Cultural trips organised by the association
The trips offered by the association are reserved for paid-up members.
Registration for trips is by post only.
Unless otherwise stated, to register for a trip, you must complete and return the pre-registration form, available under the description of the planned trip, to the following address:
Association of Friends of the Museums
Antoine Vivenel et de la Figurine
2 bis, rue d'Austerlitz
60200 Compiègne
The definitive registration form will then be sent to you, together with all the necessary information (payment details, etc.).
(The various registration forms are in pdf format, which requires Adobe Acrobat Reader or Apple Preview.)
October 2026
■ Cultural getaway to Porto
5-day, 4-night stay
October 1-5, 2026
This trip will be an opportunity to discover Porto, the Upper Douro Valley, famous for its vineyards, and the cities of Guimarães and Braga. These sites are listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
The Roman Portus Cale is undoubtedly the origin of the name Portugal. Located at the mouth of the Douro River, Porto has always been a port facing the Atlantic. However, its economic boom did not occur until the 18th century, thanks to the trade in Port wine with England.
The city has preserved its medieval urban fabric, with beautiful houses adorned with wrought-iron balconies, deep blue azulejo tiles, gold-covered baroque decorations, and... lots of charm.
DAY 1 - Thursday, October 1
Flight from Paris to Porto. Baroque Porto: São Bento railway station (20th century) with its magnificent azulejo decorations. The Ribeira district, emblematic of Porto, andthe Church of São Francisco, whose interior is one of the finest examples of Portuguese Baroque.
Flight from Paris to Porto. Baroque Porto: São Bento railway station (20th century) with its magnificent azulejo decorations. The Ribeira district, emblematic of Porto, andthe Church of São Francisco, whose interior is one of the finest examples of Portuguese Baroque.
DAY 2 - Friday, October 2
The historic heart of Porto: visit the Sé, a cathedral-fortress (12th century) and its cloister covered with deep blue azulejos. Discover the Lello e Irmão bookshop, one of the most beautiful in the world, as well as the Stock Exchange Palace. Visit the Museu Romãntico, in a park overlooking the Douro.
The historic heart of Porto: visit the Sé, a cathedral-fortress (12th century) and its cloister covered with deep blue azulejos. Discover the Lello e Irmão bookshop, one of the most beautiful in the world, as well as the Stock Exchange Palace. Visit the Museu Romãntico, in a park overlooking the Douro.
DAY 3 - Saturday, October 3
Guimarães, city and palace of the Dukes of Braganza. Braga, cathedral and Bom Jesus do Monte sanctuary.
Guimarães, city and palace of the Dukes of Braganza. Braga, cathedral and Bom Jesus do Monte sanctuary.
DAY 4 - Sunday, October 4
Upper Douro Valley and the vineyards of Porto. Amarante, Lamego, the Casa de Mateus (baroque mansion).
Upper Douro Valley and the vineyards of Porto. Amarante, Lamego, the Casa de Mateus (baroque mansion).
DAY 5 - Monday, October 5
Visit to the Art Deco-style Serralves Foundation (contemporary collections). Short cruise on the Douro and Port wine tasting. Return flight.
Visit to the Art Deco-style Serralves Foundation (contemporary collections). Short cruise on the Douro and Port wine tasting. Return flight.
May 2026
■ In the heart of the Bourbonnais, Moulins and Vichy
5 days & 4 nights
from 5 to 9 May 2026
In the heart of the Bourbonnais region, the Allier links Vichy and Moulins, two towns that complement each other harmoniously.
Moulins has all the charm of a Town of Art and History, with its timber-framed houses, cathedral and remains of the ducal castle, not to mention a fabulous collection of stage costumes that add to its undeniable appeal.
Vichy, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, has the typical elegance of a resort town, with majestic facades in Second Empire, Belle Epoque and Art Deco styles, English-style parks and thermal baths.
DAY 1 - Tuesday 5 May
Journey from Compiègne to Moulins. Visit to the historic quarter of Moulins, capital of the Bourbonnais duchy from the 14th to 16th centuries. Visit to the Maison Mantin, an exceptional example of 19th-century bourgeois taste.
