TravelMaven's PROBUS Paris Tour
TravelMaven created PARIS Culture & History specifically for PROBUS members, people who are curious about the world and enjoy learning new things.
This tour is unique as it uses books and films as its foundation, with travellers strongly encouraged to read Paris by Edward Rutherfurd and A Moveable Feast by Ernest Hemingway, and to watch Midnight in Paris and Julie & Julia before departure.
A Deep Dive into the City of Light
This Paris Culture & History tour has been designed especially for the Probus Club and is built around a set of books and films that bring the city to life. Our main focus is Paris by Edward Rutherfurd and Midnight in Paris by Woody Allen, supported by A Moveable Feast and Julie & Julia. Together, they offer a way of seeing Paris not just as a destination, but as a place shaped over centuries by history, people, and everyday life.
On this tour, we will visit the well-known highlights such as the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, Louvre Museum, and Palace of Versailles, but we will also go beyond them. Many of our stops are places most visitors would not think to include, chosen because they connect directly to the books and films and help fill in the story of the city. With that context, each stop has more meaning. The books and films provide a clear and enjoyable way to understand the history of Paris, which makes what you see along the way much more rewarding.
We will be based for nine nights in the Montparnasse neighbourhood, a part of the city long associated with writers, artists, and café life, and a fitting place to settle in as we explore.
Whether this is your first time in Paris, or you have visited before and would like a deeper understanding of it, this tour offers a more complete experience. Over the course of the trip, you will begin to see why Paris has drawn people back again and again.
DETAILS
LAND PACKAGE: $5,480
(5% Probus group discount = $5,206)
SINGLE SUPPLEMENT: $2,150
RETURN AIRFARE
Economy: $1,388 as of April 5
Club: $2,744 as of April 5 (limited space)
TYPE: Private Tour for PROBUS
HOTEL: Villa Modigliani (Montparnasse)
GROUP: Max 12 Guests
DURATION: 10 days
Departs YYZ: Friday September 25, 2026
Returns: Sunday October 4, 2026
Primary Materials
Paris by Edward Rutherfurd
Our Paris tour is heavily built around Paris by Edward Rutherfurd, which follows the history of the city through the lives of several families over many centuries. As we move through Paris, we will visit places tied to the events and time periods in the book, helping connect what you have read to the city itself. Having the story in mind gives more context to what we'll see and makes the history easier and more fun to follow.
Midnight in Paris by Woody Allen
Our Paris tour also draws on Midnight in Paris by Woody Allen, starring Owen Wilson and Rachel McAdams, which shows a version of Paris where the past and present sit side by side, and imagines being able to step into another era and meet the people who shaped it. As we go through the city, you will see streets, cafés, and neighborhoods that reflect that same feeling, where it is easy to picture earlier periods layered onto what you see today.
Secondary Materials
A Moveable Feast by Ernest Hemingway
Our Paris tour also draws on A Moveable Feast by Ernest Hemingway, which looks back on his early years in Paris, writing in cafés, walking the streets, and living simply. It focuses on small, everyday moments and shows a quieter side of the city that still feels very similar today.
Julie and Julia by Nora Ephron
Lastly, we’ve taken inspiration from Julie & Julia, based on the life of Julia Child, which follows her time in Paris as she falls in love with the city through its food, markets, and daily routines. It’s a reminder that Paris is just as much about simple pleasures as it is about the big sights.
Daily Agenda
Day 0 (Fri Sep 25)
Depart Toronto
Today guests will depart from home, make their way to Toronto, and begin the journey to Paris. The recommended flight leaves Toronto Pearson in the evening and arrives the following morning. If you haven't watched the movies or finished the books yet, you have a good seven hours ahead of you to catch up!
Day 1 (Sat Sep 26)
Arrive in Paris, Montparnasse Walk & Welcome Dinner
Guests will arrive in Paris this morning. Barry will meet you at the airport and bring you to our hotel in the beautiful Montparnasse neighborhood, where Ernest Hemingway once lived. After checking in, we will head out on an orientation walk to get familiar with the area. In the evening, we will go to a local restaurant for our welcome dinner, a chance to spend time together and enjoy a Parisian feast.
Meals Included: Dinner
Day 3 (Sun Sep 27)
Historic Axis Walk
Today we will walk the iconic Axe Historique, a straight line of major landmarks running across Paris from east to west. We will stop at the Louvre Museum, Place de la Concorde, Place Vendôme, the Palais Garnier, and Galeries Lafayette. The Louvre appears in both Paris and Midnight in Paris, and Place de la Concorde connects to the French Revolution in the novel.
Meals Included: Breakfast & Lunch
Day 4 (Mon Sep 28)
Latin Quarter & Sorbonne
Today we will spend time in the Latin Quarter, one of the oldest parts of Paris, known for its narrow streets, bookshops, and long history of student life, and we will visit the Sorbonne at its center, one of the most historic universities in Europe, dating back to the 13th century. As we walk, you will get a feel for a part of the city shaped by generations of students and writers.
Meals Included: Breakfast
Day 5 (Tue Sep 29)
Notre-Dame Cathedral, Place de la Bastille & Marais District
Today we will visit some of the most historic parts of Paris, beginning at Notre-Dame Cathedral, then continuing to the Place de la Bastille, and into the Marais district. These stops connect closely with Paris, particularly in its portrayal of medieval Paris and the events of the French Revolution, helping bring those periods into clearer focus as we move through the city.
Meals Included: Breakfast
Day 6 (Wed Sep 30)
Palace of Versailles
Today we will take a full day trip to the Palace of Versailles, the grand royal residence just outside Paris. We will spend time exploring the palace and its gardens, getting a sense of the scale and formality of life at court, and how far removed it was from everyday Paris. Versailles is part of the world described in Paris and appears briefly in Midnight in Paris.
Meals Included: Breakfast
Day 7 (Thu Oct 1)
Arc de Triomphe, Trocadéro, Eiffel Tower, & Musée d'Orsay
Today we will visit some of the most recognizable sights in Paris, beginning with the Arc de Triomphe, then continuing to the Trocadéro for sweeping views of the Eiffel Tower. After a short break, we will then spend time at the Musée d'Orsay, home to one of the finest collections of Impressionist art, offering a look at the artists who helped shape modern Paris.
Meals Included: Breakfast & Dinner
Day 8 (Fri Oct 2)
Montmartre & Pigalle
Today we will explore Montmartre and Pigalle, two neighboring areas that show very different sides of Paris. In Montmartre, we will walk through its winding streets and quieter corners, known for their long association with artists and writers. We will then continue into Pigalle, where the pace picks up and the atmosphere becomes more lively, offering a clear contrast between the two.
Meals Included: Breakfast
Day 9 (Sat Oct 3)
Free Day & Farewell Dinner
Our last day is free so everyone can do exactly what they want. After seeing the major sights together, today is a chance to do something that suits you, whether you fill the day with plans or keep it relaxed. You might visit a museum, revisit a favorite neighborhood, shop, or simply walk along the Seine and sit at a café with a pain au chocolat and café crème. We will gather in the evening for our farewell dinner.
Meals Included: Breakfast & Dinner
Day 10 (Sun Oct 4)
Unfortunately, today we will be leaving Paris. Luckily, unlike Gil, we don’t have to wait until midnight to catch our ride. We will have breakfast, check out, and make our way to Charles de Gaulle Airport for our midday flight. Thanks to the time change, we will arrive back in Toronto later this afternoon. We may be leaving Paris behind, but the books and films are always there to bring you back.
Meals Included: Breakfast