Belgium Itinerary

We encourage you to make your Artistic Expedition with us all you want it to be.

Paint from Dawn to Dusk and Immerse yourself in your Art
and / or
Enjoy all the Unique Opportunities that your Destination of choice offers
or
Do both with your Spouse, Artist Friends and Companions.

-The Artist Tours Group

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Expeditions are reserved for art schools, organizations and/ or groups of
ten ( 10) or more Artists}}}

"Medieval Land" 9 Days in Belgium / with 4 nights in Dinant and 4 nights in Bruges

Day 1 : BRUSSELS/DINANT

You arrive at Brussels Airport in the morning, where you will be met by our English-speaking guide/tour leader. Transfer DINANT. This small, but lively city is the main tourist spot at the entrance of the Belgian Ardennes. Beautifully situated alongside the river Meuse, Dinant and the souroundings has quite a few premium tourist attractions that make several days visit worth a while.

Welcome dinner and overnight at your hotel.

Day 2 to Day 4 IN DINANT

For the artists is full days of En Plein Air Sketching and Painting is planned. picnic lunches will be provided.

During the stay in Dinant a visit to the Dinant Citadel with cable-car wil be arranged. From the fortress perched 300 ft above the town, the view over the Meuse is truly breathtaking. Within the walls, there are life-size characters immortalising memorable moments in European and Belgian history. Here also can be found deep dungeons, kitchens, carriages brought to life before your very eyes. The Weapons museum with its canons and balls provides a distinctly 'military' feel to this historical site, not forgetting the trenches of the war on the Yser (1914-1918) with the impressive 'collapsed' shelter. Don't lose your balance ! At the Citadel you will find : a brand new cable-car for a round trip ; 408 steps ; a beautiful terrace ; a comfortable restaurant at moderate prices (special menu's for groups) ; a play area for children ; a large car park on the plateau of the Citadel.

Included is also an excursion to the historic city NAMUR (Namen), built at the confluence of the Meuse and Sambre rivers, recently became the capital of Wallonie region. Free-time is allotted for the tour participants to discover this city on their own. A whole day of uninterrupted painting, sketching and painting is planned.

The key site is the citadel perched on a wooded promontory between the Meuse and the Sambre. It can be reached on foot or by a cable car. The old town, though damaged by war, still has some handsome old town houses on its cobbled streets. Namur is a pleasant town to explore on foot, especially along the Sambre waterfront where mansions and warehouses have been restored. The town is particularly lively in the summer when cafés spread out on the main squares and cruise ships leave from the Pont de France to sail through the picturesque Meuse gorge south of the city.

Much of this spectacular citadel, perched high on a summit overlooking Meuse, was built between the 15th and 19th centuries, although the defenses are some of the most strategic in Europe and date from the Roman occupation. Children enjoy taking the cable car up to the summit and exploring the network of defenses. They can also play in a large adventure playground within the fortress walls.

During the say in Dinant your tour director will also arrange for a river cruise on River Meuse.

An optional full day tour to BRUSSELS will be offered, which will take you to "The Grand Place", a magnificent square surrounded by ornate baroque guilded buildings.

A see and the ancient streruself Brussels for a full day of En Plein Air Painting, Drawing and Sketching.

Day 5 DINANT/BRUGES

After leisurely breakfast, you will be transported to BRUGES. Our local tour guide will show you around through this wonderful medieval city to discover its quiet canals lined with ancient brick houses, the medieval belfry (Belfort), rising above the Gothic cloth hall, dominates the town, the Basilica of the Holy Blood is a Romanesque church housing one of the holiest relics in medieval Europe: a phial of blood said to have been washed from the Body of Christ.

A day of En Plein Air Sketching and Painting is planned. A picnic lunch will be provided. We advise to paint along one of the canals at the famous place called Rozen Hoedkaai, or the Begijnhof (a medieval retreat for women), the Gothic town hall or of course the spot to be : the Lake of love. Bruges is a pleasant town to explore on foot, with its meandering cobbled lanes and hidden medieval almshouses. It is also possible to take a boat trip on the canals or see the town from a horse-drawn carriage. The Flemish city of Bruges (Brugge) is definitely one of the most beautiful cities in Europe

Day 6 to Day 8 IN BRUGES

During the stay in Brugge a a full day excursion to GENT and discover the Saint Bavo's Cathedral, home of the famous "Mystic Lamb" painting of the Van Eyck brothers, the Belfry and Halles aux Draps, Quai aux Herbes , the guild houses and after proceed to the beautiful Flemish country side to Saint Martin Lathem (St-Marten-Latem), well-know by all painters as a beautiful site for an Afternoon En Plein Air painting, drawing and sketching.

An optional full day tour to ANTWERP (Antwerpen) will be offered.

Antwerp, a busy Flemish port on the River Scheldt, is one of the most fascinating maritime cities in Europe, with a wealth of superb architecture and art. Antwerp reached its peak after the decline of Bruges and emerged as the most important trading port in the 15th and 16th centuries. Ornate baroque mansions remind us of the opulent merchants who commissioned tapestry, paintings, silverware, and sculpture that can now be found in its churches. The most beautiful monument is without a doubt the Gothic Cathedral housing two masterpieces, the "Raising of the Cross" and the "Descent from the Cross", by Peter Paul Rubens, the local celebrity.

Farwell Dinner at a local restaurant.

Day 9 : BRUSSELS / USA

On our last day, after breakfast, participants who's trip comes to an end will bid farewell to their fellow artists who have extended their journey. They will be transferred to Brussels International Airport.

Prices are quoted net per person based on double occupancy:

Inclusions:

Daily full Breakfast daily, Welcome and Farewell dinners.


Deluxe air conditioned motorcoach for all transportation mentioned in the
program (Long distance coaching for 9 days)

Full time tour director Day

Entrance fees as per the program

Local taxes


Not included:

Airfare

Services of personal nature.

Tips & gratuities