Journey from Compiègne to Moulins. Visit to the historic quarter of Moulins, capital of the Bourbonnais duchy from the 14th to 16th centuries. Visit to the Maison Mantin, an exceptional example of 19th-century bourgeois taste.
DAY 2 - Wednesday 6 May
Discovery of the Centre national du costume et de la scène. Visit thetemporary exhibitiondevoted to Ariane Mnouchkine's Théâtre du Soleil and the Rudolf Nureyev collection. Lunch at the CNCS Brasserie, decorated by fashion designer Christian Lacroix.
Vichy, "the queen of water cities", a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visit the house where Albert Londres (1884-1932), the father of investigative journalism, was born.
Discovery of the Centre national du costume et de la scène. Visit thetemporary exhibitiondevoted to Ariane Mnouchkine's Théâtre du Soleil and the Rudolf Nureyev collection. Lunch at the CNCS Brasserie, decorated by fashion designer Christian Lacroix.
Vichy, "the queen of water cities", a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visit the house where Albert Londres (1884-1932), the father of investigative journalism, was born.
DAY 3 - Thursday 7 May
Visit to "Vichy, capital of the French State 40-44". Visit to the Château de La Palice (12th-16th centuries), a feudal residence remodelled during the Renaissance by the famous Marshal de La Palice.
Visit to "Vichy, capital of the French State 40-44". Visit to the Château de La Palice (12th-16th centuries), a feudal residence remodelled during the Renaissance by the famous Marshal de La Palice.
DAY 4 - Friday 8 May
Guided tour "Histoires d'eaux: Vichy, 2000 years of thermal baths". Visits to "Vichy in the Second Empire" and the VichyOpera House.
Guided tour "Histoires d'eaux: Vichy, 2000 years of thermal baths". Visits to "Vichy in the Second Empire" and the VichyOpera House.
DAY 5 - Saturday 9 May
Saint-Sauveur-en-Puisaye: visit to the house where Colette was born, which has been awarded the "Maison des Illustres" label. Return to Compiègne.
Saint-Sauveur-en-Puisaye: visit to the house where Colette was born, which has been awarded the "Maison des Illustres" label. Return to Compiègne.
September-October 2025
■ Nantes, from the Cité des Ducs to the Port-Atlantique
5 days & 4 nights
from 29 September to 3 October 2025
This trip, designed in collaboration with Via Nostra, will take us along the Loire estuary, from Nantes to the ocean.
The city of Nantes, now considered the capital of the Loire Atlantique region, is brimming with cultural and historical attractions. In 1991, the "Port Atlantique Nantes-Saint-Nazaire" was created to carry weight at international level.
Today, the many relics of the city's maritime past are joined by numerous works of art, making Nantes a veritable open-air museum.
JOUR 1 - lundi 29 septembre
Voyage de Compiègne à Nantes. Visite des lieux emblématiques du centre ville et du musée d'Art.
Voyage de Compiègne à Nantes. Visite des lieux emblématiques du centre ville et du musée d'Art.
JOUR 2 - mardi 30 septembre
Découverte d'oeuvres d'art contemporain sur les rives de l'estuaire de la Loire. Visite des chantiers de l'Atlantique de Saint-Nazaire et immersion dans la vie à bord des transatlantiques à l'Escal'Atlantique.
Découverte d'oeuvres d'art contemporain sur les rives de l'estuaire de la Loire. Visite des chantiers de l'Atlantique de Saint-Nazaire et immersion dans la vie à bord des transatlantiques à l'Escal'Atlantique.
JOUR 3 - mercredi 1er octobre
Visite du château des ducs de Bretagne et du musée d'Histoire de Nantes. Sur l'Île de Nantes, découverte des Machines de l'Île. Mémorial de l'abolition de l'esclavage.
Visite du château des ducs de Bretagne et du musée d'Histoire de Nantes. Sur l'Île de Nantes, découverte des Machines de l'Île. Mémorial de l'abolition de l'esclavage.
