LA FRANCE
Day 1 - (Sun.) Board your overnight transatlantic flight. Day 2 - Arrival in Paris, France. (Mon.) The day is free to rest or to start exploring the splendid French capital. At 6 pm, meet your Tour Director and traveling companions and leave the hotel for a welcome dinner with wine at one of Paris" lively restaurants. After dinner you may wish to join an optional outing to get a first impression of the "City of Light." (D) Day 3 - Paris. (Tue.) Sightseeing with a Local Guide features the Arc de Triomphe, Opéra, Madeleine, Louvre, and Champs-Elysées. Visit magnificent NOTRE DAME CATHEDRAL and for a panoramic view, take the elevator to the second floor of the EIFFEL TOWER. Balance of the day at leisure and lots to do. An optional afternoon excursion to the Palace and Gardens of Versailles and optional evening excursions are available. (B) Day 4 - Paris - Rouen - Caen. (Wed.) A pleasant drive through the rural area west of Paris takes you to historic Rouen in the lower valley of the River Seine. Time here for a leisurely stroll along the lovely cobbled Rue du Gros-Horloge leading from the cathedral to the square where Joan of Arc was burned in 1431. Then, continue to Caen and look forward to the highlight of the day: a visit to the fascinating MEMORIAL MUSEUM FOR PEACE. Its great exhibits and audiovisual show focus on the Battle of Normandy. (B,D) Day 5 - Caen - Normandy Beaches - Bayeux - Mont St. Michel. (Thu.) Focus on the scene of the Allied Forces" landing on D-Day, June 6, 1944. Visit the NORMANDY AMERICAN CEMETERY and see the Ranger Monument at Point du Hoc. Then to Bayeux, where you admire QUEEN MATILDA'S TAPESTRY, depicting in extraordinary detail William the Conqueror's conquest of England. In the afternoon, visit the famous ABBEY OF MONT ST. MICHEL, perched on a rocky isle in the Gulf of Saint Malo. Overnight on the coast near Mont St. Michel. (B,D) Day 6 - Mont St. Michel - Tours. (Fri.) Enjoy a scenic ride right across Brittany via Châteaubriant to Angers. Stop here for pictures of an impressive 13th-century castle overlooking the River Maine. Then, continue your journey to Tours in the Loire Valley. Tonight is your chance to sample French cuisine at one of the area's excellent bistros. (B) Day 7 - Tours. Châteaux Country Excursion. (Sat.) A rich day of sightseeing. Visit the jewel of the French Renaissance, Château CHAMBORD, and the 16th-century château of Catherine de Medici, lovely CHENONCEAU. On to Amboise. Visit CLOS LUCÉ and marvel at an amazing collection of models of Leonardo da Vinci's inventions, painstakingly reconstructed from the drawings of the great renaissance genius. Return to Tours in the late afternoon. (B,D) Day 8 - Tours - Limoges'St. Emilion - Bordeaux. (Sun.) South through the area where Charles Martel saved Christian Europe from the Muslim tide in 732 AD and through the Dordogne area to Limoges to visit a PORCELAIN FACTORY (if closed, visit the NATIONAL PORCELAIN MUSEUM instead). Next, stop in the pretty town of St. Emilion before arriving in Bordeaux, world famous for its wines. (B,D) Day 9 - Bordeaux - Carcassonne - Nîmes. (Mon.) From Bordeaux to the beautifully preserved, medieval, walled town of Carcassonne for a leisurely walk on the ancient BATTLEMENTS and time to explore the town on your own. Overnight in Nîmes. (B,D) Day 10 - Nîmes - Pont du Gard - Avignon - Nice. (Tue.) Motor through the splendid vineyards of Languedoc-Roussillon. At Pont du Gard, admire the Roman Aqueduct, a monumental feat of engineering completed in the year 19 BC. Stop in Avignon for pictures of the magnificent Palace of the Popes and the bridge of the popular song. On to Nice, the sophisticated "Queen of the Riviera." Later, why not join an exciting optional outing to Monte Carlo" (B) Day 11 - At Leisure in Nice. (Wed.) Enjoy this enchanting resort on the Côte d - Azur at your own pace. Browse through the elegant shops or stroll along the Promenade des Anglais. Join your Tour Director for a walk through the OLD TOWN and its colorful flower market, and you may wish to join an optional excursion to the famous artist town of St. Paul de Vence. Back to Nice in time for lunch. (B) Day 12 - Nice - Cannes - Aix-en-Provence - Lyon. (Thu.) This morning, drive through Cannes, opulent resort of film festivals, on your way to Aix-en-Provence, birthplace of the painter Cézanne. Then, proceed along the Rhône Valley to Lyon, the country's second-largest city. (B,D) Day 13 - Lyon - Beaune - Dijon. (Fri.) Your orientation features a walk through Old Lyon, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the Roman Amphitheater. Drive up FOURVIÈRE HILL with its basilica to enjoy a breathtaking panorama of the city and its Roman ruins. Then, drive north into Burgundy, where road signs read like the wine list of an expensive restaurant, to Beaune, and visit one of the prestigious WINE CELLARS. Continue to Dijon, which was the capital of Burgundy from the 11th to the 15th centuries. During your orientation, hear about the various dukes who ruled over the area, then have the rest of the afternoon to browse the shops and enjoy this charming city. (B,D) Day 14 - Dijon - Paris. (Sat.) A comfortable drive back to Paris past Fontainebleau Forest. In the afternoon, an optional excursion to the Louvre Museum is available, as well as exciting possibilities for an unforgettable night out on the town! (B) Day 15 - (Sun.) Your homebound flight arrives the same day. (B) |
