Paris to Provence: Textiles, Markets & More with Pour l’Amour du Fil with Kris Vierra, Quilter on the Run

Tour Info

OVERVIEW 

Textile experiences rich in the French tradition abound in this tour. From visits to specialty shops to attendance at Quiilmania’s Pour l’Amour du Fil show, you are surrounded by vibrant fibers, quilts, fabric printing history, and French culture.The trip begins with a visit to Claude Monet’s amazing garden and home in Giverny, then, it’s on to a half-day walking tour with a local textile artist to discover textile shops that are hidden treasures. In Avignon, there is ample time to explore the captivating villages and towns of the beautiful region of Provence. There are outings to beloved markets and the opportunity to tour The Quilt House La Maison du Boutisuse, a quilt and costume museum in the charming village of Calvisson. In Lyon, visit the Textile Museum and become immersed in 2,000 years of textile history.
The trip concludes at Quiltmania’s Pour l’Amour du Fil in Nantes, one of Europe’s most prestigious fiber events, with an impressive gallery of artwork and international vendors offering the latest wares.

START & FINISH

The tour starts at 6.00pm on Monday April 8, at Pullman Paris Montparnasse, and finishes after breakfast on Sunday April 21, at Pullman Paris Montparnass.

Itinerary

DETAILED ITINERARY

Day 1 Monday April 8

Arrive Paris

Welcome to France!  Meet in the hotel lobby at 6:00 pm to meet your tour leader and fellow tour members for a group dinner tonight. (D)

Day 2  Tuesday April 9 

Paris

After breakfast, experience a half-day excursion from Paris to visit the house and the gardens of Claude Monet, the renowned Impressionist painter. Immerse yourself in the world of the painter, famous for his landscape canvases and numerous views of his garden, such as the

"Water Lilies," the "Japanese Bridge" and "The Irises." Your visit will also include the beautiful water lily pond, with its play of colors and Monet's legendary Japanese-inspired bridge. Learn about the artist's daily life by visiting his home and his studio.

In the afternoon, meet Pauline Geneteau from Stitching up Paris who will show you the best places to find beautiful fabrics, vintage haberdashery, sensational yarns, as well as give you plenty of ideas for your next projects. (B)

Day 3   Wednesday  April 10

Avignon

After breakfast, transfer to the train station to travel to Avignon.

Upon arrival, transfer to hotel and check in. (B)

Day 4   Thursday    April 11 

Uzes & Saint-Quentin-la-Poterie

After breakfast, we explore an exceptionally well-preserved UNESCO site, the Pont du Gard, a three-tiered aqueduct built by the Romans in the first century AD. Next we travel to the town of Uzès. Visit the Duchy of Uzès, where you are free to discover its beautiful shops and galleries, the Duke's castle, or the medieval garden. In the afternoon, travel to Saint-Quentin- la-Poterie to visit a number of artisans and potters' studios and galleries. (B L)

Day 5  Friday    April 12 

Nimes & Calvisson

After breakfast, discover the Agniel fabric store in Nîmes - Les Entrepots-Agniel. Madame Auday and Thierry will welcome you in an area of 400 m² full of fabrics, clothing, furnishings, waxed canvas, coated canvas, outdoor canvas, haberdashery and technical products, This stop is followed by another shopping opportunity at the Quilt House La Maison du Boutis in Calvisson. (B)

Day 6  Saturday    April 13

Aix-en-Provence

In the morning, visit Aix-en-Provence to shop at Le Grand Marché

(Farmer’s Market), on the city’s most interesting market day. Artisans offer a vast variety of textile goods: tablecloths, embroidery, fabric by the meter, and more. After touring the market, continue to the Souleiado Museum. Founded in 1988, this unusual museum honors Souleiado production and the history of textile printing. Then learn more about textile printing at the Olivades factory and outlet shop. In 1977, Pierre Boudin, with the help of his wife, created a company that is still controlled by their children and grandchildren. Their goal is to perpetuate the ancestral art of fabric printing in the south of France as it evolves and adapts to modern times. (B L)

Day 7  Sunday    April 14

L’isle-sur-la-Sorgue,

After breakfast, visit the Sunday market in L’isle sur la Sorgue, the island city at the foot of the Vaucluse plateau. This small town has nearly 300 antique dealers, making it a delight for bargain hunters and collectors of vintage treasure and art. The town hosts the largest antique and collectables market in Provence.

