14D13N Explore Your France

<p><strong>TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS:</strong> Arrival. Transfer to the hotel. </p><p><strong>Welcome to Paris!</strong> Upon arriving at the airport, we will be waiting to transfer you to your hotel. Check the information boards in the hotel reception area for details of the welcome meeting with your guide and fellow travelers.</p>

<p><strong>TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS:</strong> City tour in Paris. Transfer to the Montmartre neighbourhood. </p><p>Today we take a guided tour to discover the history, main boulevards and the breathtaking monuments of Paris. Later in the day, we provide a <strong>transfer to the Montmartre dis­trict</strong>. This neighbourhood is known for its painters, artists, and its cab­arets. Sit down for lunch and enjoy this magical place where you can choose from the various cuisines this area has to offer. We will then return to the hotel or take some leisure time to enjoy the city.</p>

<p><strong>TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS:</strong> Transfer to Versailles palace. </p><p>Today we will include a <strong>transfer to Versailles</strong> , with its immense palace and beautiful gardens. Free afternoon.</p>

<p><strong>TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS:</strong> Monet’s house. Rouen. Beaches where the Normany landings took place. </p><p>Early departure from Paris, travelling towards Normandy, making a stop in <strong>GIVERNY</strong>. We will visit <strong>Monet’s House and its impressive gardens (entrance included)</strong> ; we talk about Impressionist art, which had its centre in Normandy. The journey continues to <strong>ROUEN</strong>, the capital of Normandy with its medieval streets and cathedral. Here we have time for a stroll and to take lunch. We continue to <strong>ARROMANCHES</strong>, on its beaches we are reminded of the World War II landings in France. Last stop is <strong>CAEN</strong>, where we take some leisure time in </p>

<p><strong>TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS:</strong> Mont S. Michel. French Brittany. </p><p>First thing in the morning we travel to <strong>Mont Saint Michel</strong> , time to see the Abbey located within the city on an island. After this, whilst travelling in the Brittany region, we stop at <strong>SAINT MALO</strong> (whose powerful walls defend the city), where we will have time for lunch. In the afternoon we continue to <strong>DINAN</strong> , take some time to explore this Breton village full of charm. We continue our way to <strong>RENNES</strong> , the capital of Brittany with its interesting and monumental historic centre.</p>

<p><strong>TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS:</strong> Loire region and castles. Dinner included. </p><p>In the morning we will leave for <strong>ANGERS</strong>. Those who want can visit the castle that houses the largest medieval tapestry on the Apocalypse. After this we continue to the <strong>Loire Valley</strong>, visiting <strong>TOURS</strong>, the regional capital on the banks of the Loire River, with time for a stroll and to take lunch. In the afternoon we will visit the <strong>CHATEAU DE VILLANDRY</strong>, famous for its gardens and flowers <strong>(tickets to the gardens are included)</strong>. Journey on to <strong>AMBOISE</strong>, a city with a very interesting medieval quarter. <strong>Dinner included</strong>. </p><p>Note: Sometimes the accommodation may be offered in the city of Tours.</p>

<p><strong>TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS:</strong> Castles of Loire. </p><p>A day to learn more about the Loire region. First a stroll through Amboise in the early hours to the Clos Lucé mansion where leonardo da Vinci spent the last 3 years of his life. Exploring the Loire region in a little more depth, we visit <strong>CHENONCEAU CASTLE (tickets included)</strong>, built like a bridge over the River Cher. We continue to <strong>CHAMBORD</strong>, the largest castle of Loire <strong>(entrance to the park included)</strong>. We will then travel to the centre of France, making a stop for coffee in <strong>ARGENTON SUR CREUSE</strong>, a small medieval town on the banks of the Creuse River. We continue to <strong>LIMOGES</strong>, a city known for its porcelain, where we recommend a stroll in the centre to see its cathedral.</p>

<p><strong>TODAY´S HIGHLIGHTS:</strong> Dordogne Valley of unforgettable villages. Lascaux cave museum. Beynac medieval castle. Dinner included.</p><p>We will leave Limoges for the Dordogne. Few regions contain so many villages full of charm and unforgettable countryside. We arrive at <strong>LASCAUX</strong>, we will include <strong>admission to the museum</strong> and replica of the caves, we will learn about the site’s prehistory with the magnificent cave paintings. After that we see <strong>SARLAT</strong>, a world heritage town with an incredibly well-preserved Renaissance historic centre, where there will be time to stroll and have lunch. In <strong>BEYNAC</strong> we see a medieval castle overlooking the river <strong>(admission included)</strong>. <strong>ROCAMADOUR</strong>, a beautiful medieval village with an important sanctuary “hung” over a ravine; we suggest you walk down the via crucis and come back up in the lift. <strong>Dinner included</strong>.</p>

