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LA BELLE FRANCE
Loire Valley • Chateaux • Vineyards
14Days including arrival/departure days
It would be difficult to find another touring holiday with so much variety,
so much beauty and so many riches in such a relatively compact area. This is the
France of the great Loire valley chateaux and vineyards, the France of the
calvados, the rolling Normandy countryside, and the France of Monet and his
contemporary impressionists. It is the France, too, of history; from the amazing
prehistory of Brittany’s Carnac, and the imposing, fortified, hilltop cities and
castles of the mediaeval period, to the pre-revolutionary riches of the XVIIIth
century. Of course, it is also the France of a more recent history, of the D-Day
landings at Omaha and Utah and the battles for Normandy. It would be difficult
to find another touring holiday with so much variety, so much beauty and so many
riches in such a relatively compact area. This is the France of the great Loire
valley chateaux and vineyards, the France of the calvados, the rolling Normandy
countryside, and the France of Monet and his contemporary impressionists. It is
the France, too, of history; from the amazing prehistory of Brittany’s Carnac,
and the imposing, fortified, hilltop cities and castles of the mediaeval period,
to the pre-revolutionary riches of the XVIIIth century. Of course, it is also
the France of a more recent history, of the D-Day landings at Omaha and Utah and
the battles for Normandy
Please do note, however, that this is a tour for the mobile and reasonably
fit. Many of the city visits involve some walking up slight gradients and over
cobbled streets
DEPARTURE DATES & PRICES FOR YEAR 2002
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Arrive Paris |
Depart Paris |
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Sunday |
Saturday |
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07-Jul |
20-Jul |
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13-Oct |
26-Oct |
Price: US$2,599.00
Single Supplement: US$495.00
TENTATIVE ITINERARY
DAY ONE - SATURDAY
Arrive Paris. At the airport you’ll be met and taken to our Parisian hotel.
You have a free-day to explore the city at your leisure, or to simply relax
before meeting other tour participants tonight for a welcome dinner.
DAY TWO - SUNDAY
We depart Paris following the course of the Seine. Our first major stop of
the day is pretty garden at Giverney, home of the impressionist painter, Monet.
Each month a different color dominates but the famous water lily pond is always
instantly recognisable.
A short distance away is Richard III’s dramatic Chateau Gaillard (built in
1196!), perched high above Les Andleys.
From here we meander to the city of Rouen, a city that spends more on
monuments than any other in France! Alas, while there will not be time to see
every single one we’ll make sure we see the place du Vieux-Marche, and the site
where Joan d’Arc was burned to death in 1431. And there’ll be time to explore
other aspects of this city of Flaubert, such as one of the many museums, or the
antique shops along the rue Eau-de-Robec. Literary fans (and those with a
medical interest) may enjoy visiting the Musee Flaubert & de l’Histoire de la
Medicine.
Tonight, we stay in the picturesque harbor of Honfleur, one of the best
preserved old ports of Normandy. This romantic town has attracted so many of
France’s artistic community over the years, not only painters but also musicians
such as Eric Satie. You’ll understand the attraction when taking an after-dinner
stroll around the old centre.
DAY THREE- MONDAY
We begin the day with a splendid scenic drive along the ‘Normandy Corniche’
where there are views over the typical Normandy countryside and Seine Estuary.
This area of the northern France coastline is famed for it’s luxury resorts,
especially Deauville and its ‘sister’, Trouville. It is here that the French
‘social scene’ has been played out since their development from the early 19th
century. We’ll take a stoll along the elegant and famed boardwalk as well as
viewing the yachting harbor and casino. This afternoon we’ll return to our
pretty impressionist’s harbor of Honfleur for an afternoon of ‘organised
independence’.
DAY FOUR - TUESDAY
‘Lest we forget’. Today we concentrate on one of the greatest achievements
of modern times – the liberation of France following the Normandy beach landings
on D-Day. The names are familiar; Utah, Omaha, Sword, Juno and Gold. Arromanches,
Pegasus Bridge and Caen. Almost every town has its war museum. And there are the
somber reminders of those who didn’t make it home. This is a day of awe tinged
with an inevitable sadness. A day never forgotten.
DAY FIVE - WEDNESDAY
We lighten the mood again today with a day of ‘organised independence’ in
the mediaeval town of Bayeaux. As one guide book says, 'Bayeaux’s perfectly
preserved ensemble of mediaeval cathedral and world-famous tapestry of the
battle of 1066, make it one of the high points of this part of Normandy'.
In addition to the truly breathtaking tapestry and Cathedral Notre-Dame,
you’ll also enjoy poking around the atmospheric streets and squares of the old
town.. You can probably see yourself now at a sidewalk café, a glass of wine in
hand, nibbling from a plate of local cheese with olives, just watching the local
life go by and thinking to yourself, ‘how wonderful to have unrushed holiday
time to simply soak up the culture’!
DAY SIX - THURSDAY
Departing Bayeaux we drive westward across the Normandy countryside to
Brittany and the fortified towns of St Malo and Dinan. It was here that Jacques
Cartier, one of the most important early Canadian colonists, lived. Although
there is much to marvel at in these towns, it is the nearby Mont St-Michel which
attracts the greatest number of admiring visitors. While not still the ‘Mount in
Peril’ from the sea, this 10000 year old religious complex still appears to rise
from the surrounding waters.
Later today we’ll explore, time permitting, another Brittany town. Fougeres
was made famous by the writer Balzac in his novel of the revolution ‘The Chouans’
in which he made much play of the town’s strange street layout.
DAY SEVEN - FRIDAY
The Bretons originate from the Welsh soldiers who followed a Roman general
in his 5th century battles for the Emperor’s laurels. Those who have traveled in
Wales will recognize the similarities of place names. But legends too are
similar and this morning we’ll be driving by the Foret de Paimpont which is rich
in Arthurian tales and is also known as Merlin’s wood.
