The Telegraph’s Art Critic will accompany you throughout this tour of the Cote d’Azur, visiting several museums and seeing locations through the eyes of artists

Follow in the footsteps of the great masters of modern art on an inspiring five-day tour along the beautiful Côte d'Azur.

From your four-star base at the Hôtel Juliana Cannes, you'll be well placed to explore the Riviera through the eyes of Matisse, Picasso, Bonnard, Renoir, Léger and their contemporaries - visiting the very places where they lived, worked, and found their deepest inspiration.

Wander through the atmospheric lanes of the Old Town, where Matisse once lived, before tracing his footsteps through elegant Cimiez. Explore the coastline that captivated Picasso, discovering Antibes, Vallauris and Mougins - three places that reveal the richness and diversity of his post-war creativity. Spend a day devoted to Renoir, Léger and Bonnard - just three of the artists who found solace and boundless creativity in the beauty of the Mediterranean.

Throughout the tour, you'll enjoy the company of art critic and broadcaster Alastair Sooke - who will bring insights, expert context and engaging commentary to each of your visits.

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Tour Highlights

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You'll be joined by

Alastair Sooke
Chief Art Critic
Alastair Sooke has been covering art for the Telegraph since 2003. He has presented more than 60 hours of TV and radio for the BBC (Modern Masters, Treasures of Ancient Egypt, An Art Lovers’ Guide) and written several books, including studies of Henri Matisse and Georges Seurat, and a history of Pop art.

Price includes

  • Four-night stay at the Hôtel Juliana Cannes, on a bed and breakfast basis
  • A dinner at a local restaurant in Cannes
  • Alastair Sooke will travel with you for the duration of the tour
  • Visit to the Maeght Foundation
  • Visits to the Picasso national museum in Vallauris and Picasso museum in Antibes
  • Guided tour of the Rosary chapel in Vence
  • Guided visit of the Matisse museum in Nice
  • Visit to the Renoir museum in Cagnes-sur-Mer
  • Guided tour of the Fernand Léger museum in Biot
  • Guided visit to the Bonnard museum in Le Cannet and 'Les toilettes de Marthe' exhibition
  • A Q&A with the curator of the exhibition 'Luxe, Calme et Volupté' (subject to availability)
  • A drink in la Malmaison rooftop
  • Use of Audiophones for tours
  • The services of a local guide and tour manager throughout
  • Return flights from London Heathrow to Nice
  • Coach transfers

Availability

From
Wed, Wed, Jul 1, 2026
To
Sun, Sun, Jul 5, 2026
Duration
5 Days
Price per person
£1,979*

* From price is per person, based on two people sharing a polar inside cabin, subject to availability. Price and itinerary correct at time of print but may be subject to change. Single supplement £395. Deposit: 30%. Local charges such as tourist tax may apply. Offers are not valid in conjunction with any other offers or promotions. In the case of unforeseen circumstances, expert(s) may be substituted, and any expert-led events may be subject to change. Expert(s) will not join you for your full trip duration unless otherwise stated. Travel insurance is not included and should be taken out at time of booking. This holiday may be sold through other selected brands. Images used may not reflect your actual tour experience. Tour is operated by and subject to the booking conditions of TS Travel Ltd (ATOL bonded). Calls are made at local rates. All tours featured are operated by the partner specified, a company wholly independent of Telegraph Media Group Holdings Ltd. Please refer to the Data Protection Notice in today's Personal Column or telegraph.co.uk/privacypolicy.

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Itinerary

  1. Day
    1
    Arrive in Nice & follow in the footsteps of Matisse
    Nice, France

    Fly from London Heathrow to Nice. Upon arrival, you'll be welcomed and transferred to the heart of the city. A short orientation walk through the winding streets of Old Nice offers your first glimpse of the Riviera's colours and charm - and the rare opportunity to see the building where Henri Matisse once lived.

    Enjoy lunch on your own before continuing to the elegant Cimiez district, long favoured by artists. Your afternoon concludes with an in-depth visit to the Matisse Museum, where masterpieces and personal objects reveal the evolution of the artist's style and life on the Côte d'Azur.

  2. Day
    2
    Picasso’s Riviera: Antibes, Vallauris & Mougins
    Antibes, France

    Today is devoted to Pablo Picasso and the places that shaped his creativity in the post-war years. Travelling along the glittering coastline and into the peaceful hinterland, you will visit Antibes, Vallauris and Mougins - three villages forever linked to Picasso's artistic journey.

