The 2024 Member Paris Pilgrimage

This month, International Council and Chairman’s Circle members attended the annual Paris Pilgrimage.  Members enjoyed private access to public institutions as well as invitations to private homes and collections throughout the city. This year, the trip had several exceptional highlights.

The group was invited to tour and explore the Musée du Louvre while it was closed to the public, including access to the recently renovated Napoleon III Apartments as well as several masterpieces from the collection, such as Delacroix’s Liberty Leading the People, and Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa. The day at the Louvre concluded with a multi-course meal prepared by Alain Ducasse in the Museum followed by coffee served on the Mollien Terrace overlooking I.M. Pei’s iconic Pyramid.

Madame Brigitte Macron and artist Pablo Reinoso generously welcomed American Friends of the Louvre at the Élysée Palace where the group received a personal tour of the historic building and its collection before attending a champagne reception with Mme. Macron and her team. A particular highlight of the tour was seeing Reinoso’s new site-specific installation, Fleuves de France, which was designed for the Courtyard of the Palace and inaugurated by French President Emmanuel Macron in honor of the 2024 Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games. This installation stands as a powerful symbol of the Palais d’Elysée’s dedication to improving accessibility, offering a generous and welcoming entrance for everyone.

The week concluded with a remarkable dinner prepared by Cyril Lignac in the atelier of Mathieu Lehanneur, who designed the 2024 Olympic Torch and Cauldron. It was a special treat for members to visit the studio where the torch and cauldron were created and also preview some of Lehanneur’s other remarkable projects. Throughout the rest of the week, the group also visited the Château de Versailles, the Mobilier National, the Centre Pompidou, the Petit Palais,  and attended a cocktail party at the iconic Ritz Paris.