JOUR 4 - jeudi 2 octobre
Visite de Guérande, la vieille ville et les marais salants. Batz-sur-Mer, visite du musée des Marais Salants. Le Croisic et sa presqu'île.
Visite de Guérande, la vieille ville et les marais salants. Batz-sur-Mer, visite du musée des Marais Salants. Le Croisic et sa presqu'île.
JOUR 5 - vendredi 3 octobre
Découverte des paysages nantais depuis les belvédères dominant la ville et le fleuve. Verre de l'amitié aux docks de Chantenay. Retour à Compiègne.
Découverte des paysages nantais depuis les belvédères dominant la ville et le fleuve. Verre de l'amitié aux docks de Chantenay. Retour à Compiègne.
May 2025
■ Bulgaria, the source of ancient civilisations
9 days & 8 nights
from 30 April to 8 May 2025
This trip will take you on a journey of discovery through Bulgaria, a country with a history stretching back over seven millennia.
Sanctuaries and Thracian treasures, monasteries and churches with sumptuous frescoes, ancient remains and medieval cities, landscapes of rare beauty, centuries-old traditions and monuments belonging to the heritage of humanity will mark out our tour.
JOUR 1 - mercredi 30 avril
Vol de Paris-CDG à Sofia. Découverte de Sofia, vestiges de la ville romaine, église paléo-chrétienne, cathédrale orthodoxe.
Vol de Paris-CDG à Sofia. Découverte de Sofia, vestiges de la ville romaine, église paléo-chrétienne, cathédrale orthodoxe.
JOUR 2 - jeudi 1er mai
Plovdiv, théatre antique romain, la maison Hindlian (fresques), la basilique épiscopale, la villa romaine Eirene.
Plovdiv, théatre antique romain, la maison Hindlian (fresques), la basilique épiscopale, la villa romaine Eirene.
JOUR 3 - vendredi 2 mai
Monastère orthodoxe de Batchkovo, tumulus d'Alexandrovo, Burgas, sur le cote de la Mer Noire.
Monastère orthodoxe de Batchkovo, tumulus d'Alexandrovo, Burgas, sur le cote de la Mer Noire.
JOUR 4 - samedi 3 mai
Vestiges archéologiques de Nessebar (UNESCO), église Saint-Stéphane. Musée archéologique de Varna.
Vestiges archéologiques de Nessebar (UNESCO), église Saint-Stéphane. Musée archéologique de Varna.
JOUR 5 - dimanche 4 mai
Site archéologique de Pliska. Le cavalier de Madara (UNESCO). Arrbanassi, église de la Nativité. Veliko Tarnovo, forteresse de Tsarevets.
Site archéologique de Pliska. Le cavalier de Madara (UNESCO). Arrbanassi, église de la Nativité. Veliko Tarnovo, forteresse de Tsarevets.
JOUR 6 - lundi 5 mai
Tombeaux thraces de Kazanlak (UNESCO). Concert de chants bulgares. Distillerie de roses. Village thermal de Hisarya.
Tombeaux thraces de Kazanlak (UNESCO). Concert de chants bulgares. Distillerie de roses. Village thermal de Hisarya.
JOUR 7 - mardi 6 mai
Complexe royal thrace de Starosel. Koprivshtitza, village pittoresque de montagne.
Complexe royal thrace de Starosel. Koprivshtitza, village pittoresque de montagne.
JOUR 8 - mercredi 7 mai
Sofia, musée national d'histoire. Eglise de Boïana (UNESCO). Monastère de Rila (UNESCO).
Sofia, musée national d'histoire. Eglise de Boïana (UNESCO). Monastère de Rila (UNESCO).
JOUR 9 - jeudi 8 mai
Sofia, musée archéologique. Vol retour Sofia - Paris-CDG.
Sofia, musée archéologique. Vol retour Sofia - Paris-CDG.
Formalities for French nationals:
All participants must be in possession of a valid passport or identity card.
Useful link: travel advice from the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs. To find out more
Updated on 4 April 2026
Association of Friends of the Museums
Antoine Vivenel et de la Figurine
AMAVFH 2010-2026