September 29 - Octoer 12, 2008

Fly overnight to Paris

Nights of September 30 through October 3 accommodations in Paris.

Guided Visit at Musée National du Moyen Age, museum in downtown Paris, housed in a medieval mansion, devoted to medieval artifacts, including illuminated manuscripts.

Tour Château de Chantilly, home of Les Très Riches Heures du duc de Berry (facsimile available for viewing)

Visit Les Enluminures, a fantastic gallery specializing in illuminated manuscripts, which is located next door to Musée du Louvre

October 4

Travel from Paris to Mont Saint Michel and its monastery, built on a giant rock that becomes an island with the flowing tides. It is a fascinating place, full of peaceful tranquility and dramatic beauty. We will tour the monastery and visit the scriptorium where hundreds of manuscripts were created.

Nights of October 4 & 5 accommodations on Mont Saint Michel

October 5, day trip to Avranches, where the town hall houses about 200 of the manuscripts that were created at Mont Saint Michel.

October 6

Travel from Mont Saint Michel to London via train (via Rennes & Paris).

Nights of October 6, 7 8 & 9 hotel accommodations in London near British Library.

Two Guided Visits at the British Library where the collection of illuminated manuscripts is unsurpassed, containing books such as the Lindisfarne Gospels, the Sherborne Missal, the Bedford Hours and the Luttrell Psalter.

October 8 day trip to Cambridge for Guided Visit at Fitzwilliam Museum  for a full day’s excursion and an interesting look at the contrast between medieval/renaissance calligraphy, and the calligraphy being produced today.

October 10

London to Dublin via air

Nights of October 10 & 11 in Dublin near Trinity College.

Guided Visit at Trinity College Library and The Book of Kells, a hand-lettered book containing the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, written in Latin circa 800.

October 12 return to US

THANK YOU!! The trip has been filled - please check back for future trips.