Our major stops of the day will be at Vannes and Carnac. The former has one
of the liveliest mediaeval town centres and its chaotic streets, ramparts and
cathedral all lend it special charm.
It will be the alignments at Carnac that will provide one of the lasting
memories of the region. Here some 2000 menhirs (standing stones), older than
Stonehenge or the Pyramids, stand like sentinels guarding the Brittany coast
line. Of course, like all prehistoric monuments their origin can only be guessed
at but astronomical clocks or temples to the gods of natural forces are the
favored explanations.
We leave Carnac, taking the freeway to our next base for three nights at
Saumur in the eastern Loire Valley. Dependent on time, we might find an
opportunity to vist Angers.
DAY EIGHT - SATURDAY
The pretty and peaceful town of Saumur makes an excellent base for our
explorations of the eastern Loire. Our filled day will include a visit to the
local wine caves, seeing the troglodyte hill dwellings, visiting the fine local
chateaux and spending time in the wonderfully picturesque Chinon, the 16th
century birthplace of the great comic writer, Rablais.
DAY NINE - SUNDAY
The Loire Valley is justly famed for its incredibly rich chateaux. In truth,
there are almost too many to choose from but, following group discussions, we’ll
visit a cross section or spend quality time exploring just a few both today and
on our return to the eastern Loire in three days time.
One we shall definitely be visiting today will be Villandry, justly famed for
its magnificent gardens. And not far away is the chateau that reputedly inspired
the ‘Sleeping Beauty’ story, Chateau d’Usee. Believe it or not, there’s even a
local chateau with the largest collection of Cadillacs outside of the USA!
We’ll also try to include the serene Azay-le-Rideau where the Renaissance
exterior of the local chateau is a sight to behold.
Some tour participants might prefer to wander at leisure around mediaeval
Tours and, DAY TEN - MONDAY
A few kilometers south of Saumur we find the town built by the great Cardinal
Richelieu. It was one of the first truly planned towns and makes an interesting
contrast with some of the mediaeval towns and cities we’ve been used to.
And it’s another hill-top mediaeval city next on our itinerary; Poitiers.
This was the seat of the Dukes of Aquitaine. The old centre of the town is a
delight but a ‘must-see’ is the greatest and most idiosyncratic churches in
France, the Notre-Dame-la-Grande. You could spend an entire day simply taking in
the amazing carving and details of west front!
From Poitiers we follow a scenic route, through some delightful towns (Chauvigny
and St Savin) to the small town of Argenton-sur- Creuse. This is real back-roads
territory and a delight to the eye.
DAY ELEVEN - TUESDAY
Argenton is perhaps the ideal centre for those who enjoy a quiet day
somewhere on tour, a day when they can get into the culture in a place far away
from the tourist ‘herd’. This quaint town is noted for its weaving and there’s
an interesting town museum, but mainly it’s a place to enjoy the French
‘everyday’ and ordinary, and to savor provincial life. Our accommodation here is
outstanding and many past tour participants have enjoyed spending some ‘down
time’ here.
But for those who touring has an appeal we’ll spend the day exploring the
Creuse valley. We’ll follow the artist’s route to Gargilesse, a small town known
locally as the ‘artist’s village’. The area was also home to legendary French
writer, George Sands and we will explore her connections with the area.
DAY TWELVE - WEDNESDAY
This morning we’ll drive north back to the Loire. It’s another day of
amazing and ostentatious 17th and 18th century wealth on display. There’s
Chateau d’Chenonceau, arguably the very best in terms of architecture, site and
contents. The richness of its interiors is hard to credit and perhaps partly
explains why the peasants were so quick to revolt and so happy to keep Madame La
Guillotine busy!
Further east there’s Blois, a montage of classical, gothic renaissance and
mediaeval architecture, and Chambord, the largest of the Loire chateaux.
After a day of ‘gawping’, and attempts to come to terms with past wealth, our
night stop in the small and unpretentious riverside town of Beaugency, comes as
a gentle relief!
Tonight we’ll enjoy a gourmet farewell dinner. Throughout this tour you will
have been treated to some memorable dining with regional delicacies and superbly
presented dishes. Maybe you’ll have tried frogs legs (like chicken) or escargot
(snails), or even duck for the first time. Needless to say, you’ll also probably
have treated yourself to a few fine wines and after-dinner cognacs!
This is not a tour for those on diet! And please note, in France dinner is
part of life and each meal treated as an experience to be savored. Evening meals
will be later and last longer than you might be familiar with at home.
DAY THIRTEEN - THURSDAY
Our last day’s journey includes a fitting climax to our La Belle France
tour, the most divine cathedral of Chartres. Is there one to compare anywhere in
the world when it comes to its stained glass? There’s 25,000 square feet of it,
depicting over 5000 characters and dating from the 13th century.
Old Chartres lies at the point where the river Eure cuts into the plain of
Beauce; its picturesque streets evoke the bustling activity of a mediaeval
street of merchants and craftsmen. It’s lovely and a great place to do some
final shopping!
We return to our Paris hotel in the late afternoon. Tonight you’re free to
pack, swap addresses with travelling companions or maybe venture to the left
bank for a final, unforgettable feast. Of course, some may elect to extend their
stay and spend some time exploring the ‘city of light’ at their leisure.
DAY FOURTEEN - FRIDAY
Departure day, alas. You’ll be taken by your guide, or local taxi to the
airport or train station to begin your journey home. La Belle France will have
woven her magic and as you climb into the skies we’ll bet you make yourself a
little promise – next time Provence!
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