About Vendôme Circle

Vendôme Experiences are an invitation to immerse yourself in a distinctly French art de vivre—a cultivated way of living that prizes excellence in all things, and celebrates life through artistic, literary, and gastronomic creation.

Vendôme Circle invites you to experience a distinctly French art de vivre—a cultivated way of living that values excellence in all things, and celebrates life through artistic, literary, and gastronomic creation.

Our inspiration draws from the timeless spirit of the French Renaissance—particularly the cultural flourishing under the House of Valois—and from the classical traditions that have shaped European civilisation for centuries. These roots lend our work both aesthetic depth and philosophical perspective.

Each experience—whether a private tasting, a curated walk, or a museum visit—is infused with this legacy of refinement, curiosity, and discretion. These are not standard tours, but white-glove, privately hosted journeys designed to stir wonder, invite reflection, and awaken the senses.

Every guest is welcomed with warmth and thoughtfulness. From the first greeting to the final farewell, each element—logistics, hospitality, storytelling—is handled with seamless precision.

This quiet excellence is what sets Vendôme Circle apart. Our guests don’t simply visit France; they experience it more deeply — as a living narrative of beauty, culture, and connection.

Read more about Vendôme Experiences

Vendôme Circle Founder

Douglas Pierce is the founder of Vendôme Circle, a passionate guide to the cultural and historical richness of France. His work is shaped by rigorous research, aesthetic sensibility, and a deep love of narrative detail.

Read his latest interview

Originally from the United States, Douglas settled in Paris over a decade ago following extensive travels across Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, and Asia. His background spans philosophy, history, literature, art history, music, and classical languages—disciplines he has studied in depth through a lifetime of formal training and intellectual exploration. He holds multiple advanced degrees, including a Master’s degree in contemporary philosophy from the Sorbonne, where he pursued doctoral research on literary portraiture and identity in the work of Sartre.

Douglas’s education was grounded from an early age in the traditions of classical liberal arts: reading widely in philosophy, European history, and literature, and developing an approach defined by careful attention to primary sources, beauty, and historical nuance. This perspective now informs every aspect of Vendôme Circle—from his curatorial sensibility in selecting wines or neighbourhoods to the historical storytelling woven through each tour.

His home on the Left Bank—steps from the Luxembourg Gardens and the Sorbonne—anchors his immersion in the intellectual and artistic life of the city. Through Vendôme Circle, Douglas creates private cultural experiences for a discerning international clientele: journeys shaped by depth, discretion, and elegance. Whether leading guests through the Musée d’Orsay, the salons of the Marais, or the vineyards of Champagne, he brings a rare combination of academic insight, refined taste, and warm personal engagement.

Clients often remark not only on Douglas’s encyclopaedic knowledge, but on the richness of the conversations they share—making each experience both intellectually enriching and personally memorable.

Read his latest interview here
‘One of the values that I was raised with is a relentless pursuit of excellence. And one of the things I appreciate most about French culture is a passion for a savoir-faire and a savoir-vivre that, I believe, is unparalleled in the world.’
Douglas Arthur Pierce