Arrive in Prague on suggested flights and make your way to the hotel. Renaissance Tours or your travel agent can assist you with your flights and other travel arrangements, including travel insurance (a condition of travel), private hotel transfer, accommodation before or after the tour and a room category upgrade.

In the late-afternoon, join your tour leader Claudia Chan Shaw and fellow travellers for a welcome briefing followed by dinner.

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After a talk by Claudia, embark on a walking tour of the Old Town. Prague’s history stretches back to the early 12th century and since its formal establishment by King Wenceslas I of Bohemia, it has been a significant political, cultural and economic hub of central Europe. Meander along medieval cobblestone streets and winding lanes, and marvel at the ingenuity and mechanical beauty of the Astronomical Clock at the Old Town Hall.

In the afternoon, walk across the magnificent Charles Bridge, built between 1357 and 1402 over the Vltava River and lined with thirty Baroque statues of saints and patrons. Then, enjoy a tour of Wenceslas Square and its surroundings, viewing the infamous installation of The Horse, which hangs from the ceiling of the glorious Art Nouveau Lucerna Palace. See the elegant Art Nouveau façade of the Grand Hotel Evropa and stroll to Koruna Palace, a late-Nouveau-style building featuring a stained-glass dome.

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The morning is dedicated to Prague Castle, an immense castle complex dating from the 9th century. The numerous buildings comprising Prague Castle represent virtually every architectural style from the last millennium, including the Gothic St Vitus Cathedral and its stained-glass windows by Alphonse Mucha, the Romanesque Basilica of St George and the Renaissance Rosenberg Palace.

After lunch, visit the Museum of Decorative Arts, home to a fine collection of ceramics, porcelain, textiles, fashion, toys and jewellery, as well as one of the most extensive glass exhibitions in Europe.

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Begin the morning with a visit to the Mucha Museum. The exhibits offer an extensive overview of the works of the Art Nouveau artist Alphonse Mucha, most widely known for the posters he executed for Sarah Bernhardt in the fashionable world of fin-de-siècle Paris.

Continue to Municipal House, which displays an impressive façade decorated with allegorical sculptural scenes and a mosaic called Homage to Prague over the main entrance. Enjoy a tour of the exquisitely decorated interior and appreciate some of the finest Art Nouveau furnishings in Europe. The remainder of the afternoon is at leisure to further explore Prague at your own pace.

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In the morning, transfer to Prague Airport for a flight to Brussels (flight included in tour price).

Arrive in Brussels in the afternoon and check in to the hotel. Enjoy some time at leisure before dinner at a local restaurant.

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After a talk by Claudia, start your exploration of the Belgian capital with a morning walking tour of the Old Town. The area was settled in the late 6th century and after it was established as a city in 979 CE, it became a major commercial centre throughout the Middle Ages. Now the de facto capital of the European Union, Brussels is known for its culture, history and gastronomy. Wander from the Grand-Place central square, past the iconic Manneken Pis, to the Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert and its gorgeous glass-roofed arcade, inaugurated in 1847.

In the afternoon, enjoy a guided tour of the Royal Museum of Fine Arts, a group of art museums dedicated to presenting the works of Belgian artists throughout history, with a collection spanning from the 15th to the 21st centuries.

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Enjoy a morning excursion to the Winter Garden of the Ursulines, a stunning Art Nouveau masterpiece originally built in 1900 as a greenhouse for the Ursuline convent. The Winter Garden features a breathtaking glass dome that bathes the interior in a warm, colourful glow, creating an atmosphere of perpetual spring. It boasts an impressive collection of exotic plants and flowers, carefully curated and maintained within its elegant glass and iron structure.

Return to Brussels and visit the Magritte Museum, home to the world’s largest collection of works by renowned Belgian surrealist, René Magritte. The artworks on display represent the entire span of this prolific artist’s career and include key pieces from one of the leaders of the surrealist movement. Pass by the stately elegance of the Musical Instruments Museum, housed in an Art Nouveau building on the Mont des Arts.

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Start the day with a visit to the Horta Museum, located in the expertly conserved private studio and residence of the visionary designer. Continue to the nearby Maison Hannon, built in 1902 and offering a glimpse into the symbolist and dreamlike world of the Belle Époque.

In the afternoon, enjoy a walking tour of the Sablon area, filled with antique shops, chocolatiers and cafés. Then, head down the hill to explore the Marolles, Brussels’ historic working-class district.

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This morning, admire the opulent Art Nouveau exterior of Maison Cauchie, famous for the remarkable allegorical sgraffito which adorn the building’s façade, and see the beautiful Saint-Cyr House and its ornate wrought-iron balconies.

Then, learn to make your own chocolate and discover the tricks and techniques behind Belgium’s most famous sweet treat.

The remainder of the day is at leisure to further explore Brussels at your own pace.

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Depart Brussels and travel to France, arriving in Paris in the afternoon.

This evening, enjoy dinner at one of Paris’s charming local restaurants.

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Following a talk by Claudia, depart the hotel for an Art Nouveau-focused walk of the 16th arrondissement, a district of Paris known for its ornate 19th – and 20th-century architecture, wide avenues, parks and museums. Wander through the stunning Art Nouveau creations scattered throughout the area before continuing to the great Palais de Chaillot on the vast esplanade du Trocadéro, overlooking the Eiffel Tower. Partially reconstructed from an original 19th-century palace in the 1930s, this extraordinary building reimagines Neoclassical architecture through the lens of the Art Deco aesthetic. Then, transfer to the Left Bank to see the opulent Art Nouveau home of Jules Lavirotte as well as the Maison des Arums and its façade, featuring exquisite floral stone carvings.

After lunch, visit the Yves Saint Laurent Museum, an impressive collection showcasing the creations of one of the 20th century’s greatest designers. Displayed at the site of his iconic label’s former fashion house, the museum is an exhibition not only of the creative genius of a single individual, but of the history of haute couture fashion.

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This morning, step into a whimsical wonderland at the Musée des Arts Forains, housed in beautifully restored 19th-century wine warehouses. The museum features an extraordinary collection of fairground memorabilia from the 19th and 20th centuries, such as Belle Epoque carousels, weird and wonderful automatons and Venetian carnival costumes.

Enjoy lunch at Le Train Bleu in the hall of the Gare de Lyon railway station. The restaurant was originally created for the 1900 Exposition Universelle. Its opulent Belle Époque décor features gilded mouldings, crystal chandeliers and 41 magnificent ceiling murals themed to represent cities and regions of France.

In the afternoon, visit L’Atelier des Lumières – a wonderful immersive experience as works of art are magnified, manipulated and projected onto the interior of a converted factory.

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In the morning, explore the Musée des Arts Décoratifs, a mainstay of the city’s Art Nouveau heritage, with its wood-panelled drawing room designed by Georges Hoentschel.

The afternoon is at leisure to further explore the French capital at your own pace.

Tonight, celebrate the conclusion of the tour with a special farewell dinner with Claudia and fellow travellers.

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Tour arrangements conclude after breakfast.

If you are returning home today, make your way to Paris Airport for suggested flights to Australia or New Zealand. Renaissance Tours or your travel agent can assist you with your flights and other travel arrangements, including any additional nights’ accommodation either before or after the tour and travel insurance (a condition of travel).

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