UPCOMING EVENTS

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• VJ171 Gothic Studies: From Romanesque to the Parish Church of Kings

  • When
    17 Jan 2026
  •  
    2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
  • Location
    Église Saint-Germain-des-Prés (square in front of the bell tower). Saint-Germain-des-Prés (Metro 4) or Mabillon (Metro 10)
  • Spaces left
    12

  Gothic architecture was born just outside of Paris in the 12th century and sparked a rapid and widespread revolution in art and architecture across France and Europe. Through structural innovations and masterful artistry in stone, glass, and paint, this new style made tangible a mystical philosophy of divine light as a bridge between heaven and the earthly realm. Paris, with its rich layers of history, contains traces of each phase of the Gothic style as it evolved from its Romanesque roots through to the Renaissance. These walks aim to reveal those layers by visiting six churches in roughly chronological order, each church offering a window into the ways in which Gothic architects, artisans, and patrons experimented with light, structure, and technique to create a reflection of heaven in their medieval world.

  Beginning at Église Saint-Germain-des-Prés, we’ll see the preeminent surviving example of Romanesque architecture in Paris, in the nave of the church, and compare that to the Early Gothic choir of the same church. From there, we’ll continue across the river and study a superb example of a church built fully in the Gothic style, Saint Germain l’Auxerrois, the parish church of the French kings.
  

  Matt Potts is a licensed architect in the US, where he practiced for 10 years after studying architecture in New York and Rome. He has lived in France since 2022 where he founded his own interior architecture firm. Matt is passionate about France’s rich built heritage - whether renovating a 16th-century manor house in the Burgundian countryside for his family, designing thoughtful renovations for his clients’ historic properties across France, or studying great works of Gothic architecture. He splits his time between Paris and Burgundy, enjoying the best of city and country life in France with his wife and their two sons (one human, one canine).
  

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• VJ211 Finding the Fabulous Treasures in the Cognacq-Jay Museum

  • When
    21 Jan 2026
  •  
    2:00 PM - 4:30 PM
  • Location
    St Paul Metro Station (Line 1)
  • Spaces left
    8

  This activity will be a lunch and museum visit in the Marais

  We will meet outside the Metro St. Paul (line #1) at 2PM and go to a restaurant for a light lunch. During that time we will have an intro/ info about the founders and some of the treasures inside the Cognacq-Jay Museum. It includes art by Fragonard, Vigee Le Brun, Rembrandt, Watteau, and various 18^th Century objet d’art. Then we head to the Museum Cognacq-Jay to find and enjoy those items and many more of the treasures displayed.

  Members will be required to purchase their own ticket at the museum at a cost of 11 euros.

  NOTE: The museum has several floors and no elevator.  

  Suzanne Gurney has shared her time between Paris and Manhattan for 20 years.  She has been a member of WICE for a little over one year.

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• VF211 Gothic Studies: Experimentation and Flamboyance

  • When
    21 Feb 2026
  •  
    2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
  • Location
    Square Reneé Viviani (we'll meet in the central garden) Cluny-La-Sorbonne (Metro 10)
  • Spaces left
    12

  
  

  Gothic architecture was born just outside of Paris in the 12th century and sparked a rapid and widespread revolution in art and architecture across France and Europe. Through structural innovations and masterful artistry in stone, glass, and paint, this new style made tangible a mystical philosophy of divine light as a bridge between heaven and the earthly realm. Paris, with its rich layers of history, contains traces of each phase of the Gothic style as it evolved from its Romanesque roots through to the Renaissance. Over the course of four sessions, these walks aim to reveal those layers by visiting eight churches in roughly chronological order, each church offering a window into the ways in which Gothic architects, artisans, and patrons experimented with light, structure, and technique to create a reflection of heaven in their medieval world.

  Our first church of this tour, Saint Julien-le-Pauvre, offers a unique window into the early roots of Gothic architecture with its hybrid Romanesque and Gothic design. A quick jaunt across the street will then bring us to one of Paris’ most sublime Gothic creations, Saint-Severin, where we will examine the ways in which experimentation helped transform the style over the centuries.