    From seafront ramparts to pottery workshops and hilltop lanes, each stop reveals a different facet of his prolific time on the Riviera. Expect a day rich in artistic encounters, sun-washed landscapes and Mediterranean inspiration.

  3. Day
    3
    Bonnard, Renoir & Léger: A Morning of Museums
    Cagnes-sur-Mer, France

    Today is devoted to three major figures of 20th-century art. Begin with a guided introduction to the Renoir Museum in Cagnes-sur-Mer, whose peaceful gardens and luminous interiors still echo with the artist's presence.

    Continue to the nearby village of Biot, where you can enjoy lunch on your own before visiting the Fernand Léger Museum. Its bold colours and monumental shapes offer a dynamic contrast to the softness of Renoir.

    The day concludes in Le Cannet with a guided tour of the Bonnard Museum, an intimate and beautifully curated tribute to the painter of light and domestic serenity.

  4. Day
    4
    Modern Art in the Hills: Fondation Maeght, Saint-Paul & Vence
    Vence, France

    This morning, make your way to the celebrated Fondation Maeght in Saint-Paul de Vence, home to one of Europe's most remarkable collections of modern art. A guided visit allows you to explore its sculpture gardens, airy galleries and iconic works by Miró, Chagall, Giacometti and many others.

    After a short walk down to the medieval village of Saint-Paul, enjoy lunch at your leisure in the village. Later in the afternoon, continue to Vence for a guided tour of the Matisse Chapel, a spiritual and artistic masterpiece created by the painter in the final years of his life. As Matisse himself said: "This work took me four years of exclusive and diligent work, and it is the result of my entire working life. Despite all its imperfections, I consider it my masterpiece."

    Return to Cannes for a tasting experience. Nestled in the old district of Le Suquet, the iconic restaurant Da Bouttau has long been a gathering place for artists, writers, and filmmakers. It played a key role in the region's creative life, hosting moments that shaped the rise of modern art and the early days of the Cannes Film Festival. For our group, we will enjoy the specially curated "La Table des Fondateurs" menu - the very menu once shared by the festival's five founders, including Picasso and Cocteau, offering a taste of the Riviera's artistic and cinematic legacy.

  5. Day
    5
    Final Reflections & Departure
    Nice, France

    Your journey comes to a close with a final conversation led by the curator of Luxe, Calme et Volupté, providing a reflective and enriching conclusion to your exploration of modern art on the French Riviera (subject to their availability). Enjoy a drink at La Malmaison rooftop terrace which offers a unique experience with its stunning views. If time allows, you have the option to visit La Malmaison (not included, at an additional fee) or you are free to do some last minute sightseeing of Cannes before being transferred to the airport for your return flight to London Heathrow.

Accommodation

Hôtel Juliana Cannes

4
Cannes, France

A stone's throw from the Croisette and the golden beaches, the Hôtel Juliana Cannes is the perfect base on the Riviera. The hotel’s bar offers continuous service and in the adjacent lounges, moments of relaxation can be enjoyed. Artworks feature throughout, including the photographic work of David Bailey, with portraits of the stars of the 1960s and ’70s. The hotel has its own beehives on the roof and harvests its own honey, which guests can sample at breakfast!

Brought to you by

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Availability

From
Wed, Wed, Jul 1, 2026
To
Sun, Sun, Jul 5, 2026
Duration
5 Days
Price per person
£1,979*

* From price is per person, based on two people sharing a polar inside cabin, subject to availability. Price and itinerary correct at time of print but may be subject to change. Single supplement £395. Deposit: 30%. Local charges such as tourist tax may apply. Offers are not valid in conjunction with any other offers or promotions. In the case of unforeseen circumstances, expert(s) may be substituted, and any expert-led events may be subject to change. Expert(s) will not join you for your full trip duration unless otherwise stated. Travel insurance is not included and should be taken out at time of booking. This holiday may be sold through other selected brands. Images used may not reflect your actual tour experience. Tour is operated by and subject to the booking conditions of TS Travel Ltd (ATOL bonded). Calls are made at local rates. All tours featured are operated by the partner specified, a company wholly independent of Telegraph Media Group Holdings Ltd. Please refer to the Data Protection Notice in today's Personal Column or telegraph.co.uk/privacypolicy.

Call now to book +442039938321
Quote ref: FRANCESOOKE