in a matter of months.

The National Museum of France began as a Fortress in the late 12th Century; it now houses art work from Egyptian antiquities to Islamic art in a range of forms including paintings, sculptures and drawings.

The flower market can be found in the heart of the City, in the Place Louis-Lepine. This flower market is one of the most famous and last surviving in Paris, offering a large range of garden ornaments alongside some beautiful rare flowers and orchids. The market is open on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday mornings. On Sundays there is a bird market showcasing a range of parakeets and finches. This is the perfect opportunity for students to discover the delights of French horticulture and experience how French traders have been displaying and selling their flowers for over one hundred years.

Monet and his family settled in Giverny in 1883, where this wondrous marriage of man and nature blossomed alongside two gardens filled with perspectives, symmetries and colours. Monet's two gardens comprise of a flower garden, Clos Normand, and a Japanese inspired water garden. These two stunning spaces compliment and contrast one another beautifully. The Water Garden lies further away, with its famous Japanese Bridge, wisterias, azaleas, the famous nympheas, which bloom all summer long, and pond. It inspired the pictorial universe of 'the water lilies'. Monet himself developed a love of horticulture late in his life, swapping plants and flowers with his friends and being quoted to say 'all my money goes into my garden. I am in Raptures'.

Andre Le Notre was commissioned to lay out the gardens of Versailles in 1661 and works took 40 years to complete. Vast amounts of earth were excavated to make room for the flower beds, the Orangerie, the fountains and the Canal. Previously woodland, grassland and marshes lay in this area. The gardens have been under restoration work since 1992 and a devastating storm in 1999 sped up the work to such an extent that a lot of the garden has been fully restored. The gardens truly are as magnificent as the Palace itself, a superb opportunity for students to see the vast amount of work thousands of Royal subjects undertook with no access to modern technology or techniques.

President Georges Pompidou founded this wonderful cultural institution in the heart of Paris. The space focuses on modern and contemporary creations, encompassing art forms from visual to theatre, music, cinema, literature and spoken word. The centre first opened in 1977 and re-opened to the public on 1 January 2000 after renovation work, with expanded museum space and enhanced reception areas. The centre is the most popular attraction in France educating some 6 million people a year; a must for all Art and Design students. The centre opens from 11am until 10 pm Wednesday to Monday. The centre closes on May 1st.

Housed in a former railway station, the museum holds French art work dating from 1848 to 1915. Best known for its collection of impressionist masterpieces by Monet, Renoir and Cezanne the collection includes paintings, sculptures, furniture and photography. Opening in 1986 the museum is presently undergoing restoration work until March 2011, causing the closure of level 5. Special group tours and showings in the auditorium offer students an interactive experience to compliment their class based study.

The Musee Picasso holds a collection of several thousand works of Pablo Picasso. Not only does it hold Picassos own work ranging from sketch books to finished masterpieces but is also complemented by his own personal art collection of works by other artists, these include Cezanne, Degas and Matisse.

Averaging 500,000 visitors a year, The Musee Rodin is one of the most popular museums in France. The Southern side of the building and grounds were remodelled in 1993 alongside the building housing the Master's works and collections. Everything in the museum was owned by Rodin, even the chairs, armchairs and sofas which guests are free to sit in. The unique charm of The Musee Rodin is in how it reflects exactly the way Rodin lived and worked. This gives students a unique insight in to his life, setting this experience apart from many other museums.

Visit an Artist's Studio, choose an artist or craftsman from our exclusive selection and we will arrange a visit for you accompanied by a guide. The artist or craftsman will welcome you into his or her studio and show you his or her artwork. The meeting's last an hour to an hour and a half. All the artists or craftsmen are located in Paris or its suburban area. Tour times are dependent on availability and group sizes may be limited due to the nature of the visit.

Students will be taken on a bus tour around the airport accompanied by experienced and knowledgeable guides who provide an insight into the function of one of the worlds largest airports, carrying approximately 54 million passengers a year. The tour give groups insight in to the infrastructure of the airport; terminals, air traffic control, the hotel and business zones as well as highlighting the planned extensions to the airport. Guides also explain how the airport connects with other transport systems such as the TGV and RER at Roissypele.

The guided tour of the Grand Marnier distillery begins with a film describing the different production stages from peeling the fruit, to pickling, distillation and finally ageing. Students will then be taken on a guided tour of the production area where the liqueur is distilled in fifteen large copper vats. A guide will be available to answer any questions throughout the tour.

La Defense is Europe's largest business district boasting 80 hectares of sky scrapers and shopping centres. Students will be taken on a guided tour of La Defense, in order to see how it works first hand, company headquarters such as Vivendi, IBM, Total and EDF make up this European economic power house. Tours last approximately 45 minutes and give students an opportunity to experience Paris's centre of commerce first hand.