<p><strong>TODAY's HIGHLIGHTS:</strong> Padirac Caves, Midi Region and winemakers. </p><p>We will go to the impressive <strong>PADIRAC caves</strong>, where we include a <strong>boat ride</strong> on the river 75 metres underground. A stop at <strong>COLLONGE LA ROUGE</strong>, a very picturesque village built with red stone on the Way of St James. Time for lunch. After lunch we travel to <strong>ST. EMILION</strong>, at the heart of the Bordeaux wine producing region. Time for a stroll. <strong>BORDEAUX</strong>, arrival at the end of the afternoon. </p><p>Note: The caves may be closed in November or due to the weather conditions.</p>

<p><strong>TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS:</strong> Cite du Vin in Bordeaux. Lourdes. Dinner included. </p><p>The entire centre of Bordeaux has been declared a world heritage site. You will be amazed by the “water mirror” and stroll through the old town with its pedestrian streets and 11th century cathedral. We will include <strong>admission</strong> (free visit with audio information in Spanish, French or English) to the <strong>CITE DU VIN</strong>, an impressive interactive museum that recounts the history of the wine and its production; wine tasting included at the viewpoint over Bordeaux. You will have free time later to stroll and have lunch on the banks of the Garonne River, an area full of small restaurants.We continue our way towards the Pyrenees, arriving to <strong>LOURDES</strong> in the mid-afternoon. We have time to see the sanctuary (we recommend attending the candle procession). <strong>Dinner included</strong>.</p>

<p><strong>TODAY´S HIGHLIGHTS:</strong> Medieval villages of S. Bertrand or Carcassonne.</p><p>Following the Pyrenees, we stop at <strong>SAINT BERTRAND</strong>, a medieval town hung on the mountainside, dominated by its great cathedral. Time for a stroll before continuing to <strong>CARCASSONNE</strong>, a city surrounded by the most beautiful walls in Europe. Time to stroll and have lunch. In the afternoon, we continue to <strong>MARSEILLES</strong>, France’s second city, to see its vibrant “Vieux port” (old port). </p><p>Note: If the group is small, the section from Carcassonne to Marseilles may be done by train (our guide will give you the tickets and inform you, and another different guide will be waiting for you upon your arrival in Marseilles).</p>

<p><strong>TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS:</strong> Provence region. Carrieres de Lumiere in Les Beaux. </p><p>Villages, landscapes, history, today we see some of the most beautiful places in Provence. <strong>ARLES</strong>, a world heritage city, shows us its legacy of the Roman and medieval times and reminds us of Van Gogh. In <strong>LES BEAUX</strong>, we have the chance to visit this small medieval village and we will <strong>include admission</strong> to the <strong>CARRIERES DE LUMIERE</strong>, an impressive show of art, image and sound underground, in some former quarries. Time for lunch and stroll in <strong>AVIGNON</strong>, with its immense Palais des Papes. We continue to <strong>LYON</strong>, where we can walk through the World Heritage Site old town and we will include the <strong>cable car</strong> to climb Notre Dame de Fourviere, a huge basilica from where we have a great view over the city.</p>

<p><strong>TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS:</strong> Burgundy region. Rochepot Castle. </p><p>We will leave Lyon for Burgundy. We stop at <strong>TOURNUS</strong>, a nice little town with its huge stone door and large abbey. After this, on small roads we travel through beautiful vineyards and countryside to <strong>LA ROCHEPOT</strong>, we <strong>include admission</strong> to its powerful medieval castle. <strong>BEAUNE</strong>, time for lunch and stroll in the wine capital of Burgundy; you can visit the wine museum or see the historic hospice. In the early afternoon, arrival in <strong>DIJON</strong>, the capital of Burgundy, with its lively streets, magnificent urban complex and many medieval and Renaissance buildings, particularly the Ducal Palace.</p>

<p><strong>TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS:</strong> Burgundy region. Admission to Fontenay abbey. </p><p>We leave Dijon for <strong>FONTENAY ABBEY</strong>, a world heritage site, where we <strong>include admission</strong> to this Cistercian centre. After this, a stop in <strong>SEMUR EN AUXOIS</strong>, a medieval city surrounded by impressive walls. Still in Burgundy, we will have time for lunch and a stroll in <strong>VEZELAY</strong>, one of France’s most beautiful villages, where its immense basilica was one of the starting points of the Way of St James. In the afternoon we continue our route to <strong>PARIS</strong>. Arrival mid-afternoon.</p><p>End of our services. Please, check the time of your flight in case you might need an additional night.</p>