  Matt Potts is a licensed architect in the US, where he practiced for 10 years after studying architecture in New York and Rome. He has lived in France since 2022 where he founded his own interior architecture firm. Matt is passionate about France’s rich built heritage - whether renovating a 16th-century manor house in the Burgundian countryside for his family, designing thoughtful renovations for his clients’ historic properties across France, or studying great works of Gothic architecture. He splits his time between Paris and Burgundy, enjoying the best of city and country life in France with his wife and their two sons (one human, one canine).
  

  
  

  
  

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• VM211 Gothic Studies: Flirtations with Classicism

  • When
    21 Mar 2026
  •  
    2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
  • Location
    2 Place du Louvre, 75001
  • Spaces left
    12

  

  Gothic architecture was born just outside of Paris in the 12th century and sparked a rapid and widespread revolution in art and architecture across France and Europe. Through structural innovations and masterful artistry in stone, glass, and paint, this new style made tangible a mystical philosophy of divine light as a bridge between heaven and the earthly realm. Paris, with its rich layers of history, contains traces of each phase of the Gothic style as it evolved from its Romanesque roots through to the Renaissance. Over the course of four sessions, these walks aim to reveal those layers by visiting eight churches in roughly chronological order, each church offering a window into the ways in which Gothic architects, artisans, and patrons experimented with light, structure, and technique to create a reflection of heaven in their medieval world.

  Beginning at the architectural treasure box which is Saint-Etienne-du-Mont behind the Pantheon, we’ll use this tour to study late Gothic creations and the ways in which Renaissance ideas from Italy start to make their way into ecclesiastical French architecture. Heading downhill from there and across the river, we’ll enter the elegant late Gothic church of Saint Gervais and study its influence on later Classical church architecture.

  Matt Potts is a licensed architect in the US, where he practiced for 10 years after studying architecture in New York and Rome. He has lived in France since 2022 where he founded his own interior architecture firm. Matt is passionate about France’s rich built heritage - whether renovating a 16th-century manor house in the Burgundian countryside for his family, designing thoughtful renovations for his clients’ historic properties across France, or studying great works of Gothic architecture. He splits his time between Paris and Burgundy, enjoying the best of city and country life in France with his wife and their two sons (one human, one canine).
  

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• VN056 A Glimpse of the Great Names of Fashion: An Anecdotal Fashion Walk and Talk

  • When
    06 May 2026
  •  
    2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
  • Location
    Pont de l'Alma by the 'Diana' flame
  • Spaces left
    11

  

  The Avenue Montaigne in the 8th arrondissement is one of Paris's leading fashion streets. All the major fashion houses have shops along its length, from Dior and Balenciaga to Chanel, Givenchy and Dolce and Gabbana.

  When we all meet at the Diana Flame, I shall tell you about the 'flame' before crossing the road to start the 'Fashion Walk and Talk' in Avenue Montaigne."It will it be an informal stroll and members can contribute as they walk, within reason. I always bring my book of quotes from the great designers, which starts the comments rolling. I hasten to say that I am not a Fashion Consultant. I do not give fashion advice.

  Please note this is not a fashion tour i.e. choosing outfits or accessories.

  Meeting point: The ‘Diana Flame’ next to the Pont de l’Alma.

  Métro station Alma-Marceau Line 9, Pont de l’Alma exit. 

  RER C station Pont de l’Alma. Cross the river to the Right Bank.

  Buses 42, 63, 72, 80, 92

  
  

  About the walk leader:

  Anne Campbell-Crawford has been living in Paris for the last 16 years where she gives Pilates Classes daily, privately in your own home, or on ZOOM, or in a place specific in the 16th arrondissement.Anne worked in London as a Fashion Model whilst studying Classical Ballet and Modern Dance. She went on to perform, had her own school of Dance and eventually created the Irish National Youth Ballet Co., which was grant aided by the Arts Council of Ireland. Anne now lives permanently in Paris and in Maine et Loire with her husband.

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

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