10 DAYS - Paris, Loire Valley, Bordeaux, Provence,
Nice
One night in Paris in first class hotel Du
Cadran
Arrival transfer in Paris
Two nights in Tours in superior tourist class
hotel, Turone Hotel
Two nights in Bordeaux in first class hotel
Mercure Chateau Chartons
One night in Carcassone in superior tourist class
hotel, Du Donjon
One night in Aix-en-Provence in superior tourist
class hotel Mercure Paul Cezanne
One night in Nice in first class hotel Alexandra
Continental Breakfast daily
Flexibility of independent travel and
sightseeing suggestions
Local Taxes and Service Charges
Legend Tours travel kit
24 hour help line
DAILY ITINERARY
Day 1 USA/Paris Depart USA today for Paris. Air arrangements on own.
Day 2 Paris
Upon arrival in Paris you will be met and transferred the hotel. Balance of the
day is free to discover the splendors of Paris. See Tuileries Gardens next to
the Louvre and perhaps visit Notre Dame Cathedral. Enjoy a cup of coffee in one
of the many cafes or have a superb French dinner.
Hotel Du Cadran
Day 3 Paris/Versailles/Chartres/Tours
After breakfast pick up your car and start the short drive towards the Loire
Valley. On the way you may want to stop in Versailles to visit the lavish palace
and gardens of Louis XIV. Continue to Chartres, world-renown for its Cathedral
and its glorious collection of stained glass windows. Orleans, on the North Bank
of the River Loire, is where Joan of Arc led the French troops to victory over
the English centuries ago. Arrive in Tours, center of France's enchanting
chateaux country. (B)
Hotel Turone
Day 4 Chateaux Country
For centuries French royal families frequented the Loire Valley, and their
legacy is still visible in the chateaux and lush gardens of the area, dominated
by the great Chateau Royal d'Amboise, towering over the River Loire. The nearby
Chateau de Chenonceaux was created from the Renaissance onward by a series of
aristocratic women. The Chateau de Chambord, situated on a vast park-like
setting where wild boar and deer are free to roam, is the largest castle of the
Loire valley. Leonardo Da Vinci designed the central master staircase and
historical figures such as Moliere and King Louis XIV have sojourned there.
Return to Tours for the night. (B)
Day 5 Tours/Poitiers/Angouleme/Bordeaux
Today the road will take you through the lush scenery of the Loire Valley and
the flat lands of the Poitou-Charentes area to Bordeaux. On the way you will
pass the town of Poitiers, site of two famous battles against the Saracens in
8th century and in 14th century when the Black Prince won Poitiers back for
England. We recommend a stop in Angouleme, to see it's 12th-century Cathedrale
St Pierre, with its 70 stone statues and bas-reliefs depicting the Last
Judgement. Then continue for overnight in Bordeaux. The city's waterfront is an
attractive sight, where for centuries, wines from this area have been exported
around the world. (B)
Day 6 Bordeaux
Full day at leisure or make an excursion past some of the great vineyards to
Biarritz. This resort remains unchanged since the 19th century when it was
frequented by French and European nobility. Sumptuous villas exemplify the style
of past days. Return to Bordeaux for overnight. (B)
Day 7 Bordeaux/Toulouse/Carcassonne
You will want to have an early start for today's journey. Travel through the
Garonne Valley passing. Toulouse, a spectacular old town with many cafes and
restaurants. Continue to Montpellier, a lively southern town framed by sea and
mountains. Late afternoon arrival in Carcassonne. The dramatic medieval fortress
rises high above and is visable from a long distance. (B)
Day 8 Carcassone/Aix-en-Provence
Enjoy a leisurely drive this morning to the elegant city of Aix-en Provence.
Legend Tours can assist in organizing privately guided tours in Aix. Choose from
Country Houses & Gardens of the area, La Mignade Castle, In the Footsteps of
Cezanne, or a guided Literary Walk with readings from the works of Emile Zola.
Hotel Du Donjon
Day 9 Aix-en-Provence/Nice
A leisurely morning in Aix-en-Provence to explore on your own. You may enjoy a
visit to one of the city's pottery workshops to learn about the traditional
handicraft of santon, which as produced here for more than three hundred years.
Leave Aix and drive through fields of roses, lavender, mimosa and jasmine to
Grasse. Grasse is most famous as the world's perfume center and tours of perfume
factories are given in English by Fragonard, Molinard and Gallimard. Leave
Grasse and drive to Nice along the Riviera cities of Cannes and Antibes, where
you may want to stop to visit the Picasso Museum. (B)
Day 10 Nice/Departure
In the morning return your car and say au revoir to France. Services end after
breakfast. (B)
PRICES & DEPARTURES
Departures every day of the week
VALIDITY
DATES
DOUBLE
OCCUPANCY
SINGLE
SUPPLEMENT
Apr
1- Jun 30
$528
$368
Jul
1 – Aug 31
$478
$298
Sept
1 – Oct 31
$528
$368
Mar
1 – 31, 2002
$478
$298
5
DAY CAR RENTAL
COMPACT
MIDSIZE
MANUAL
$169
$199
AUTOMATIC
$245
$399
Basic
rates include unlimited mileage, liability and fire insurance.
Basic
rates do not include the value added tax of 16%
Prices
are per person, based on double occupancy. Prices are not valid
during trade fairs and certain holiday periods.
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