ASCHA | Association of Scholars of Christianity in the History of Art
P A R I S 2 0 2 2
Making Sacred Connections Visible
June 14–20, 2022
We are excited you have decided to be part of the invitation-only ASCHA tour in Paris, June 14-20. We are truly pleased you will be part of this small group of about 12 participants.
An engaging group of art-and-Paris experts and enthusiasts will be able to join us at meals and tours to spark discussion and widen understanding about art and Christian faith since as you recall, this (English language) tour experience is timed to converge with the ASCHA symposium The Artist as Truth-Teller on visual art and Christian faith at Institut Catholique de Paris (the top-tier higher education institution in France which houses the only higher education degree-conferring program in France dedicated to the intersection of art and theology) on Friday June 17, 2022.
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER for the symposium
DOWNLOAD the symposium program
COSTS
The tour price is $5400 per single-room package and $8100 per couple sharing a room. Pay 50% of your cost to ASCHA by March 15; and your remaining 50% to ASCHA by May 15. Checks may be written to “ASCHA” c/o Linda Stratford, 500 Laketower Drive, unit 2, Lexington, KY 40502 or electronic payments made through our STORE. Clearly indicate for which tour participant/s the payment represents coverage. Indicate as well, the individual making the payment with email and physical mailing address so that receipts may be sent. Receipts will be sent indicating tour payments made, a portion of which ($2700) will be indicated as tax-deductible once final payment is received. This covers:
· six nights’ lodging in central Paris
· daily continental breakfast
· daily morning group taxi travel
· group museum entrance fees (the Louvre Museum; Orsay Museum; Pompidou Museum and select chapels)
· guided learning
· three group meals in conjunction with the museum trips
· day trip visit Chartres Cathedral outside of Paris via private coach
· Sunday night celebratory closing dinner.
HOW AND WHEN TO ARRIVE
Make your own flight arrangements, planning to arrive in Paris on Tuesday June 14. From the airport take an official taxi or pre-booked shuttle or car service, with the hotel address (tba) in hand. Hotel check-out will be Monday morning June 20.
Due to anticipated jet lag the only guided activity on arrival day Tuesday June 14 will be a gentle, quiet visit to the magnificent Sainte-Chapelle in the afternoon. You will be on your own for dinner, planning to leave from the hotel in the morning with the group for Wednesday’s tour of the Louvre Museum. [If you’d like to meet up with others for dinner, just say the word, and we’ll follow up to make connections either with other tour participants or ASCHA folks who may also be interested in company for dinner.]
COVID, ETC
For those traveling to France/around Europe who have lost track of the latest Covid travel rules, here is everything you need to know.
Centre d’Echanges Internationaux (CEI), our on-the-ground agency in Paris, is handling booking arrangements. Our booking with them includes the following insurance and cancellation coverage:
Insurance
CEI is covered by a public and legal liability to third parties insurance. Serious illness and international assistance in case of accidents are covered. Participants are not insured by CEI for theft or loss of personal belongings nor standard medical care abroad. Please check with your health insurance provider as to financial coverage should you need to see a doctor or be hospitalized while abroad. We will be happy to make recommendations. The American Hospital in Paris is excellent.
Passport refusal and cancellation
If your passport application is refused your deposit will be refunded on written evidence of refusal provided that evidence is offered to two weeks before the start of the program.
Vaccination
Documentation of full vaccination is required of all participants.
COVID-19 CANCELLATION POLICY
In view of the particular situation that the world is still going through due to the Covid-19 pandemic, CEI has adapted its cancellation conditions: In case of booking cancellation due to current events related to Covid-19 and restrictive travel measures taken by the government (e.g. borders closed) in France: full refund
Quarantine
Participants are encouraged to take strong precautions in the two weeks prior to travel. Any who become sick while in France must quarantine according to the measures in force in France. Any additional costs related to the quarantine period remain the responsibility of the participant. As the on-the-ground travel operator, CEI will provide information regarding quarantine measures in force in France up until the group’s arrival.
Participant Cancellation
The following scale of charges will be applied to participants withdrawing from the group.
- 30 days and more before the starting date no cancellation fees.
- Between 29 to 15 days before starting date 50% the participant’s net rate
- Between 14 to 7 days before starting date 75% of the participant’s net rate
- 7 days before starting date and for no show 100% of the participant’s net rate
Hotel Fleurie
Hotel Fleurie (32-34 rue Grégoire de Tours, 75006 Paris) is a local family owned and operated hotel with the typically small rooms of old-world European lodging. I advise packing light and storing your empty suitcase with the front-desk staff to free up space. While all rooms are small they are suitably charming and clean and each has wifi, t.v. (tap “1, 2, 3” on the remote for t.v. to start), small fridge, hot water kettle with mug and tea/coffee and private bath with shower and hair dryer, and, importantly, air-conditioning (used I imagine, if temperatures warrant). The elevator with its traditional “cage” door services all floors easily; you also have the narrow winding staircase if feeling ambitious. You will find that for each room the card key must be inserted in its slot inside the door for the lights to come on. You will need to bring French adaptor plugs (though not electrical converters) for your electrical appliances of course. Breakfast (included) is provided in the basement-level breakfast room where fresh breads are served to you as you select from a buffet of scrambled eggs, yogurts, cereals, cheeses, fruit etc. The option of taking breakfast back up to your room is yours: simply ask the staff in the breakfast room for a tray to allow you to carry things up.
