Obama, Hollande to visit Monticello

President Obama is taking his French counterpart sightseeing during his official state visit next week.

Obama and French President François Hollande plan to visit Monticello, the historic residence of President Thomas Jefferson located near Charlottesville, Va., on Monday.

{mosads}”As the residence of Thomas Jefferson, one of the United States’ earliest envoys to France, Monticello reflects Jefferson’s affection for the people of France, the long-standing relations between our two democracies, and the shared values we hold dear: life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness,” the White House said in a statement. “President Obama looks forward to sharing this piece of our shared history with President Hollande.”

The trip will come a day before Hollande is scheduled to visit the White House, where he’ll be treated to an arrival ceremony and formal state dinner. Obama and Hollande also plan to hold a joint press conference in the East Room.

Hollande’s trip has garnered intense interest, coming just weeks after he formally announced his separation from first lady Valerie Trierweiler.

The breakup came on the heels of a tabloid report that he was having an affair with French film star Julie Gayet. Trierweiler was hospitalized after news of the affair broke, and Hollande faced daily questions about who would serve as first lady.

Last month, White House spokesman Jay Carney said the separation was not a logistical problem ahead of the trip.

“The president and everyone here looks very much forward to the visit of the French president for a state dinner and state visit, and that remains the case,” Carney said.