Paris to Madrid art tour

Paris

First stop, where else but arguably the art capital of the world. The place where some of the greatest artists have come to cut their teeth, make their name and drink too much absinthe. But where should we go and see the output of all this green-fairy-assisted industry?

Unsurprisingly, the Louvre features top of the pile. But a visit can also be a chance to work on the zen approach to life, particularly while budging past other tourists taking selfies with Mona Lisa.

...and if you've already been there, seen it, done it, why not pick something else from this list of best art galleries in Paris? (Don't forget you will get a second bite of the cherry on the way back).

Or how about  exploring the steep cobbled streets of Montmartre, the home of so many artists during the Belle Époque? Or going for a wander along the banks of the much painted Seine to the Gare de Lyon? From there, you can follow in the footsteps, or at least along the train tracks, of a red-haired Dutchman who decided to head for the exotic south and light.

Arles

Vincent van Gogh arrived in February 1888 and over the course the year created a body of work that was to include some of the most famous pieces of art in history. You can wander around the places that inspired him and see how he, in turn, has inspired others by visiting the Fondation Vincent van Gogh.

I made a video about Vincent's Arles, which you can see here:

From Arles you can pick up the trail of another artist who made a name for himself in Paris and who decided to leave a legacy in his hometown of Figueres.

Figueres

Salvador Dali's last great act was to restore the old theatre in his home town and turn it into a museum of his works. But before you race indoors, have a look at the works outside the museum. In this video, art-expert Anna explains them and what they tell us about Dali:

Cadaqués detour

If the Theatre Museum just whetted your appetite, you could pay a visit to Dali's place by the sea, which is a short hop by bus (actually a coach with WiFi) from Figueres. It's also a chance to walk to Cap de Creus and find out about another extraordinary local.

Barcelona

A visit to Museu Picasso may be top of the list for many art-lovers, but don't forget to check out these other art galleries and art-based museums before going to meet the Gaudis. My favourite way to see them is by walking through the Eixample.

Madrid

Next, let's go to Madrid, home to a trio of world class museums known as the Golden Triangle of Art,.

• Prado - pre-20th century art including works by Goya and Velázquez

• Reina Sofía - Modern art and home to Picasso's Guernica

• Thyssen-Bornemisza - a collection featuring works by some of the world's most famous artists through the ages.

While here you could check out some of these other ideas?

Vic

When you've sated your appetite for the old masters, go back to Barcelona and catch a local train to Vic to see something decidedly different (which is also on the way back home).

Vic's cathedral is completely covered in the murals of Josep Maria Sert and is a truly immersive experience (see the video below).

You could also pop to the Museum of Episcopal Art next door to see the divine inspiration other artists over the years. Then it's a 2 1⁄2 hour journey to Latour de Carol where you can catch a sleeper train back to Paris.