COMMUNICATIONS
Apps
We will use a WhatsApp group for daily communications while we are overseas. This app can be used on wifi and is much preferred over emailing and phoning. Please download this app before traveling, and we will send you an invitation to join our group chat. Please also become familiar with a great city mapping smartphone app, such as CityMapper or GoogleMaps. You can pin our hotel and all our major destinations on your map—this will make it easy to find your way around, even if you're not using phone service.
Phones
Contact your cell phone carrier to inquire about overseas phone use and costs. Unless you have unlimited overseas usage with your service provider, it is wise to keep your phone turned to airplane mode, or simply off, to avoid expensive roaming charges. While in airplane mode, you can still use your devices when connected to wifi. If you do need to use your U.S. line to call a French number, here is how to place the call:
1. Dial “011” [or on iPhone “+” on an iphone] to go international
2. Dial Country Code “33” [the country code for France]
3. Dial “1” [the city code for Paris; on some phones “01” is required instead of “1”]
4. Dial the 8-digit French Number
So, dialing The American Church in Paris on an American phone line for example, would require 011(or +) to go “international”; then 33 (to reach France); then 1 or 01 (to indicate city of Paris); then the church phone number, 40 62 05 00.
U.S. Embassy contact info
phone: +33 (1) 43 12 22 22
email: citizeninfo@state.gov
It’s a good idea to have these saved in your device, just in case.
GENERAL TRAVEL RECOMMENDATIONS
Copies of documents
Keep a digital scan and hard copy, of both your passport photo page and your Covid vaccination record on your person; relevant insurance information is also a good idea.
Money and credit cards
Contact your banks/credit cards to ensure your credit/debit cards will work overseas, and be aware of any international fees that may be involved. Accessing euros out of an ATM is convenient and usually less expensive than exchanging dollars in France. Chip cards are better than magnetic strips. Digital payment methods, such as GooglePay or ApplePay are widely accepted. If you do not already have Venmo, PayPal, or another cash transfer system on your device, consider setting this up to facilitate splitting the cost of a group meal, etc. Many restaurants will be unable to split the bill among a group and large pieces of currency can be inconvenient at such occasions.
Outlet adapters and converters
France uses power outlets/plugs of type C or E—the standard outlet types throughout continental Europe—so you'll need adapters for any electrical devices you'd like to plug in. The photo below shows samples adapting to the French round-tip 2-prong style. Please note that laptops and smartphones nowadays automatically adapt to the higher European 230 voltage. Most other electronic devices, such as hair dryers, will need a converter (not only a plug adapter) to cope with the higher voltage. [note: hair dryer is provided in hotel room]. Consider bringing an extra phone charge cord (+ French plug adaptor) or portable charger to take along with you during long days out; or plan to carry a simple USB charge cable for your phone to take advantage of USB ports provided at bus stop stands.
Times and dates
Europeans use 24-hour clock time, in which the day is divided into 24 hours. There is no “a.m.” or “p.m.” Midnight is 00:00, 1 a.m. is 01:00, and 1 p.m. is 13:00, etc. Secondly, Europeans refer to a calendar date by day first followed by month. For example, our July 4, 2022 (7/4/22) would in Europe be cited as 4 July 2022 (4/7/22). This can be especially tricky if dates are given only in numbers!
ITINERARY
Tuesday | June 14
The tour guests arrive on their own to Hotel Fleurie, 32-34 rue Grégoire de Tours, 75006 Paris (6th district, near St Germain des Pres). In the afternoon there will be a group visit and discussion at the Sainte Chapelle. Dinner on own or with others as desired.
Wednesday | June 15
Morning depart for group visit to Louvre then group lunch and discussion time. Optional group visit Delacroix chapel (open til 8) early evening at Saint Sulpice. Dinner on own or with others as desired.
Thursday | June 16
Morning depart for group visit to the modern Pompidou Center modern art collection then group lunch and discussion time. 5:00 art gallery reception with exhibiting artist Richard van der Aa at Pavé d’Orsay gallery; 6:30 public opening of show; dinner on own or with others as desired.
Friday | June 17
French artist Georges Rouault legacy ASCHA Symposium in English/French at Institut Catholique de Paris (take option to join only for afternoon if desired) including members of the Rouault family. 6:00 group drinks and hors d'oeuvres reception for presenters and ASCHA tour members. Dinner on own or with others as desired.
Saturday | June 18
Morning depart for group visit to Chartres on chartered minibus 1.30 hr drive; 11:00 cathedral tour with Malcolm Miller followed by group lunch and afternoon return to Paris. Dinner on own or with others as desired back in Paris.
Sunday | June 19
Church services recommendations per interest; group afternoon visit to Musée d’Orsay; evening reception gathering with presentation by Brent Seales followed by group celebratory closing dinner.
Monday | June 20
Hotel check-out and departure on own (individuals may want to make a day trip such as Giverny; or newly opened Bourse de Commerce Pinault Collection— English tours are offered Mon, Wed, Thurs, Fri).