The Treasures of France
Day 1 - Depart USA Overnight flight to Paris
Day 2 - Arrive Paris On arrival, you are met and transferred to your hotel. Tonight, enjoy a Welcome Drink with your Tour Director and fellow travellers.
Day 3 - Paris - Rouen - Bayeux Our sightseeing tour includes the Champs ElysÈes, Arc de Triomphe, Place de la Concorde, views of Notre Dame Cathedral and ascends to the second level of the Eiffel Tower. Then we drive to Montmartre where we take the funicular to the Place du Tertre, for a walking tour of the area in the shadow of the Sacre Coeur Basilica. Afterwards, we drive to Rouen, where Joan of Arc was burnt at the stake. From here we make our way to Honfleur and on to Bayeux for the night. (Buffet Breakfast / Dinner)
Bayeux - D-Day Landing Beaches - Mont St. Michel We visit the Tapestry Museum where the tapestry depicts the Battle of Hastings in 1066, the event which radically changed the history of both France and England for centuries. Then we visit the Landing Beaches of the 1944 campaign and the Omaha Military cemetery. Then on to Mont St Michel, where we visit the Benedictine Abbey. The first structure, a simple oratory, was built here in the 8th century by the Bishop of Avranches, and was subsequently expanded and enhanced with the addition of Romanesque and Gothic buildings. Later we enjoy dinner in our hotel. (Buffet Breakfast / Dinner)
Day 5 - Mont St. Michel - Loire Valley - Amboise (2 nights) Today our Tour Director will reveal to us the location of a Hidden Treasure! But first we travel to Angers via Chateau Gontier, then into the Loire Valley, renowned for its chateaux and wines, which we sample in Saumur, before continuing to Amboise. (Buffet Breakfast)
Day 6 - Châteaux Excursion Today with a local guide, we will visit fairytale Chenonceau, Catherine de Medici's ch - teau. Next, on to Chambord to view the largest ch - teau in the region, before returning to Amboise. Here we'll visit the ch - teau where Leonardo da Vinci, the greatest figure of the Renaissance, spent the last years of his life and where he finally died. Then back to our hotel for the rest of the day at leisure. (Buffet Breakfast / Dinner)
Day 7 - Amboise - Chartres - Paris (2 nights) After breakfast, our first stop is at Chartres to visit the Cathedral. Here we stop to marvel inside at the beautiful stained glass rose window. From here we continue to the Palace of Fontainebleau, originally designed as a royal hunting lodge, but later one of the grandest of the royal country residences, particularly known for its magnificent gardens. Then we return to the glittering capital city, Paris, for the next two nights. (Buffet Breakfast)
Day 8 - Paris at leisure Enjoy a full day at leisure. You may sightsee further or perhaps shop in the boutiques for next year's fashions. Why not browse around the Left Bank and take a Seine cruise to view the beauty of Paris from a different perspective" Or perhaps visit the Musee díOrsay where the most important collection of the Impressionist paintings are found or maybe the Louvre Museum where one can still be mystified by the Mona Lisa. Later we will enjoy a celebratory Farewell Dinner together with our Tour Director and our new found friends. (Buffet Breakfast / Farewell Dinner)
Day 9 - Paris - USA Bid 'au revoir' to Paris and your fellow travellers as we transfer to Charles de Gaulle Airport for our return flight to America. (Buffet Breakfast)
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