Next on the itinerary is the Luberon region, which offers a quintessential portrait of Provence with its rolling hills of lavender and medieval villages atop rock formations. This historic region between Aix-en-Provence and Avignon has many villages, and your guide introduces you to well-known villages, such as Gordes and Roussillon. (B)

Day 8  Monday    April 15 

Avignon-Lyon 

Travel to Lyon by train. In the afternoon discover Lyon’s highlights and wend your way past major landmarks and UNESCO World Heritage sites. Over the course of three hours, you’ll learn all about the city’s history and gourmet traditions, you will stroll through Vieux Lyon (its Old Town), travel by funicular up Fourvière Hill, and learn more about Lyon highlights & secrets. (B D)

Day 9  Tuesday    April 16

Lyon

After breakfast, depart hotel to visit the Textile Museum. The Textile Museum covers 2,000 years of textile history, and is the first such collection in the world. In the heart of the Croix-Rousse district, visit the Soierie Vivante (an association dedicated to preserving the last remaining 19th-century weaving workshops), the municipal trimming workshop, and the municipal weaving workshop. (B)

Day 10 Wednesday  April 17 

Lyon-Nantes

Travel to Nantes and enjoy time on your own in this dynamic economic and cultural center. The city is known for it castle, cathedral, and venues such as the Musée des Beaux-Arts, which houses an impressive collection of paintings, drawings, sculptures, and other artworks. The city also is famous for its vineyards that produce Muscadet, a dry white wine. (B)

Day 11 Thursday    April 18 

Nantes (Pour l'Amour du Fil show)

Travel to La Beaujoire Parc des Expositions to attend the Pour l'Amour du Fil show. This respected textile show offers a large exhibition area and a large international vendor mall offering the latest wares. This exciting show is a place where textile enthusiasts can meet and share their passion for fiber art. In 2023, the guest of honor country is the Netherlands. (B)

Day 12  Friday  April 19

Nantes

Today you have the option to continue to explore the Pour l'Amour du Fil show (transfer is included), or explore Nantes on your own. (B)

Day 13  Saturday April 20

Nantes-Paris

Return to Paris and enjoy our farewell dinner tonight. (B D)

Day 14  Sunday April 21

Tour concludes after breakfast. (B)

Special notes: 

The tour is based on minimum of 15 people travelling together. 

We will inform you when our minimum number is reached. 

Please contact our office before booking your international flights.

Tour Leader

KRIS VIERRA

Kris Vierra has been sewing or quilting for over 20 years. She loves sharing her passion for quilting and all things related to fabric, believing that quilting should be fun and not stressful. Kris teaches at national shows and guilds across the country, and has won numerous national awards for her machine quilting skills over the years. Most recently, Kris won the Best Long Arm Quilting award at AQS Quilt Week Paducah and the PFAFF Master Award for Machine Artistry at the International Quilt Festival Houston. Two of her quilts, Tiger, Tiger and Starof India, are part of the permanent collection at the National Quilt Museum in Paducah. Kris is also the author of the Stress Free Quilting® book series. She loves traveling and meeting quilters from around the world. Kris believes that no matter what language you speak fabric is universal.

View Bio and Upcoming Tours

Inclusions

TOUR INCLUSIONS

What is included in the tour price?

• 13 nights’ accommodation on a twin-share basis in 4-star hotels
• All breakfasts, lunches and dinners as stated in the itinerary
• Train ticket Paris-Avignon-Lyon-Nante-Paris, local travel by private, comfortable climate - controlled vehicle
• Services of well-qualified English-speaking local guides
• Entrance fees to museums, galleries, and attractions as mentioned in the itinerary

What is not included in the tour price?

• International airfares
• Arrival and departure transfer 
• Travel insurance
• Gratuities
• Personal expenses and anything not mentioned

Hotels

HOTELS

Pullman Paris Montparnasse (2 nights)
https://www.pullmanparismontparnasse.com/en

Mercure Pont d'Avignon Centre Hotel, Avignon (2 nights)
https://all.accor.com/hotel/0549/index.en.shtml

Hotel Mercure Lyon Centre Beaux-Arts, Lyon (2 nights)
https://all.accor.com/hotel/2949/index.en.shtml

Radisson Blu Hotel Nantes, Nantes (3 nights)
https://www.radissonhotels.com/en-us/hotels/radisson-blu-nantes