I Want to Go There
PARIS
For Pierre-Yves Mazeaud, owner of French Incoming, having the
opportunity to show off his native country is one of the reasons he
became a tour operator. His company specializes in small-group tours that
offer a different perspective on tried-and-true destinations across France.
Take Paris, for instance. While Mazeaud can easily put together an
itinerary that hits the highlights, he is quick to offer alternatives that dig
deeper into the fabric of the City of Light, especially for school groups.
“A personal favorite is Montmartre, an open-air theater, where students
go on a guided tour dramatized and animated by a professional actor,”
he says. “The tour, which is in English, is a great way to discover—or
rediscover—Montmartre in a new, educational way.”
Among the city’s many marquee art attractions, Mazeaud recommends
the Museum of Modern Art. Located between the Eiffel Tower and the
Champs-Élysées, the museum can be discovered on themed tours or
through scavenger hunts. “The staff has also created a questionnaire,
based around the many frescos adorning the walls, that keeps teens
entertained before they enter the museum.”
And, for bands seeking a place to play, the prestigious Luxembourg
Gardens is his top suggestion.
For more information, contact Mazeaud at [email protected] or
go to french-incoming.com.
TOP EDUCATIONAL ATTRACTIONS
Notre Dame Cathedral, The Louvre, Musée d’Orsay, Sacré-Cœur
TOP RECREATIONAL ATTRACTIONS
Jardin des Champs-Élysées, boat tours on the Seine
Museum of Modern Art
TOP LOCAL FESTIVALS
Paris Design Week (Sept. 7–15), Cirque de Demain (January)
For group tour information, itinerary building assistance, visitor guides and maps, contact [email protected]
20 NTA Trip Planner for Student Travel