Art, culture, and lifelong learning through travel
Provence Calling 2026
Exploring Art, Culture and Springtime in the South of France
Tour Hosts: Sevan Melikyan and Maria Guralnik
Embark on a captivating 10-day journey through Provence and the French Riviera in April 2026, following legendary artists' footsteps such as Renoir, Chagall, and Van Gogh. Explore the history and legends of Nice, St-Paul-de-Vence, St. Tropez, Aix-en-Provence, Arles, and Avignon. Discover Matisse's Chapelle du Rosaire, Cézanne's studio, and the iconic village sites and surrounding countryside that inspired Van Gogh. Expert-led visits, Provençal cuisine, 4-star accommodations and time for self-exploration will maximize your enjoyment. This small-group tour is limited to 12 participants, ensuring a personalized experience of the region's artistic legacy.
Past Tour Dates: March 23 to April 1, 2026
Duration: 10 Days / 9 nights
WHAT'S INCLUDED
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9 nights in 4-star hotels including all breakfasts
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7 Dinners and 8 Lunches
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Ground transportation including airport transfers
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Tour museums, activities, and ticketed events
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Free access to a pre-tour Zoom lecture series
THE EXPERIENCE
This moderately-paced tour is designed to illuminate the history, legends, and landscape that has drawn many of the world’s most celebrated artists to the south of France from the 19th century to today. Stays in three of Provence’s charming old world cities (Nice, Aix-en-Provence, and Arles) along with day trips to the perched villages of Saint-Paul-de-Vence and Baux, the medieval majesty of Avignon, and the picturesque convent where Van Gogh painted many of his late works. While a main focus is art in museums, galleries and artist studios, count on a range of complementary cultural activities including a visit to Carrières des Lumières (immersive art projections in a stone quarry) and ample opportunity to savor a range of regional culinary delights and that famous rosé. Free time is built in to ensure you also have time to discover and thoroughly explore your own path. Be prepared to be on your feet for 2-3 hours with an ability to navigate cobbled streets and steps.
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
Nice (4 nights): Old Town Walking Tour, Hotel Negresco Art Collection, Fine Arts Museum, Chagall Museum, Renoir Museum
Saint-Paul-de-Vence: Maeght Foundation, Matisse Chapel, Old Town Walking Tour
Saint-Tropez: Annonciade Museum
Aix-en-Provence (2 nights): Saturday Market; Granet Museum; Old Town Walking Tour in the Footsteps of Cézanne; Château La Coste Art, Wine, and Gastronomy Experience
Saint-Maximin-la-Sainte-Baume: Mary Magdalene Basilica
Arles (3 nights): Walking Tour in the Footsteps of Van Gogh, Saint Trophime Cathedral and Cloisters, Roman Arena
Baux-de-Provence: Carrières des Lumières
Saint-Rémy-de-Provence: Walking Tour in the Footsteps of Van Gogh, Saint-Paul-de-Mausole (Van Gogh’s Room)
Avignon: Palace of the Popes, Avignon Bridge
Itinerary subject to change. Last updated October 17, 2025.
LECTURE SERIES
All trip participants will be provided free access to Sevan's pre-trip five-lecture series Provence Calling. All lectures are also available to armchair travelers.
TOUR HOST
PROVENCE CALLING Lecture Series
The Provence Calling tour is accompanied by a rich series of Zoom lectures exploring the artists and legends in this luminous corner of France—from Chagall’s poetic visions and Renoir’s late masterpieces to the mysteries of Mary Magdalene, the grandeur of Avignon’s papal court, and the transformative genius of Van Gogh.
Join us on Tuesdays from 4:00–5:30 PM on the following dates:
Feb 3, Feb 10, Mar 3, Mar 10, and Mar 17, 2026.
Individual lectures are $15 each, or enjoy the full series of 5 lectures for $55 (save $20).
Register today at artblazingtours/lecture-registration.
Tuesday, February 3, 2026, 4:00-5:30 PM
This lecture offers a concise introduction to Marc Chagall’s remarkable life and to the luminous biblical paintings on view at the National Museum in Nice. We explore how he blended Jewish heritage, Christian symbolism, and modernist color into dreamlike scenes from Genesis and Exodus. The lecture also compares his works with those of other artists who treated the same subjects, revealing Chagall’s uniquely poetic mind.
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Lecture 1: The Visionary Art of Marc Chagall
Lecture 2: Renoir Revealed
Tuesday, February 10, 2026, 4:00-5:30 PM
This lecture explores Pierre-Auguste Renoir’s final creative chapter at Les Collettes, tracing his evolution from Impressionist pioneer to classical experimenter to the bold late style forged despite debilitating arthritis. We clarify how he managed to produce sculptures even when he could no longer hold a brush. The session ends with a lively game inviting the audience to identify whether selected works belong to Renoir’s Impressionist, Classical, or Late period.
Lecture 3: Mary Magdalene in Provence: Muse, Myth, and Mystery
Tuesday, March 3, 2026, 4:00-5:30 PM
This lecture traces Mary Magdalene’s remarkable evolution in art—from grieving witness at the Crucifixion to bearer of myrrh, to the dramatic ecstasies and penitential visions that captivated artists for centuries. Drawing on the Golden Legend and her incredible voyage to Provence, we explore how her image shifted from disciple to sinner to saint. The talk culminates with our visit to the Basilica of St-Maximin, home to her relics and the artworks inspired by her enduring story.
Lecture 4: Avignon’s Palace of the Popes: Power, Politics, and a Dance on the Bridge
Tuesday, March 10, 2026, 4:00-5:30 PM
Discover the astonishing era when the popes left Rome and ruled from Avignon, transforming the city and building Europe’s largest medieval palace. This lecture unpacks the dramatic clashes between kings and popes, the lavish court of Clement VI, Petrarch’s searing critiques, and the horrors of the Black Death that struck the overcrowded city. We end with a lighthearted treat: a special guest teaching us how to dance sur le pont d’Avignon!
Lecture 5: Van Gogh in Provence: A Life in Color and Turmoil
Tuesday, March 17, 2026, 4:00-5:30 PM
Although Van Gogh’s career lasted barely ten years, he created nearly 2,000 works before dying at 37. This lecture traces his turbulent life with a focus on the luminous masterpieces of Arles and Saint-Rémy, visiting the real locations behind his paintings and offering an alternate explanation for the ear-cutting incident. We explore how Provence transformed his palette and vision, then end with a lively game inviting participants to guess which period—Dutch, Paris, Arles, Saint-Rémy, or Auvers—each work belongs to.