Students will be taken on a guided tour of the plant in Poissy where the Peugeot 306 model is manufactured. The tour begins with a video presentation followed by a question and answer session. It is followed by a guided tour of the plant. This is an excellent opportunity for students to see a highly automated factory in action, 1200 cars are manufactured in this factory every day.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation offer a range of presentations on a variety of subjects such as AIDS research, third world education and homelessness. Groups are taken on a guided tour of the Headquarters by a representative of the organisation. At the end of the tour the students are able to watch a video and further discuss any issues raised during the visit, this is an excellent opportunity for business students to experience how an international government body operates.

This impressive structure was built to commemorate the bicentenary of the Revolution in 1989 and is now a major tourist attraction. The design of Danish architect Otto van Spreckelsen looks more like a cube-shaped building than a triumphal arch. A high speed glass lift takes students to the roof where there is an impressive view of Paris. A guided tour is possible which explains the history of the Grande Arche through a models room and contemporary art exhibition.

Tour Montparnasse is a 210m office skyscraper located in central Paris, the tallest of its kind in France and ninth tallest in the EU. It was completed in 1972, designed by architects Eugene Beaudouin, Urbain Cassan and Louis Hoym de Marien and built by Campenon Bernard. Take in the very best view of the Eiffel Tower and everything else Paris has to offer on the amazing 56th floor of the Montparnasse Tower. The structure caused some public debate and two years after its completion structures of this kind were banned in France, an excellent opportunity for students to discuss how such structures can impact on the overall landscape of a City.

Built for the 1998 FIFA World Cup; home of the French International football and Rugby teams, and stage to an array of world class musicians, the Stade de France opens its doors to students and the public. Informative guided tours of the stadium offer students the opportunity to experience and relive the great moments in the history: its construction, its events, and its everyday life.

Take part in a guided Fashion tour tailored entirely to the specifications of your group. A Fashion expert will guide you through selected boutiques, including those of hot new designers. Groups are escorted around the city by a knowledgeable guide who offers a unique perspective into the French capitals fashion culture. Groups also have the option to meet with a designer at their studio and see first hand what the role involves, a perfect opportunity for budding designers to ask any burning questions they may have.

See the latest trends at this weekly fashion show which takes place in a private lounge at the Galeries Lafayette. Shows take place every Friday at 3pm throughout the year and reservations are mandatory.

Premiere Vision is regarded as one of the world's largest Textile and fabric shows, showcasing around 700 weavers from 28 countries across the world. The show is held twice yearly and attracts some of the most creative fashion designs in the world. Films, audio-visual presentations and fashion seminars entertain and inform students while they discuss current issues with the experts. The next event is being held on the 9th to 12th February in the Parc d'Expositions de Paris Nord Villepinte.

The Louis Vuitton museum in located in Asnieres, 25 minutes from Paris. In 1854, a young Louis Vuitton formed his own company creating bags and trunks after impressing Empress Eugenie. Six generations of the Vuitton family lived in the house up until 1964. The Museum itself is adjoined to a workshop where bags and trunks are still produced.

The Musee Galliera is located in the City of Paris Museum of Fashion. Opened in 1977, the museum collects and displays creations which mark the development of historical and contemporary fashion. The museum holds two exhibitions a year displaying part of its huge collection of clothing and accessories from the 18th century to the present day. The museum only opens while the temporary exhibitions are being displayed. The collection housed in the museum is vast, holding approximately 90,000 pieces, perfect for students who want to gain an insight in to how fashions change throughout the centuries.

The Musee de la Mode et du Textile holds collections by great designers such as Paul Poiret, Madeleine Vionnet, Else Schiaparelli, and Christian Dior. The museum also displays some of the textile greats including Raoul Dufy and Sonia Delaunay as well as the embroiderer Rebe. The museum occupies 9,000 square metres, displaying over 6,000 items. Students can study works representing the history of costume from the Regency period to fashion of today.

The Pierre Berg - Yves Saint Laurent foundation was opened in 2004 to prolong the history of the House of Yves Saint Laurent, whose Haute Couture operations ceased on 31 October 2002. The foundation was set up with 3 objectives in mind; to conserve the 5,000 Haute Couture garment and 15,000 accessories, sketches and assorted objects that catalogue YSL's 40 year design career, to organise exhibitions and to support cultural and educational projects. Students can enjoy the many pieces from the Yves Saint Laurent collection or organise a visit to one of the many temporary exhibits housed at the foundation.

Tours of a number of different TV studios are available; groups take a tour of the facilities and learn about filming and production processes. Students will also have the opportunity to become audience members during one of the studios filmed evening shows. Programme topics can range from politics to culture, cinema or sport, filming takes place every day and usually lasts approximately four hours. The perfect tour for those students longing for international acclaim!

Take part in a make-up session in a private lounge at Galeries Lafayette including active participation, covering new trends and using natural and sophisticated make-up. Individual accessories are provided. The session lasts 90 minutes and maximum group size is 60 people

A wide variety of full-day workshops are available and can be tailored to the needs of group to cover themes such as specialist stage make-up for example. They include professional demonstrations and interactive participation. Please contact us for further details and prices.

This exclusive tour introduces students to the culinary expertise Paris has to offer. Tours include entrance to the famous Brasseries Flo, where groups can discover its rich history. Brasseries are located all over the City from Montparnasse to Faubourg Saint-Martin to the Champs Elys'es, the route each tour takes can differ depending on the brasseries availability at the time of request. Included in the price groups can relax and enjoy a snack in one of the brasserie, giving students the opportunity to discuss the processes they have learned about in true Parisian style.

Students who visit the Lachelle 'chocolate laboratory' will be introduced to the techniques of tempering, coating and moulding; students will observe the process of producing chocolate from the raw material through to the finished product. Groups are then treated to a tasting and have the opportunity to purchase the confectionery in the shop. Groups of 25 or more can also enjoy a snack in the Lachelle tea room. An expert guide will be on hand throughout the tour to answer any questions students may have.

The Ferme de Copans is a must for Hospitality and Catering students, groups will experience a range of processes from the production of butter, cheese and fromage blanc, to the rearing of animals and recycling of farm waste materials. Expert guides can tutor students on a range of subjects by request, including organic produce and the history of farming methods.

Groups can tour the premises of luxury hotels such as the Hotel Scribe. Students will be exposed to all elements of the hospitality industry; groups will be shown the kitchens, lounges, dining rooms, bedrooms and conference facilities. This is an excellent opportunity for students to see how large hospitality and catering organisations function.

The ECSF offer study tours where professors from around the world transfer their knowledge to students and groups visiting the School, demonstrations and specific training courses can also be organised. Groups will observe lunch being prepared after a tour of the School and will also have the opportunity to eat with the French students.

The Poilane Bakery was founded by a young baker from Normandy in 1932, who slowly built a network of bakeries in Paris supplying local wine bars. Poilane's traditional methods of baking in a wood burning oven with stone ground flour became international when the business began to export in the 1970?s. Students are able to observe how traditional French products such as baguettes and croissants are made.

Three of Paris? finest chocolate-makers, in the St-Germain-des-Pr?s region, offer students tours of the factory. The various production methods and strengths of each artisan will be explained to you during this tour lasting an hour and a half. Students will experience the difference of each chocolate during a tasting session where expert guides will be on hand to answer any questions raised during the tour.

The Rungis is the largest wholesale market in the world for fresh products. Students will be shown an audio-visual presentation and given a tour of the food halls. The market trades in a wide variety of products including meat, fruit, vegetables, dairy products and flowers. Hospitality and Catering students will enjoy learning about some of the finest fresh produce in the world not only from the guide but also from the market traders who have many years experience buying and selling quality produce.

Located at La Villette, this ultra modern museum houses a main exhibition called Explore, consisting of themes from 'Space, Life, Matter and Communication'. Students can enjoy interactive exhibits on language and communication, try their hand at weather reading and explore optical illusions and 3D images. The museum also showcases exhibits on the environment, health, energy, agriculture, the ocean and volcanoes. Giving students the chance to visit an exquisite example of a world class science museum.

The museum is housed in the 5th district Police Station and presents the history of the Paris police force from the 17th century right up the present day. The museum showcases 2000 pieces, some of which are totally unique to the institution. Students can enjoy pieces documenting the history of Paris and of the French nation.

Specialised guided visits for groups take place every Sunday afternoon at the racecourse.

Built for the 1998 FIFA World Cup; home of the French International football and Rugby teams, and stage to an array of world class musicians, the Stade de France opens its doors to students and the public. Informative guided tours of the stadium offer students the opportunity to experience and relive the great moments in the history: its construction, its events, and its everyday life.

Established and a global gathering for scissor enthusiasts from all over the World, the HIS is one of the world's most inspiring events in the hair industry calendar and a must see for all enthusiasts. Be educated and inspired by paying a visit to this show.

An autumnal assessment of the most inspirational event in world hairdressing. Presentations and demo areas allowing you to see the benefits of the items on show, from hundreds of wet products to appliances and accessories, you'll not only be able to learn how to use them, but also see what results you can obtain from the latest advancements in colouring, shaping, cutting and styling.

Toni & Guy are to hairstyling what Ant and Dec are to prime time TV. This is a unique chance for groups to see what goes on at what the best known hair academies in the country. You get the opportunity to find out as much as you want from people who are in the know who will inspire anyone with a passion for hair.

A behind-the scenes look at the academy and what it takes to become a success at one of the world's most famous names in the industry.